Chapter 12

Two days had gone by and I hadn't talked to Trent. I wasn't sure if it was because I was trying to make a spell or because our relationship may have moved to the next level. I was avoiding him if I was going to be honest with myself. At least he wasn't calling to find out what was going on. I had three hours before it was time to go meet Al and I figured once I was there I could learn how to make my own spell or hopefully find one of his I could use. I didn't call Al after my talk with Trent thinking that asking him in person would be best. I guess I would find out shortly.

I was in a sour mood having no luck at all finding out how a spell was made on my own. I didn't think finding information on how to make a spell would be non existent. I ate a spoonful of my tomato soup. This was going to be harder than I thought. I had just finished the last of my soup when I felt a tug on the line. That was weird. It wasn't someone using it, but it was more like someone standing in it. It was too early for it to be Al and I didn't know anyone else in the neighborhood brave enough to stand in a demon's cemetery even if there was a line running through it. I felt it again but this time I heard the whisper, sounding just like I had in Trent's office when Lee popped in.

"Not in my church you don't!" I exclaimed jumping up and running out the back door.

"Rache?" Ivy called from the sanctuary but didn't follow me out. Jenks was already outside and heard the door slam open and landed on my shoulder. Bis came out of nowhere and was on the other shoulder.

"What's wrong with the line Ms. Rachel?" Bis asked.

I stopped walking. "You can feel it too Bis?"

"Yes. I don't see anyone in it but it doesn't feel right." Bis was worried. We hadn't had the best experience with the lines together. I cleared my mind and opened my second sight.

"Rache I don't like this." Jenks said quietly.

"Then go inside with Ivy." I snapped at him. I was trying to concentrate and couldn't hold a conversation. Bis was right, there wasn't anyone in the line but I could still hear the same muffled whispering. "I think someone is coming. It's just like it was in Trent's office when Lee jumped in."

I didn't have a clue who was coming but I knew it was going to happen. "Bis are you ready?"

"Ms. Rachel I feel funny. I think someone is talking to me-" Bis didn't even finish his sentence before he fell off my shoulder.

"Bis!" I yelled and Ivy was in the back in seconds.

"What happened?" She questioned.

"I don't know. We felt the line change. It was weird Ivy. Then he got all stiff and fell over." I panicked. I tried to shake Bis but he was hard as stone. His eyes were closed and it was almost as if he had fallen asleep. Ivy and I argued for a minute before deciding to bring Bis inside. He was heavy as a boulder but with Ivy's help we managed to get him through the back door.

"I'm calling Al." I rushed to get my mirror when I heard Bis' wings.

"No. Ms. Rachel I'm fine. I think I heard a Druchii communicating through the line." He said as he landed on my shoulder with Ivy and Jenks right behind him.

"What?" I was horrified. Poor Bis. It shouldn't have knocked him out. Maybe it had something to do with the lines. Bis was connected to them all so the Druchii couldn't possess him.

"It was talking about you." Bis said in a gravely tone. I swallowed. This was going to be interesting. "It was upset about the death of Ava. It said you were responsible and they would be seeking revenge." Bis took a dramatic pause and gave a huge smile showing all of his blocky teeth. "It was talking to Ellasbeth. She told it to do whatever it takes to keep you and Trenton apart."

"Swell." I muttered.

Bis was still smiling. "There's more. He didn't know that I could read his thoughts with how he was using the line to communicate."

I smiled back. "What did you find out?"

"Ellasbeth doesn't want you and Trenton together. She's acting against her family's wishes and they are ready to end this as much as you and Trent." He flew to his perch atop the refrigerator. This was good news. Maybe her family would deal with her so that Trent and I wouldn't have to. It was a long shot but I hoped they would. Ivy had a look of irritation on her face.

"What?" I asked her.

"Why do you believe any of that is true?" Ivy filled the coffee carafe with water to make a fresh pot. Bis took in a big gulp of air. "That's not what I mean Bis. I believe you. But how does Rachel know that the message wasn't passed through her line on purpose on hopes of her overhearing it?"

"Rachel isn't going to stay away from Trent. He's her boyfriend now." Jenks stood on the center island doing his peter pan pose.

"Whoa whoa whoa. He's not my boyfriend. We just kissed a little." My face reddened.

"We all know Trent's your boyfriend so just deal with it." Ivy snapped as she measured out three scoops of coffee and started the pot. Jenks laughed but kept his comments to himself which was a huge accomplishment by my standards.

"Al come on! I will spend an extra twenty-four hours with you a week for the next month! Just help me try to make this spell." I pleaded with him.

"How do I know you won't turn around and use it on me to take away my magic Rachel? Absolutely not." Al grumbled as he was looking through one of his books in the library about the Druchii. He had been holding out on me but I had kind of expected it.

"Then help me come up with a way to stop her!" I demanded. "We can't end the war if she's trying to keep Trent and I apart."

"So?" Al snapped and kept reading. "What do I care if some deranged bitch is trying to break you and your boyfriend up?"

"Aaaaahhhhhh! Al! Listen to me. I need to be able to have contact with Trent to fix the demons. I can't do that when the Druchii are after me." I yelled.

"Did you just yell at me dove?" Al asked squinting his eyes at me as he shut his book. Crap on toast. I should have thought of that but I'm not going to let Al intimidate me anymore. I was a demon too and I wasn't going to be pushed around just because he had been doing it longer.

"Yes I did. You're supposed to be teaching me and I'm not learning anything that's going to help me. I have nothing to use on the offensive. I need your help." I said more calmly.

"Give me fifty-six hours a week for a month and you have a deal." Al countered.

"Deal." I said before he could change his mind. Al hummed his way around the library retrieving books and setting them on a table he had misted into existence. I wasn't sure what we would be needing that many books for but I wasn't going to question him now that he was helping me. Al had finally pulled his last book and misted some chairs in as he dropped it on the table.

"Sit." He demanded. "Now go through these books and find anything you can about the Druchii." He handed me a stack of four books. I opened the first one and groaned. My Latin sucked dishwater and the whole book was written in it. "You have to learn to read it. You're a demoness after all and they know how to read Latin."

Al had left me alone to do my research. He said he had a potential familiar to check on and that I better have found something by the time he returned. Six hours and four books later I came across the word dryadalis which was Latin for elf. The curse looked easy enough. The only thing I needed was something from the elf I was focusing on, a piece of hair would work just fine. If my interpretation was correct the curse would make it so that the elf you cursed would only be able to use their magic for good. This I could work with. I thought about calling Al to see if he would let me leave early but I figured that would be pushing my luck. I copied down how to perform the curse just in case Al didn't let me borrow the book.

"Al? I found it." I said out loud to the empty room. "You wanna check it out and make sure I can use this one?" I sat down in one of the chairs closest to the fireplace thinking Al couldn't hear me but then I was jumped into the kitchen.

"Thanks." I said to Al. "So you want to look?"

"No. I trust your judgement Rachel." He said.

I spent the rest of my time there stirring him the curse that makes him look like a British gentlemen. It was a pretty quiet visit and I thought it weird Al didn't have more smart remarks for me. I took it with a grain of salt thinking maybe he was upset about my working so closely with Trent. He dropped me back home at midnight the following night in my kitchen.

"Trent!" I exclaimed as I saw him sitting at my spot at the table. "What are you doing here?"

He hiccuped then giggled. Did he just giggle? I heard Ivy do the same. I looked at the other end of the table where Ivy was sitting. They both had shot glasses in front of them. Jenks was in the middle of the table flat on his back, his wings spread wide and his glass was filled with honey. He didn't appear to be awake but I could hear him singing softly about blood and daisies. Finally taking in the rest of the scene in the kitchen I think I knew what had happened.

The kitchen table had not one, not two, but three empty bottles of pre-turn whiskey. They were drunk. I didn't know Ivy drank anything besides wine.

"Rachel's home!" Ivy slurred her words. "We missed you. How was your deeeemon time? Did you find a spell?" Ivy dropped her head on the table as if those words were just too much work right now.

"What's the occasion guys?" I asked gathering the bottles and dropping them into the trash.

"You." Trent said as he finished off the whiskey in his glass.

"Aww shucks but you guys could have gotten me flowers." I said sarcastically.

They all laughed at that one taking much longer than normal to stop. I couldn't deal with this right now. I was tired and I stank like the ever-after and they were giggling like school girls.

"Raaaachel. You know you're beautiful when you're angry." Trent hiccuped.

"She smells good too!" Ivy piped in.

"That's it. Ivy time for bed." I walked over and helped her stand. She dropper her arm over my shoulders and let me guide her to her room. I tried to drop her down to her bed but she didn't let go of me and I fell clumsily on top of her. "Ivy!"

She giggled. "You smell good Rachel. Go put on some of your perfume. I like Trent. I think he loves you. Be nice to him okay."

"You got it." I said prying her arms off of my neck. "Go to sleep." I pulled the covers up over her and she was out as soon as her eyes closed. I went back to the kitchen thankful that Trent hadn't moved. He somehow had made another bottle of whiskey appear and Jenks was in a sitting position. Where was he hiding them? They were both singing a country song that neither one could quite get the words right. It reminded me of drunken karaoke.

"Hey Rache is home!" Jenks yelled. "Where did you come from?"

"Hey Jenks. You should probably lay off the honey." I said taking his shot glass and turning it upside down in the sink.

"Damn witch is never any fun." Jenks thought he was whispering to Trent.

"I bet I could get her to loosen up." Trent winked at Jenks.

"You gotta nail her first then she's putty in your hands." Jenks responded. They both hiccuped and laughed. This was disgusting. I could not believe they were having a conversation about nailing me right in front of me! Men!

"Jenks bed!" I insisted, raising my voice.

"Rache, where did you come from? I thought you were with Al?" Jenks said realizing I was still in the room.

"I think she's back." Trent answered. Good lord these two would be the death of me tonight.

"Trent did you drive yourself over?" I asked.

"Yup. Nooo babysitter for me." He jingled his keys in front of him. I snatched them out of his hands.

"You aren't driving. I can call Quen if you want or you can stay here and sleep it off." I offered.

"I think she just asked you to stay the night!" Jenks exclaimed.

"I think she did too. Wanna sleep with me Rache?" Trent slurred. I sighed. On another occasion those words may have made me want to do just that but tonight when he was drunk in my kitchen the last thing I thought about doing was sleeping with him.

"Lets go Trent." I came over and wrapped my arm around his back and helped him up from his chair. He put his arm around my shoulders just as Ivy had and let me direct him to where ever I was taking him. I thought about putting him on the couch but figured something more private would be appropriate. We didn't have a guest room so I was taking him to my bed. We made it to my bedroom and through the door before the giggles hit him again.

"Rachel, I'm alone with you in your room. I've wanted to do this for years." He sounded like a teenage boy in a girls room for the first time.

"Yeah, me too." I mumbled moving closer to the bed, ready to drop him. I had a feeling he was going to do the same thing as Ivy had and sure enough when I tried to lay him down he didn't let go of me and took me down too. I was kind of okay with the idea of being on top of Trent but maybe not so much when he smelled like he had just climbed out of a bottle of whiskey. I tried to wiggle out of his grip and it just wasn't working.

"Trent. Can you let go? I need to move." I asked. He loosened his hold on me.

"Sorry Rachellll." Trent laughed. I settled for laying in bed next to him with my head on his chest.

"Go to sleep Trent. You'll feel better in the morning." I said running my finger along his jawline.

"You staying with me?" He asked finally being able to say something without laughing. I liked that he was a happy drunk but I just didn't have the energy for it tonight.

"I'm not going anywhere." I said shutting my eyes and feeling his chest move up and down with each breath.

"Good. I think I love you Rachel." Trent said as he closed his eyes.

"I think I might feel the same way." I whispered but he was already snoring.

It was only eleven in the morning but someone would not stop banging on the front door. Trent was still snoring away out cold. I assumed Ivy was also sleeping as she wasn't getting up to answer the door. There should be some pixies awake. Why weren't they getting it? I wanted to stay in bed with Trent. He was so warm and smelled like cinnamon and trees. I heard the banging again. Shit. I'm going to have to get up because they aren't going away. I carefully climbed over Trent trying to not wake him. I think I could have jumped on the bed and he would have slept through it.

I made my way to the front door in my rumpled clothes from yesterday stinking of the ever-after. I lifted the lock bar from the door and opened it. There was a very angry Quen on my doorstep.

"Hey Quen." I mumbled and walked back into the church leaving the door open for him to follow.

"Where is Trenton?" He demanded.

"Hey now! I didn't make him stay here. I got back from my weekly visit with Al to come back to him and Ivy drunk in the kitchen! I had to put both of them to bed!" I yelled at him. "Don't blame me. Go yell at your boss!" I was grumpy in the morning before my coffee and I felt bad. It wasn't Quen's fault.

"I apologize Rachel. Trenton missed a meeting this morning and it is very unlike him to do such a thing. I was concerned for his safety." Quen stood a good six feet away from me.

"Apology accepted. He's passed out in my bed." I said making my way to the kitchen to get some coffee going. Quen followed.

"Would you mind if I wait until he is awake?" Quen asked taking a seat in my chair at the table.

"Sure. No problem. I can wake him up?" I offered.

"No." Quen smiled. "Sa'han does not get the chance to do things like this often. Let him enjoy it."

I laughed. "Oh he won't be enjoying it once he's awake. They polished off three bottles." Quen raised his eyebrows and whistled. My face turned serious at Trent's words from last night. "Can I ask you something personal about Trent?"

"You may ask but I can not promise that I will answer." Quen said meeting my eyes. Fair enough.

"Does Trent love me?" I blurted.

Quen was so taken aback by the question that he stood up. "I can not tell you where his feelings lie." He sat back down. "I feel it is Trenton's place to answer such questions."

"You're right. I shouldn't have asked you that. Want some coffee?" I flipped the switch on the pot on knowing Ivy already had it prepped.

"Yes, coffee would be nice." Quen nodded.

"Didn't get much sleep with Trent staying out all night huh?" I asked watching the coffee brew.

"No. He has never done this before. I want to treat him like an adult but he is like a son to me. I would never forgive myself if anything had happened to him." Quen said quietly.

The coffee had finished brewing and I retrieved two mugs and filled them up, setting one down in front of Quen while I settled myself against the counter. We were silently sipping our coffee when Quen cleared his throat. I turned to him to see he had been watching me.

I felt self conscience. "What?"

"He's trying to be a better man for you." Quen met my eyes. "Did you realize you are the only reason Jonathan is not dead?"

I nodded. I knew what Trent had been doing for a long time. I just didn't want to see it. I had ignored my feelings, and his feelings hoping it would just go away. I silently prayed someone would wake up soon so I didn't have to endure this conversation with Quen.

"You have my blessing." He said simply and returned to his coffee.

"Thank you." I whispered knowing that it would mean a lot to Trent.

I heard Ivy swearing from her bedroom followed shortly by the slam of the bathroom door. I smiled knowing the smell of the coffee is what woke her. I heard the hum of pixy wings and Jenks came through the hole in the screen.

"Good morning Jenks." Quen said.

"About time you lunkers got up! Do you know how hard it is trying to keep fifty kids outside so you can sleep?" Jenks shrieked. "Morning Quen. Can I get some of that coffee Rache?" He rubbed his head.

"Sure Jenks. You have a headache?" I asked bringing one of the child size cups we had for Jenks and setting it on the table.

"Yeah. These kids drive me batty. This is so hard without Mattie." Jenks said into his cup.

"You do great Jenks. You're an amazing Dad." I said carefully avoiding the subject of his late wife.

"Thanks Rache." Jenks smiled up at me. "Cookie farts still sleeping it off?"

Quen choked on his coffee. "Cookie farts?"

I laughed. "Uh it's kind of a pet name for Trent."

"I think I would enjoy spending a day with you Rachel." Quen laughed.

"Yeah, she does children's parties too." Jenks chimed in.

"Shut up Jenks."