21

Regina showed up with a basket of food and a big hug. I clung to her for a long time, feeling like she was my last hope.

"You're struggling with it, aren't you?"

We both knew what she was referring to. "I want to take Poppy apart."

She took my hand. "And we both know you can't do that."

I knew exactly what that would make me. "So how do I stop her, use the sway I found?"

"That's only temporary. You need something more permanent."

"And how am I supposed to do that without using dark magic?"

Regina squeezed my hand. "Lean on us."

"With Circle magic."

"And this." Regina handed me a blurry photocopy from a very old book, and my eyes widened at the words.

"Where did this come from?"

"My family's Book of Shadows."

There was bitterness and anger behind her ready smile. "Why help me?"

"Because helping you means Tessa Farnsworth is out of business."

"I thought she wasn't involved."

"Not directly, but when I was your age, Tessa betrayed my Circle. And I've never forgiven her for that."

I looked at the spell again. "Would this work on my Dad?"

She said, "I don't see why not, but you have to take him by surprise. If he finds out you have this, then you don't stand a chance. And if that means keeping it to yourself for awhile, then I suggest you do that."

I knew Jake would go straight to my Dad, so this was my only option besides dark magic. "What if it doesn't work?"

"Child, you have to believe...in yourself, and in your Circle."

"What if they don't believe in me? Most of them think I'm a self-absorbed drama queen."

Regina smiled. "Like most teenagers you mean?"

That made me laugh. "Yeah, like that."

She gave me another hug. "Let us help you, Cassie. You really aren't alone, no matter how it seems."

Regina promised to bring Sally back after school, and I thanked her for the food basket. There was fruit, but she'd also thoughtfully included chocolate (the good kind) and other treats. I peeled a banana and mulled over what she'd said. No matter how much I wanted to give in to my darkness, I had to try the other way first. If all else failed, then I'd pull out the stops. Of course, knowing how everyone besides Jake felt about dark magic, I decided to also keep this on the down low.

Adam showed up by himself, and I was a little uncomfortable when he hugged me. "Hey," he said, looking genuinely glad to see me. "You look ready to bust out anytime."

"I am feeling better," I admitted, though my wound still burned.

"So, I wanted to run something by you," Adam said, looking around to make sure no one was listening.

"What's that?" I asked.

Adam touched my hand and I let his fingers rest over mine. "You know that memory spell we used on Jake?"

"What about it?"

"I was kind of hoping..." His words faded away as he got up his nerve to continue.

His nervousness was almost endearing. "Yes?"

"That maybe we could access your memories to help get mine back."

I jumped back, completely stunned by his request. "I don't think I can do that."

Adam looked crestfallen, and my desire to reassure him warred with my inclination to keep my thoughts private. "Why? I thought you'd be on board with this."

I felt like my head was about to explode. "Umm, I don't think it's a good idea, Adam."

"Why? It worked fine with Jake."

"Yes, but we were focused on a specific event, and they were his memories. Using my memories is not the same as restoring your own."

"How do you really know unless we try it?"

I scrubbed my hands through my hair. "I have to think about this."

"What's there to think about, Cassie?" His husky tones nearly did me in, but I held fast to my conviction.

"Everything, Adam. I don't think there's a quick fix for this." What I didn't say was maybe he should use the time to figure out whether we really belonged together.

"What if there is? I would think that you of all people would be anxious to set things right."

"And what if it's not the way things are meant to be? What if this destiny thing is some ancient spell that dogs every generation?"

His eyes clouded with despair. "You don't believe that."

I shrugged. "I don't know what I believe anymore."

Adam stood up abruptly. "I need some air."

He left without a word, never noticing the half moons on my palms where my nails had dug in. Tears dripped down my face and when I heard Faye's voice approaching, I scrubbed at my cheeks with a tissue and forced a smile when she arrived with Diana and Melissa.

Diana looked concerned. "Adam looked really upset. What happened?"

Nothing I could talk about with her. "He asked me to work a spell with him, and I turned him down."

"What sort of spell?" Faye asked, needing to know everyone's business.

I shook my head. "It's related to his Dad."

That seemed to satisfy them. They dropped my school work off, and I set to working on it while they chatted about all the latest teen drama. Only Melissa hung back a little, waiting until the other two left the room before asking, "What's really going on, Cassie?"

Emotions bubbling under the surface came gushing out and I told her everything. "What was I supposed to say? My feelings are private. It's not a solution."

Melissa looked sad. "I feel so badly for the two of you. Poor Adam is beside himself trying to remember. Sometimes he gets these flashes and it's like it used to be, and then he loses hold of it. It's like someone ripped away part of his brain, and only the scattered bits are left."

He hadn't told me any of this, and I felt worse than ever. "You think I should try it, don't you?"

She shrugged. "I can't tell you what to do, but if I were in your place, I would."

Her words stayed with me for a very long time, and it was well after midnight before sleep finally reclaimed me.