Chilling Cadence

Six

As Cadence stared at the drawing, it was a surprise she was able to keep her composure. Perhaps it was a string of moments, similar to this one, that had happened some time ago that kept her composure from cracking; that kept her from falling apart, cringing away from this moment and fleeing.

The Witch in her wanted her to call the word of power necessary to set fire to that drawing. She wanted to destroy it before anyone else could see it. But Cadence knew that was just the fraying veil whispering to her. She knew what would happen if she used magic.

Instead, she said, “So, what is it you want from me, exactly?”

Ayami rolled the scroll back to its original form, placed it back into the box. Her lips pursed and her eyes, although they looked at Cadence, were far away.

“What I want? Nothing, I guess. I’m a Divinator. Telling you your future is in my blood. When the time comes, it will be you who needs something from me.”

She headed back to the backroom and while she was gone, Cadence blessed a cauldron to be as light as feather, took it from the shelf now that it was easily carriable, and left the appropriate amount of money on the service counter before leaving in a hurry.

As she headed back to her home, carrying a cauldron twice her size like it was nothing with Grimm walking solemnly at her heels, she hoped, with every fiber of her being, that she never had to see Ayami again.

Only when Cadence was safely inside the sigil filled protected space that was her home, did she relax. Letting out a breath, she headed downstairs to the basement and flicked on the light.

She placed the cauldron against the far wall, grabbed a piece of chalk, and drew the sigils for enhanced magic and protected spell casting, murmuring a prayer to Aradia to guide her along and let her spell casting go smoothly. When the chalk-drawn sigil was finished, Cadence stood, grabbed the lightened cauldron, placed it on the power-filled sigil she had drawn yesterday on the marmoleum basement floor, and began her work.

For protection against a Cyhyraeth, she used fresh water from the Nuorilang waterfall in Tibet. She filled the cauldron halfway with the water and chanted a spell to heat it to a boil. While it boiled, she threw in hag stones for extra protection against the supernatural, and then she went to crushing red jasper and snowflake obsidian. And once the stones had been crushed finely, she threw them in, too, along with some Witch hazel for good measure. She didn’t want to leave anything to chance.

While she stirred, she spoke Soteria’s words of power. She chanted every ten minutes for an hour before she bought the potion to a simmer and left it there for the rest of the night.

After she had showered and changed into an oversized sweatshirt, she crawled into bed and Grimm sprawled out on the pillow beside hers.

“I hope it’s enough to keep the Cyhyraeth at bay,” she murmured, her speech slurring a little.

“It’s a very powerful potion. It would be enough to keep even a High-level demon away.”

Cadence really hoped Grimm was right. She turned over, closed her eyes, and got some sleep.

The next morning, Cadence went straight to the basement. Cold air immediately attacked her bare legs. Once she was close to the cauldron, the heat from the simmering potion warmed her up. She stirred and got a good whiff of the stuff from the steam rising from the cauldron.

It had all cooked together. She bottled the potions, killed the heat, and thanked Aradia for her guidance.

When Cadence left for the Inquiring Siren, Chau was making her way from her parent’s shop, a backpack slung over one shoulder. When she spotted Cadence, she waved excitedly and began jogging in her direction.

She was so full of energy, even this early in the morning. Cadence didn’t understand it, at all.

“Hey.” She looked at the box in Cadence’s hand filled with the jars of freshly brewed potion. “What’s that?”

Cadence didn’t know whether or not Chau knew about the full extent of the attacks, and she wasn’t sure how much she should say.

“It’s a potion for protection,” she said a little lamely. “Lorelei wanted me to make it.”

Chau looked up at Cadence in surprise. “It’s for that thing that almost killed that human, isn’t it?”

Probably because of the obvious discomfort on Cadence’s face, Chau clapped her hands together in triumph.

“I knew it,” she said. “I knew there was something wrong with what happened that night. The people at my school have been gossiping. Someone said they overheard the chief of Blue Ridge talking to Lorelei and he told her the description the kids gave him. That something drained his soul out of his body. The adults won’t tell us any more about it, though.” She looked at Cadence hopefully.

Not sure how to extricate herself from this situation, Cadence found herself relieved when Lorelei’s voice called out, “Chau, shouldn’t you be heading to school?”

When they turned, Lorelei was making her way toward them with her too quiet footsteps. Her motions looked even more languid in the daytime, and there were deep, dark circles underneath her too bright eyes. The black lace parasol from before protected her from most of the sun’s rays and she was dressed head to toe in black.

When she was close enough, she looked down at Chau with a kind of parental disapproval.

“Haven’t you been late this past week? If you keep being late like this it’ll start affecting your grades. Your parents won’t be happy about that.” She made a shooing motion with her hand. “Go.”

Looking thoroughly scolded, Chau went off, giving Cadence a look that said they’d talk later.

Once Chau was out of earshot, Lorelei turned her full attention to Cadence. Or, to be specific, she turned her attention to the box stuffed with bottles of protection potion in her hand.

Cadence pulled one out and placed it in Lorelei's outstretched hand, taking great care to avoid touching her skin. Even if they were working together, a Vampire was still a Vampire. Under the sun, Vampires tended to be more temperamental, hungrier than they were at nighttime. Although Lorelei had promised Cadence didn’t have to give blood, Cadence didn’t exactly take Vampires at their word.

“If you can get that to the boy, have him ingest it. I’ll give some to Chau and have her give some to her family.” She pulled out two more. “Give these to Ruth and that guy who was working in the shop yesterday. I’ll pass as many of these around as I can.”

“I understand how it will protect those who have yet to be attacked, but what exactly will this do for the comatose boy?” Lorelei studied the almost too clear liquid in the bottle.

“If the Wraith decides to snack on a soul for Samhain, he might choose the boy’s. Even though eating souls on Samhain increase the strength in them, it might realize we’re after it and want to get stronger before gathering other victims. With the protection potion, it’ll make eating his soul a lot more difficult. Or, at least, when it tries, it’ll let out a screech loud enough for us to find it.”

Lorelei nodded in understanding after a short while. “Okay,” she murmured. “I see. I’ll give your potions to Ruth and Jaxon. The sheriff of Blue Ridge called for me to meet with him this morning, so I’ll slip this to the boy, then.”

Lorelei started to turn, then, like she had forgotten something turned back and said, “I almost forgot. Here.” She opened her hand, revealing a necklace with what Cadence assumed was her family crest on it.

It was a branding. Like saying, I belong to Lorelei Darkhe, so you can’t touch me. It made Cadence sick to her stomach, but she had to do it. Hansel and Gretel were two of the greatest Witch Hunters in existence. If they were after her, they would find her eventually. And when they did, she would need all the help she could get.

So, she took the necklace from Lorelei and placed it around her neck. The acid boiled in her stomach the entire time, but the triumph of living to see another day outweighed her disgust.

Lorelei reached forward, and Cadence stiffened in surprise. Lorelei’s slender, spiderlike fingers straightened the necklace so that her family crest stood at full attention.

“There,” she murmured. “That’s better.” And then she turned and went on her way.

And like she had been before, Cadence was caught between being incredibly flattered that someone as beautiful as Lorelei had been so close, and being disgusted that she had been touched by a Vampire. Her Grandmother had been right; for those pulled into a Vampire’s world, wonder and disgust lived side by side.

Chau came into Inquiring Siren at around five. Cadence assumed school had ended, because she could see other school aged kids walking around, mostly in the direction of Spellbound. They walked in groups of twos, or fours. Only Chau was alone, she noticed. That made Cadence sad. She hadn’t known the girl for very long, but Cadence found Chau’s bubbly, innocent personality adorable. It saddened her to think that Chau didn’t get along with kids her age.

Chau skipped up to the service desk. She was wearing a different outfit than she had been wearing that morning.

“Are you closing soon?” Chau asked.

“I’d say so.” Cadence stood from the desk, stretching a little. She had given nearly every potion to every adult who had come into the shop. They had come looking for it, saying Lorelei had sent them. Mid-day, all of her potions had sold out, as well as her other charms for protection.

She didn’t blame the humans who came in for their panic. Even she was panicked at the idea of having to face a Cyhyraeth. Even if it was on the Witching Hour during Samhain.

She grabbed her coat, put it on and she and Chau walked out so that Cadence could flick off the lights and lock up the shop.

Outside, there was a sharpness in the air. The Wraith would strike again tonight. She had given potions to those who had wanted them, so they would be safe until Samhain, but for those who had not come…

“Let’s go down to Eleanor’s.”

Although Cadence’s mouth watered at the idea of eating at The Sizzling Griddle again, she wondered if her pockets would be able to keep up. Although the diner offered food at affordable prices, even something affordable could become expensive if you kept at it.

“That’s a good idea,” said Lorelei from behind them.

Cadence jumped a little and Chau looked over Cadence’s shoulder, startled herself.

“You really come out of nowhere,” Chau said, but her voice was more in wonder than annoyance.

“My apologies,” Lorelei murmured. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

Her voice carried hints of amusement and when Cadence turned to look at her, her eyes were equally amused. She was wearing a skin tight sweater dress, and her black as night hair hung down her back like silk.

“But, as I was saying, you should go. Eleanor gives discounts on Fridays. Also, you and I have matters to discuss.”

And then, without another word, Lorelei began walking toward The Sizzling Griddle. Cadence was annoyed at Lorelei ordering her around, but she knew by this point she really had no choice. She had accepted her protection, after all. Chau pulled on Cadence’s arm and practically skipped to The Sizzling Griddle.

Like always, a crowd was drawing in. Cars and trucks that were just passing through were parked in the parking lot, and the locals were walking in droves.

When they were in the area specifically for the locals, Cadence immediately spotted Ruth and the man who had been in the bookshop yesterday. Jaxon, Lorelei had said. The same Jaxon Chau had fawned over. Not that Cadence didn’t understand why a girl Chau’s age—or a straight female any age—wouldn't be attracted to Jaxon. He had that rugged, small town boy with looks that could knock a Calvin Klein model dead.

Lorelei headed straight for the table where Ruth and Jaxon sat and then Cadence realized that those two weren’t the only ones there. Venus dressed in a emerald turtleneck, her blonde hair tied up and away from her pretty face. Odell, the man she had met when she first came to Glasskeep, was still in a fraying jacket that read Odell’s Auto Repair Shop on the right breast pocket. Some people Cadence didn’t recognize—a couple of Vampires, some Witches, a Werewolf. And then Ayami, sitting in her kimono. This one with the designs like a meadow in springtime, vibrant, colorful flowers in full bloom and a sakura tree’s petals scattered gracefully on beautiful green grass. Her hair was tied back and she wore a hairpin to keep it all together.

She was as magnificently beautiful as Cadence remembered. Even though it had only been a night since Cadence last saw her, it was like Cadence was seeing her for the first time.

And then there was Reverend Whitlock. He was dressed in his priest robes and he was whispering with Ruth, who was nodding seriously at something he was saying.

When Lorelei strolled toward the table with that languid, unnatural walk of hers, everyone quietened down. Every local seated at every table turned their eyes toward the Vampire who languidly slid into a seat and gestured for Chau and Cadence to do the same. Chau hopped into the seat beside Reverend Whitlock and Cadence slid in beside her.

Amahle came around and took orders in the quiet room. No one really moved until Amahle came back from putting in orders with Eleanor in tow. Eleanor slid in beside her sister and side by side, they kind of looked alike. Lorelei’s beauty was a bit more deceptive and terrifying, and Eleanor’s was more gentle and human. But there were similarities in their noses and the shape of their lips.

“Everyone’s here, then,” Lorelei muttered. “Good. Chau, you’re acting as the envoy of your family today.”

Chau nodded seriously. There was a little pride in herself at being able to be a part of an adult conversation.

“Okay.” Lorelei looked at Cadence and all the eyes in the room followed suit. Cadence cringed from that a little; flashbacks from school came to mind and she really did not need that. “You know more about the creature we’re battling. Give us a rundown.”

“I only know what I told you yesterday,” Cadence said, pursing her lips and rubbing her sweaty palms on her jeans, feeling every eye on her like an individual weight. “They capture souls and store them so that they can feast on them during Samhain.”

“And what happens after that?” asked Ruth, her eyebrows furrowed. “After Halloween—er, Samhain—what will they do, then?”

“They go into hibernation,” Cadence recited, remembering the words of the old book. “They go to sleep for a year and when October rolls around next year, it returns, stronger than before. The more souls the Cyhyraeth is able to devour, the stronger it becomes.”

It was quiet for a long moment. The person who spoke up, in a timid voice, was Chau.

“How are we supposed to beat something like that?”

“The potions I gave out today are supposed to help. It will keep the Wraith from devouring the souls of anyone who injests it. Also, I don’t think the Cyhyraeth is strong enough to feed on supernaturals yet. If it could, it would have attacked Lorelei or anyone else instead of that human. The fact that it chose a human means it isn’t strong enough to hurt a supernatural. On the night of Samhain, where powers are at its peak, we’ll wait for the Witching Hour and I’ll banish it back to the Other World. What I’m more worried about is…” Cadence trailed off, her eyebrows furrowing.

Lorelei raised an eyebrow in silent questioning.

“Well, I’ve been giving this a lot of thought since we talked last night, and while I was making the potions, I was reading some of the old books my Grandmother used to make me read. Particuarly, I was reading about Cyhyraeths. They’re creatures from the Other Side, they reside in the land of the dead and feed on the damned souls there. They get stronger and stronger and by the time someone dies, supernatural or human, they’re impossible to escape from. They let out sounds that strike dread in their victims so intense that the soul is paralyzed. Cyhyraeths can’t travel from the Other Side to the mortal world at will.”

Something akin to surprised dread spread over Lorelei’s face before she beat it back. “You’re saying…”

Cadence nodded. “Someone had to summon it. Considering how weak it is, and considering how out of control it is, the Witch who summoned it must not have done it correctly. Perhaps they meant to summon the soul of a loved one or a familiar and instead, they summoned a being they were unable to control.”

The room grew quiet as everyone seemed to ponder that. After a moment, Lorelei spoke up, saying, “There’s nothing we can do about it now. Cadence won’t be at maximum power until Samhain. For now, let’s just wait it out.”

Everyone agreed, but Cadence could see the lines of worry on their faces. Even Lorelei, who was the calmest of them, looked mildly disturbed by what was going on.

And again, Cadence couldn’t blame them for being disturbed by what was going on. Because she, herself, was terrified.