Chapter 7

Bad advice.



Nicky stared at me with her hands on her hips.
"Oh, my God! You were with Jasper, right?"
I scratched my head hoping to bury the past few hours deep in my mind. Nicky already knew what was going on. I could play this game as much as I wanted, but in the end, she would get to the bottom of what happened a few hours ago. I rubbed my hands over my pyjama pants.
“He's helping me. Dad and Kate … they’re dying," I began. "The healers are saying only a white witch can heal them."
Nicky exhaled and sat next to me on the sofa. I felt guilty that I hadn’t called called her during the biggest crisis of my life. My best friend knew everything that had happened between me and Jasper. From the look on her face, I gathered she didn’t approve of what I was doing. It was too bad that Jasper couldn’t be trusted, but without him Dad was as good as dead. My mind was in emotional turmoil. I knew what kind of price I would have to pay for getting what I wanted.
"I spoke to Kelsie when I couldn’t get through to you. She briefly explained to me what happened with your Dad and Kate. Whoever charmed your father had to be incredibly skilled. I’ve called a few fairies, but they couldn't help, only laughed when I asked about the white witch. We both know Jasper still wants you; he might only be using you."
My stomach heaved when I thought how easy it was for him to kill an innocent creature. I didn’t want to be close to someone who was so blinded by cruelty.
"I have to take that chance. He has connections to Gordon Lancaster, the only person who knows how to find the white witch," I argued, hiding my face in my hands.
"Gordon Lancaster? You’re kidding me, right?" she shouted, getting up abruptly. "You can’t expect to believe him."
Before I said anything I knew she was going to react like that, trying to talk me out of it.
"Nicky, put yourself in my position. Kate and Dad will die if I wait for the healer to come up with something. No one has a cure, and no one knows how to help them. Gordon is my only chance."
"But he’s killer. Harry knows people who lost paranormals close to them because of him. I know we’re talking about your dad and Kate, but what about Nathaniel? He has money and connections."
My stomach heaved again as soon as Nathaniel’s name passed through Nicky’s mouth. The problem was that Nathaniel was one of the good guys. He might have earned his money with the help of that bastard McGregor, but at the end of the day he didn’t know the person who held the information I desperately needed.
"If I want to find someone who can’t be found, then I have to mix with a bad crowd. Nathaniel can’t help me. Now, can we talk about something else?" I asked, hoping she wouldn't ask about tonight and what I had to do to get this information about Lancaster. Nicky’s blue eyes were staring at me with concern and worry.
"We can, but promise me that if this whole thing goes too far, you’ll walk away?"
"I can’t," I mumbled.
Nicky threw her hands in the air and paced around my living room. "Julia, don’t be stupid, just be careful. I’ve never trusted Jasper." She sighed. "How is your mum coping? And Kate’s parents? Do the police know anything else about those rituals?"
"I don’t think Mum wants to divorce Dad anymore. She’s with him most of the time. I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but it looks like the magic isn’t an issue anymore," I explained, thinking that this tragedy pushed her into realising what she could lose. “Kate's parents are searching for their own cure. The police are useless. Dannika has taken over the case, but I can’t keep sitting and waiting for something to happen."
"I'm not saying you need to do that. Just be careful. We both know Jasper’s a scumbag."
We talked a bit more about other options. Nicky was a good friend; she tried to convince me to cut all ties with Jasper, but I knew that this was impossible. There was also the new coven in the city. London brought paranormals from every part of the world and they caused a new disturbance. Dannika was doing everything she could and maybe with a bit of luck, her investigation could bring some results. At the moment in the back of my mind I knew that at some point I had to contact Gordon. Even if I wanted nothing to do with Jasper, I had no choice. I had to forget about the past and concentrate on what he could do for me.

***

The following morning, I received a phone call from Mum asking why the hell no one was doing anything to help my dad. She didn't understand that healer’s magic couldn’t heal him. I tried to explain to her that someone forced him into a ritual, which went terribly wrong, and now all the spells were useless. There was no cure for what had happened to him. Halfway through the conversation my mother started crying, telling me that this wasn't over.

After the call, I read and listened to all of Nathaniel’s messages, then felt extremely guilty. I knew I needed to reach out to him. He could help me too, but instead I chose to ask my psycho ex, Jasper for help. This was ridiculous, and I knew it, so what the hell was wrong with me? Sure, Jasper could get me in to see Lancaster, but at what cost? I knew Nathaniel would never allow anyone to hurt me, but I couldn’t say the say the same for Jasper. He always had a hidden agenda and it was usually an attempt at getting me back. I told myself that I would call Nathaniel later and explain everything. I at least owed him that. Maybe he could help me find the answers I so desperately sought.
Then, the tiny voice in my head was telling me that only Jasper could bring me close to Lancaster. Witches, rituals and black magic never interested Nathaniel, and once he found out what I was planning, there was a possibility he’d lock me up in his swanky apartment to keep me out of trouble. I remembered our disastrous evening in one of Lancaster’s bars, when we were nearly torn apart by group of bikers.
I was a right mess, feeling so confused. I just wanted my dad back.
Straight after Mum’s phone call, Rufus called asking me to go straight to La Caz Pharmaceutical. Lucinda wanted to see me urgently. Rufus was on the way to the office and didn't know what she needed. Nathaniel’s factory was on the way to the hospital, which gave me five minutes with Dad.
Work wasn't on my mind at all, but I had to keep earning money. My hands were shaking a little when I jumped back into the car and fired up the engine. I had used my magic this morning to be more in control of my powers, but the past few events left me a little damaged. Nathaniel was never at work early in the morning, but I needed to be prepared, just in case I had to face him. Since my blackouts, my magic and spells had improved. Now I was able to cast the most basic spells. I experienced less tingling throughout the day and was able to concentrate more on things that mattered.
After struggling with finding parking at the hospital, I went to Kate’s room feeling a little on edge. Thoughts of last night were moving through my mind.
Kate’s mum was sitting beside her, waving her magic wand around. She was still trying to come up with a spell that could bring her daughter back.
"Oh, Julia, I wasn't expecting to see you here so early," she said, welcoming me with a warm smile. She hadn’t had much sleep, her sullen cheeks showing complete devotion to her daughter.
"I was on my way to one of the factories and thought I would pop in to see Dad," I explained. "Any changes?"
"No, her condition is still the same." She sighed. "The healers aren’t giving me much hope. I’ve tried everything, even the most complicated potions from my mother’s side, but she’s still asleep."
"Everyone keeps saying that there’s nothing else they can do."
"Your mum has taken this quite hard. She’s been here all night. I saw her in the canteen in the early hours of the morning."
Mum had been spending a lot of time in the hospital. She asked for a leave of absence at work, but she had been spending nights in the hospital. It frustrated me that the healers weren’t even trying to find a cure.
"When Mum found out that Dad was magical, she cut him off and asked for a divorce."
"Some humans are very close-minded. Now she’s beside his bed, not even thinking about the past. It’s sad that it had to come to this to make her see."
I glanced back at Kate; she looked like she was sleeping but without her soul. Her magic was fading, and it wouldn’t be much longer before she died.
"I'm going to check on my dad," I said to Mrs. Broomfield, who was staring blankly at her daughter. "But please don’t lose hope. I have some friends and… I'm going to find the white witch."
Mrs. Broomfield didn't say anything only smiled faintly, probably thinking I was out of my mind. I was scared to go into my dad’s room. I couldn’t psychically imagine my life without him. I peered through the door that stood ajar. My heart hammered between my ribs. He looked so peaceful. One of the healers mentioned that they had to charm Mum to go home; otherwise she refused to leave. My guts were turning, knowing I should have been with her.
I left feeling guilty that she was with him all alone. It was around half past nine when I finally made it to La Caz Pharmaceutical. In the past few months Nathaniel had purchased another building and opened a new production line. His Lucrative shot, which helped vampires deal with their thirst for blood, turned out to be a global success.
Todd, the security guard who I’d gotten to know well, greeted me warmly and asked me to go straight to Lucinda’s office. We supplied over five hundred people to Nathaniel’s factory in the past few weeks, so I had an idea of what this conversation was going to be about.
Her office was on the fourth floor. My friend Kelsie worked as Lucinda’s PR. It was Kelsie who waited for me by the lift. She looked a bit pale today, wearing a tight black two-piece suit and super high heels.
"The whale asked me to show you some stats first," she announced, pushing me back into the elevator. She was lucky enough that her office was a floor down from Lucinda, so she didn’t have to listen to her ranting all day long. "So, any news? I went to your apartment last night with Michael, but you weren't in."
It took me a moment to go through the events from last night. My stomach went a bit queasy when I mentioned the magic thieves and the way Jasper killed that young boy.
"What the fuck? How does that bastard know about white witches?" she hissed, opening the door to her office.

"No way, Julia, you’re not getting sucked into this bullshit. I’ll get you in front of Gordon myself. Michael knows shifters who are working for him. You don’t need Jasper."
"Kelsie, I don’t want you getting involved. This is too dangerous and stupid. The fewer people who know about this, the better. I’ll get some updates from Dannika tonight," I insisted, bending the truth. I wasn't planning to speak to the police; it was a waste of time. I was going to see Jasper.
"Listen to me, you silly idiot. Jasper’s psycho and he isn’t running this show. I’ll speak to Michael and we’ll meet tonight to discuss this. Now, let me show you these shitty numbers before Miss Perfect starts ranting that we’re wasting time."
I was too exhausted and drained to argue with her. I always got myself into trouble and every time I dragged my friends down with me. This time Kelsie was willing to get involved and I wanted to take her up on her offer. Jasper was my last resort.
The conversation about the figures was dull and after my second cup of coffee, I was ready to pack my stuff and go back to the office.
"To be fair to Lucinda, she might be right. Something strange is going on in the factory. In the past two weeks, after we offered contracts to one of our older employees, fifteen witches have gone AWOL. They aren’t even calling off sick; they just don’t come in. I don’t know, Julia, Lucinda seems concerned. La Caz is losing a shit ton of money. No one in the union knows what’s going on."
My head started pulsing with sharp pain. I didn't eat any breakfast in the morning. I couldn't even remember when I ate last. I was distracted but I understood what Kelsie was saying. It was strange that witches hadn't been turning up for work.
"Yeah, that’s unusual, but what does Lucinda want me to do about it? We ran references on everyone. The Sabbath up north might have something to do with it."
“It's not like I give a fuck either, but she wants you to find more vampires, to be more selective and—"
There was a knock at Kelsie’s door and then Nathaniel walked in, not waiting for a response. His eyes automatically found mine. A crisp wind began ruffling my hair.
Yep, nothing has changed. He’s still turning me on, even when I really don’t want to feel anything right now.