Page 100 of Strike It Witch

“I don’t know. Or I guess I do, I just don’t know what to do about it. The soil here rejects me. I’m an elemental witch. An earth witch. I need to connect with the soil." I was talking too fast, but I couldn't seem to slow down. "I’ve stayed on dead soil before, and it didn’t drain my magic, so I don't understand why it's happening now, yet it’s the only thing I can think of.” I babbled. “It’s the only thing that makes sense. I’m not as powerful I was three years ago, before?—”

“Lila died," Ida said. "Is it …becauseof her death?”

I’d also made that connection, but I didn’t believe it had to do with Mom’s death. At least, not directly. “I don’t think so. It started when I moved back here.”

“But you aren’t here all the time. You were gone over the holidays. You missed the gift exchange and my eggnog, remember? I had to freeze your tamales.” Nowshewas babbling.

Honestly, was it any wonder we were best friends?

“All I know is my magic is less powerful. Take tonight. There’s no way any demon should’ve been able to cross one of my salt circles. Not even one like Belial.” I sniffed. “Three years ago, he wouldn’t have.”

Ida’s mouth moved, but she didn’t say anything. She bent to pick up the rake then changed her mind and grasped my upper arms instead. “Why in the world didn’t you tell me? You must’ve been terrified.”

The tears I’d kept at bay all night spilled down my cheeks. “I was—I am.”

“And you were all alone with this. You should’ve told me.” She wrapped her arms all the way around me and squeezed. “Don’t go it alone again. Not when I’m right here ready to go with you.” She waggled her eyebrows. “You know how I love an adventure.”

A laugh burst out of me, and I slung my arms around her. We hugged for a long time. It felt good.

“Thank you, Ida.”

“You’d do the same for me.”

Joon strolled up, the bowls still in his arms. “Sorry, I don’t mean to interrupt, but where would you like me to put your things?”

Ida and I broke apart, and I wiped my cheeks with the backs of my hands.

“I’ll take them.” I held out my hands for the bowls, and he handed them to me. “Thanks for your help tonight, Joon.”

“That was intense.” He looked out over the parking lot. “Is it always like this around here?”

“Not at all. I’ll have you know I hardly ever accidentally summon hell demons in the parking lot at midnight.”

“Yeah,” Ida said. “We only do that on special occasions.”

“Nice to know.” He smiled, dark eyes glinting in the moonlight.

“I owe you. You held that second circle,” I said.

He glanced over at the raked salt. “No, I didn’t.”

Ida and I exchanged puzzled glances. “But you were chanting,” I said. “The circle didn’t break. I figured?—”

“Yeah, I mean, I backed you up with the second circle, but, Betty, you didn’t need it. That circle was rock solid. The coven witches were worried the demon would break through, but afterwatching the wolf shifter go at it, I wasn’t. You’re too good a witch for that to happen.”

“She’s the best damn witch you’ll ever meet,” Ida said.

“I don’t know about that. I let myself get pulled into the center circle,” I said, my pride—and my psyche—still smarting from the smackdown.

“Yeah, about that. You weren’t trying to bring that demon into this realm, but he came through anyway. Why?”

“I don’t know. He came from Hades. The portal I opened was from Limbo.”

“Those are vastly different realms,” Ida said. “Hell’s not exactly an easy nut to crack, either. Even for necromancers.”

Joon looked at her with new appreciation. He hadn’t realized he was in the presence of a necromancer. The way he responded, with respect instead of fear or disdain, made me like him even more.

“What if it was the book curse?” Ida asked.

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