Page 36 of Shadowed Spirits

They glance at each other and have a silent conversation before Russ tells me,“We’ll just walk! There are lots of interesting things to smell in here!”

I chuckle. “I’ll bet. This is an apothecary shop, so there are lots of herbs, medicines, potion ingredients, and more everywhere.” We walk in companionable silence to the main part of the shop. I must’ve taken a longer than I thought because the shades are already drawn down over the windows and the register is locked. I guess Gran doesn’t need my help, after all.

When they spot Gran, Cerberus happily bounds over to her. They headbutt her legs until she bends down and scratches them behind their ears. “Hey, buddies. I didn’t know that you’d be my granddaughter’s familiar, but I couldn’t have picked a better one for her.” Cerberus’s chest puffs up in pride at Gran’s praise.

Once Gran does her final walkthrough of the store, Levi opens a portal to my house. Stepping out onto the brownish green late fall grass, I gaze up at the light blue Victorian as I wait for the others to come through. The familiar white porch and trim, gray roof, and rounded turret cause an ache in my chest. When the council tried to arrest me, I didn’t know if I’d ever see my home or my family again. Yet here I am. I just hope this isn’t the last time I’m alive or free to see it.

CHAPTER 19

IZZY

Istartle when Bishop bumps his shoulder into mine, so lost in my thoughts I didn’t hear him approach. “Ready to go inside, sweetheart?”

Nodding, I lead our hodgepodge group up the stairs and through the navy front door. Out of habit, I unlace and remove my white Chucks and throw my backpack on the floor. Everyone else kicks off their shoes as well.

“Mom!” I holler. “Where are you?”

“In the kitchen!” she calls back.

I snort because I should’ve just assumed that. Mom’s favorite place in the house is our gourmet kitchen. She’s a fantastic cook and can make super complicated recipes without any magic. My stomach rumbles, reminding me I didn’t eat nearly enough for breakfast, too anxious to get back to have a big meal. Maybe there will be some leftover lunch for our group.

I lead us through the narrow hallways and meandering rooms until we reach the kitchen. My mom is pulling out a rib roast as we walk in. There are rolls, a salad, and mashed potatoes sitting on the marble island. Mom’s sage green apron is a perfect match to the cabinets, and the light spilling in from the windows illuminates her blonde hair, making her look angelic.

At our footsteps, Mom looks up at us. Her gray eyes matching mine widen, and she hurriedly sets the large roasting pan on a hot pad. She rushes over and wraps me up in a hug. “Where have you been, Izzy? I called you multiple times yesterday, and you never answered or got back to me. I’ve been worried.”

I breathe in her rose garden scent as she hugs me. I mumble into her shoulder, “I don’t think you wanna know, Mom, but I’m sorry for worrying you. Is Dad around?”

Mom pulls back and glares at me. “Isabel Magnolia Gallagher, where were you?” I wince at her saying my full name. I’m so in trouble now. “You better not have gone back to the council building.”

“Well, that’s not what I was referring to, but I can’t say we weren’t there. But! It was a quick in-and-out thing, so it’s like we weren’t even there.” I nod to myself because that’s definitely how it should work. If I don’t engage in murder and mayhem, was I even really at the council building? I think not.

My mom gasps. “Izzy! Why would you even chance going back there? It’s dangerous.”

Don’t I know it, mother of mine.The council building is a snake pit, and the council members are mambas disguised as milk snakes. They look harmless and promise they’re working for the good of all mages, when the only thing the council really cares about is their own power.

Sighing because I can’t really argue that it’s not dangerous, I try to switch topics. “I’m pretty sure getting arrested for being a spirit mage is a ton more dangerous. We only went there to erase Doyle’s memories.”

See? There’s no way she can be mad at me when I was trying to fix a problem instead of starting shit like I usually do.

Apparently, that wasn’t the right thing to say, because my mom looks more concerned. “What?”

“Yeah. Doyle used other realm magic to find out I’m a spirit mage and order my arrest. It was awkward, but we’re all good now,” I lie. Going to Levi’s realm didn’t solve anything. It was the opposite, just dumping a ton more problems into our lap. We went there worried about Doyle and left Anya’s worried about the fate of the planet.

“He what?” Dad’s voice is infused with anger.

Man, I can’t catch a break with the ’rents today.

I turn around and flash my dad an over-the-top smile. “Father figure! How amazing to see you. Would you like some of our world famous roast prepared just for you? Customers rave about how tender it is and how much more appetizing it is than mage council shenanigans.”

He rolls his eyes hazel eyes. “Mm-hmm. Nice try. What is this about Doyle arresting you?”

“It was all just one big misunderstanding. We cleared it right up.” I try to keep my tone cheery to distract from the fact that it wasn’t a misunderstanding and it’s certainly not cleared up.

“Oh? And how did you do that?” Dad raises his eyebrows skeptically. His dark brown hair is flopping in front of his eyes, so I’m sure Mom will be on him to cut it soon.

I tilt my head back and forth, trying to figure out what to say. “Oh, you know, the same way we dealt with my classmates and professor. By erasing their memories.” My tone is nonchalant, but I can tell it doesn’t distract my dad, who’s looking at me with growing horror on his face.

It’s not like we killed them or anything, so I don’t know why he’s looking at me like that.

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