Chapter Fifty Four: Knives and Silver Spoons

Lorraine came out of Bates’ study with John and Sally following behind her. She was feeling better than she had felt in ages. She felt light, unbothered, and like there had been a burden lifted off her shoulders. She didn’t understand how practicing magic could have that effect on her; she wasn’t all that good, and she took her time learning each spell, but it was like she was buzzing with life. “You’re a natural. I can’t say I’m all that surprised though.” John told her and her smile widened.

“I honestly didn’t think I was capable of any of this.” The excitement in her tone was evident. “It feels…” She tried to find the right words to describe how she was feeling. “I don’t know, ethereal.”

John chuckled, “You’re high on magic.” At the worried look she gave him, he shook his head, “It’s perfectly normal. You haven’t used magic before, and today you performed several strong spells. Your body will get used to it before you even know it.”

They arrived at the parlor and saw Cedric, Bates, and Aiden sitting before a sobbing Judy. Lorraine jogged to her worriedly and glanced at the other. “What happened?”

“Cedric lifted the spell that was on her, and she realized everything she had done.” Bates explained; his eyes drifted to Judy, “She remembers everything now.”
Judy looked up at Lorraine, “I’m so sorry. I…” She swallowed the thick lump in her throat. “I didn’t mean to, I swear.” Lorraine nodded her head and hugged the girl. Judy’s head was in the croak of Lorraine’s neck as she sobbed even more. She didn’t even know what to think anymore. Mark was a monster, something of fiction, and Judy didn’t know how to handle any of it anymore.

Lorraine rubbed her back, “It’s alright, Juds. I just need you to tell us what you know. I think you understand now how important it is.”
Cedric was the first to speak in a tone that didn’t hold any sympathy for her. “Do you know where they hid the grimoire? That ancient book Mark told you about?”
Judy shook her head, “I don’t know about that, but it might be in the motel room where he stayed.” Her tone was broken as she spoke, her eyes remained casted down, almost in shame. She then told them the name of the motel and where it was. Aiden got up and was about to head there, however he was stopped by two people calling his name, Cedric and Judy.

“I need to talk to you.” Judy mumbled with a small voice.

Cedric turned to Aiden, “I don’t think it’s wise to run around like headless chicken everywhere. I will go check the motel from a distance.” Bates nodded his agreement to the plan, and Aiden was outnumbered.

“I can come along, having a warlock around is always useful.” John offered. He wanted to help in any way he could, but it wasn’t his only reason. He also wanted to avenge the death of his parents. He was confident he could, with a Vancsura, a deathless, and two vampires with him. Sally glanced at him, asking him silently if he should, and he nodded. “I’m going to be okay. Don’t worry.” He told her gently and she kissed him before he left with Cedric.

Aiden was about to head to his room, forgetting about Judy’s request, but she grabbed his arm, stopping him. “I’m sorry.” He gave her a confused look and Lorraine mumbled an excuse to leave, “No, Lorraine, you should hear this too. I think it could help.” She let out a breath, “That day at the Tavern.” She started with teary eyes staring at Aiden, “I put something in your drink. I’m not sure what it was or what it did. He told me that I have to.” She shook her head, “I didn’t know any better.”
Aiden thought back to that day, he was overly depressed and sad and he had drunk himself silly. He remembered seeing Judy on that day, but he couldn’t recall much of what happened afterwards as he woke up in the woods. It was the day after that the grimoire went missing, after Lorraine had left it in the house with them. It wasn’t hard for either Lorraine nor Aiden to connect the dots. “Is it possible that …” Lorraine trailed off and Aiden nodded his head.
“I think whatever they made her put in my drink did something to my mind. I can’t recall much, but it isn’t all that far-fetched that I handed them the grimoire without even knowing so.” Aiden explained with a scowl on his face.

“It might be a potion.” Bates explained. Lorraine glanced at him as if saying seriously, and he nodded his head. “It’s an art that’s pretty difficult to learn, but any witch is capable of making them after having the right teaching. Sometimes, they’re even more effective than spells.”
Lorraine let out a sigh, then turned to Bates, “Can I take the grimoires with me? I would like to read through them some more.”
Bates nodded his head, “Of course, I think that would be wise.”

She then turned to Judy, “Let’s take you home, if you want you can call your parents and tell them you’ll stay over at my place.”
Judy shook her head, “I think I need to get home. I… I need to process all of this.” Lorraine nodded and Bates offered to drive the two girls. Aiden remained silent and went to his room. He, too, needed some alone time.

Bates dropped Lorraine off at her place, and once she was inside, he started driving again to Judy’s house. It was silent between the two as she sat next to him with her eyes on the road. “You’re going to be okay.” He said in a low voice. He felt bad for the girl. He wasn’t one to throw judgments, but his first impression of her wasn’t all that good. She seemed vain and way too childish for her age. However, she was happy, always radiant like a ball of sunshine. So, seeing her like that tucked at his heart.

She gave him a curt nod, swallowing the lump in her throat. “I will be.” She then let out a sigh, “I just didn’t think that I was that shallow, to not see all the red flags surrounding him. I literally took the red flags and made a damn dress with them.” She chuckled humorlessly, “What does that say about me? Running to the first guy who gave me the slightest bit of attention.”

Bates wasn’t sure how to retort, he didn’t know how to make her feel better. He pulled over in front of her house. She opened the door to exit then he said, “I remember seeing your grades. I thought it was a fluke that you excelled so well in my class and I got curious.” He turned to look at her, “You’re a smart young girl, Judith. Know your worth.”

“When you’re not fed love on a silver spoon, you learn to lick it off knives.” She said that quote she read some time ago. Those specific words of Lauren Eden touched her like nothing else. “Thank you, Mr. Bright, for bringing me back.” She exited the car, closing the door behind her. Bates remained watching her as she got inside the house with a sort of surprised look on his face. Bates wasn’t sure if she was thanking him for bringing her home or for bringing her out of the darkness she was in.