Dead Is Not an Option (10 page)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

By the next day,
we got word that Circe was expected to make a full recovery. I didn't know how long she'd be in the hospital, and I knew that this might be my only chance to free Lily and Balthazar. But I would need Natalie's help.

One of my sisters had the car, so I called Sam to pick me up and take me to Slim's. When she pulled up to my house and I walked out carrying the supplies for the spell, and Balthazar, she seemed surprised.

"I hope you don't mind if he rides with us," I said.

"I just hope Sean doesn't get jealous," she said, laughing as the pig hopped into the front passenger seat.

I spotted Natalie through the window of Slim's and we rushed inside.

"Are you going to be here for a while?" I asked her breathlessly.

"I'm just hanging out," she replied.

"I found everything we need to break the spell," I said. "I'll be right back." I could hear my voice shaking with excitement.

My heart jumped. I went to Sam's car and grabbed the library books, the pen, and the dress. It had been making me nervous carrying around the very items that might save Lil from her jukebox. It might not work, but it was the only shot we had.

Natalie went into the back kitchen and then came out a few minutes later. She turned the sign to Closed and locked the front door.

"Slim's hoping we can get this over with before we completely ruin his dinner rush," Natalie said. "But I asked him to close just for a little while so we could try the spell." She was waving her hands around as she spoke.

I grinned at her. "I couldn't help but notice that enormous sparkler on your hand," I said.

She grinned back. "Yep, Slim and I are engaged."

We talked wedding details for a few minutes but then got down to business.

I handed Natalie one of the books I'd checked out of the library. "I marked the page where it talks about halting the aging process," I said. "Do you think it will work?"

She opened to the page I had indicated and read quickly. She ran a finger down the page. "I have everything I need for the antiaging spell," she said. "But I think we need one more ingredient to break the enchantment."

"What are we going to do?" I asked.

"Let me make a call," she said.

She had a brief conversation with somebody and then hung up.

"Anyone hungry?" Slim asked. "I can make some snacks. Darling, what is appropriate to serve at a de-enchantment?"

Natalie chuckled. "Nachos, I think."

Slim went into the kitchen to whip up something to eat while the rest of us waited. An elderly couple who had been finishing their meal paid their bill and left.

Finally, there was a knock at the door and Natalie answered it. I couldn't see who was on the other side of the door, but Natalie came back carrying a small jar full of a pungent liquid.

"What is that horrid smell?" Sam asked.

"The bitterness of unrequited love," Natalie said. "I need just a drop."

"Any more and it'd be a ready-made stink bomb," Sam said.

"Are you ready?" Natalie asked me.

I nodded, but my stomach did a nervous little dance, and I prayed that I wouldn't be sick.

"Positive thoughts," Natalie reminded me. "Place the dress and the pen in the circle."

I did what she asked and then stepped back. "Now what?"

"Now I do my thing," she said. "First I'll embed the spell that will preserve Balthazar and Lily at the ages they were when they were first enchanted. Then, when I'm sure it's taken, I'll try to break the original spell."

The first thing she did was head to the kitchen to forage for ingredients. She came back with strawberries and honey. She pulled a long glass bottle out of her bag and added the strawberries and honey to the liquid. She shook it vigorously, took a sip, and then said, "Perfect."

She said a couple of words and then sprinkled a bit of the liquid in the air. It dissolved immediately but left a tantalizing fragrance.

"What was that in the bottle?" I asked.

"Yearning," she said.

Then Natalie got out an old pottery bowl that was decorated with moons and stars, carefully poured a dry green powder into it, and added a drop of tears.

There was a little puff of smoke when the ingredients combined, and then nothing.

"Did it work?" Sam leaned in to get a look.

"I don't think so," Natalie said. "I don't think we have the right items."

"Don't be sorry," I said. "Thanks for trying."

"Maybe I did something wrong," Natalie said. "Or maybe there's something missing."

Sam could tell I was disappointed and gave me a hug. "We'll figure it out."

"I think I managed to conceal the antiaging spell, so if Circe ever does change her mind about releasing them, she won't know that I added a little something," Natalie said.

"I'm sure this is the pen that Circe was talking about, but I'm not sure what item she used that belonged to Lily."

"I think it will work if you can figure out the other item," she said. She reached down and scratched Balthazar's nose. "What are you going to do with this little guy in the meantime?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "I don't really want to give him back to Circe."

"We can keep him at our place," she offered.

"What about your cat?" I asked. Natalie's familiar had never seemed that friendly to me, but cats seldom were.

"Oh, Fluffy loves company," she said.

A huge plate of nachos floated to the table, which meant my boss was back.

"Consolation nachos," Slim said.

Natalie reached over and snatched a chip. "I'm famished," she said.

"She's starving after she works her craft," Slim said.

"All magic has its price," Natalie said.

"What should we do about the pen?" I asked. "I don't think Circe knows I have it, but I don't want her to get her hands on it again."

"You can lock it in the safe in the office," Slim said.

"Do you think it will be safe there?" I asked.

"I'll make sure of it," Natalie said. "I'll add a little something so only the three of us can unlock it."

We trooped back to the office, and I put the pen in the safe. Then Natalie dug in her bag, sprinkled a dark-colored powder over the safe, and mumbled a few words.

"That should do it," she said.

As I was getting ready to leave, Natalie handed the book back to me. "I'm going to look for a copy of this," she said. "There are some great spells in there. Where did you get it?"

"Ms. Johns, the librarian, loaned it to me. It's part of her personal collection."

"Interesting," she commented. "It's not many librarians who would loan out a rare first edition."

"What? She told me it was published in 1960," I said. I felt myself turning pale. "I had it in my backpack. Don't tell me it's valuable."

"I won't," she said. "It's priceless."

"I've got to get it back to her before the library closes," I said. I said my goodbyes and then made it to the library just in time.

"I had no idea this was such a precious book or I would never have borrowed it," I told her when I found her in her office.

"Did it help?" she asked mildly. "Did you bring it back undamaged?"

"Yes to both questions," I said.

"Then it was a good decision," she said.

Just then, a thought occurred to me. "Do you have any books on the history of Nightshade?" I asked. "In the general collection, I mean." I remembered someone had said something about the Weres and the vampires being at peace for over fifty years. I wondered what life in Nightshade had been like prior to that time.

"We have a nice selection of books on local history," she replied. "I'll show you." I found a couple of likely-looking items and made it to the checkout line as the five-minute warning was announced over the loudspeaker, then went home to do an hour or two of light reading about the history of my hometown. Nightshade's history was a bloody one, involving years of hatred between the shifters and the vampires. I hoped my nighttime reading wouldn't give me nightmares.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

During the
school week, I was unable to shake the feeling of dread that followed me everywhere I went. They still hadn't caught Trinity or her accomplices. Circe's shooting had made the papers, and tensions were high. They were passing it off as a random act by a crazed fan, but rumors were flying.

And the thing we feared had happened. Our senior prom was canceled. The news came during morning announcements, and there was an immediate uproar.

"I can't believe it," Penny said.

"We knew it was a possibility," I reminded her. "Everyone is freaked out about the paranormal attacks going on."

"We're the ones suffering," she said.

I raised an eyebrow. "You mean
besides
the victims?"

"You know what I mean," she said. "Everyone loses."

Penny was right. Everyone loses except the Scourge. It was their mission in life to eradicate paranormals forever. The members of the Scourge I'd met hated anyone they considered different.

Our homeroom teacher, Ms. Tapia, was still trying to restore order. For a minute it looked like everyone would ignore her, but it finally got quiet.

"Your safety is our first consideration," she reminded us.

This didn't seem to make the Nightshade High student body feel any happier.

At lunch, even Samantha was complaining. "Did you hear about prom? It's not fair."

"That blows," Sean commented.

"There isn't anything we can do about it," I said.

Ryan picked up on my bad mood and took my hand. "That gloom and doom doesn't sound like you. We'll figure something out."

"What can we do?" I refused to be cheered up.

"Penny said you mentioned an alternative prom," Samantha said.

"That was when I didn't think prom would really get canceled," I replied.

"But it's not a bad idea," Ryan said. "We could pull it off."

"We wouldn't be able to tell our parents," Samantha said. "They'd freak."

"We have to tell them. They'll notice if we get all dressed up and a limo pulls up to pick us up," I said. "We have to find a place where they think we'll be safe."

"What about Slim's?" Sam suggested. "It's right on Main Street."

"That's not a bad idea," Ryan said. "The police station is right across the street, so my dad and Officer Denton can keep an eye on things."

We decided that I would be the one to ask Slim. I wasn't sure what he'd say, but I went to the diner right after school to talk to him.

"If all the parents sign off on it, I'd gladly host an alternative prom," he said. "But it's up to you to get the parents to agree."

"Samantha can do that," I said.

He laughed. "I'm sure you're right."

The tickets went on sale three days later. Sam worked fast. She also thought of the 1950s theme, which sent the junior and senior girls of Nightshade straight to the boutiques and thrift stores for vintage prom dresses.

And right after that, I was bewailing my lack of an appropriate dress to Sam.

"Why don't you order from my designer?" she asked. Samantha had found a designer on an online craft site who did fabulous reproduction '50s dresses.

"She's ridiculously expensive," I said. "And prom's not that far away."

"I'm paying extra for a rush job," she said. "Daddy okayed the extra cost."

"I don't think I can spend that kind of money," I said. I frowned at her, but she didn't even notice. Sam had been spending her dad's money fast and furiously.

"What are you going to do? There isn't anything decent left in the stores."

She had a point. I took a bite of my so-so salad to give my-self time to think.

"My grandma's closet," I finally replied. My grandmother was one of the most stylish people I knew—a trait I clearly hadn't inherited—and I'd bet money she had something I could borrow.

After school, I gave Grandma Giordano a call and explained my predicament.

"Why, I think I may have just the thing," she said. "I've been meaning to go through my closet."

Rose and Poppy decided to come with me. If clothes were involved, Poppy was there. She even let me drive.

"So, how are things going with Liam?" I asked.

"I'm not letting him bite me, if that's what you're asking."

"I'm not," I said, put off by her snarky tone. "I was just trying to make conversation. You haven't brought him around since we all had dinner."

"To be honest, you still seem skittish about the whole vampire thing," she said. "Besides, after my very public breakup with Gage..."

"He didn't break up with you," Rose pointed out. "The last thing he said was that he loved you."

"A breakup is a breakup," Poppy replied. She was still guarding her heart against any more pain.

"Why don't you invite him over for movie night?" I suggested. "I promise to hide all the cheesy vampire movies."

"Maybe," she said. "I'll talk to him and see what he says."

I parked the car, and we walked up the path to Grandma Giordano's. She had a bunch of planters filled with jasmine, and there was a dwarf orange tree in a pot by the entrance.

Grandma opened the door before we could even ring the bell.

"It's so good to see you girls," she said. "Come on in. Let's go straight to my closet."

Grandma's closet looked like one of those celebrity closets you saw on TV.

"This is as big as my bedroom," Poppy breathed. And she wasn't exaggerating by much.

Grandma laughed. "I converted one of the bedrooms. I just couldn't bear to let go of my memories. I even have the dress I wore to my junior prom."

"That was in the fifties, right?" I asked.

She nodded. "I think it might fit you," she said. "You're a little taller than I am, but I can let the hem out a little."

She flipped a switch and the clothes started to rotate, carried on a circular motorized track. "The newer stuff is in the other closet," she explained.

"Grandma, you're my hero!" Poppy exclaimed.

She chuckled and then pushed the button again. "This is the fifties section," she said. She pulled out a strapless white organza dress that was patterned with tiny pink polka dots. There was a silk flower pinned to the waist.

"I wore this to a spring dance," she said. She pulled out another dress, this one white with sheer lace over the bodice and a tulle and chiffon skirt. "I wore this one to my cotillion."

"That might look good on you, Daisy," Rose said. "Try it on."

Grandma pulled out a red and black mermaid dress. "What about this one?" she said.

It looked like the dress Rizzo wore to the dance in
Grease.
I couldn't picture my Grandma wearing it. Poppy had the same thought. "You wore that, Grandma?"

"I was trying to impress a certain boy," she said. "Tall, broad shoulders, wavy dark hair. He was dreamy."

My grandfather had had wavy dark hair, at least in the pictures I'd seen of him when he was young. Grandma had a dreamy smile on her face, and her thoughts were clearly far, far away. "I miss him so much sometimes. Your father looks so much like him," she said, which confirmed that she was talking about Grandpa, who had died when I was a baby.

She stirred, then said briskly, "What about this one? It would go wonderfully with your coloring." She pulled out a tea-length dress. It was cream-colored taffeta with a navy lace overlay, sleeveless with a deep V-neck. It had a navy velvet belt and a silk flower pinned to the waist.

Grandma surveyed her closet and pulled out another armload of dresses.

"You went to a lot of dances when you were a teenager," Rose commented.

"Lucky for me," I said.

"There are matching gloves around here somewhere," Grandma Giordano said. "Ah, here they are." She handed me a long, narrow white box.

I took three of the dresses from her.

"Grandma, did you keep anything else? Something for everyday?" Poppy asked. "I want to volunteer to work the prom that night. Wouldn't it be cool if I could dress the part of a fifties waitress?"

"Daisy, why don't you try a few of the dresses on while your sisters and I look through some of the stuff in boxes?"

I stepped out of the closet with the first three gowns and laid them on the bed to get a better look.

I decided to start with the white dress. It was beautiful and fit like a dream. I went back into the closet with it on.

Poppy was wearing a red poodle skirt over her jeans, and a pair of saddle shoes were on the floor beside her. She looked up when I came in. "No," she said, vetoing the white dress. "Too vanilla. You look like a ghost." She said the word
ghost
without a trace of melancholy, which meant, if nothing else, that Liam was easing the heartbreak of losing her first love, Gage, who was a ghost.

I marched back into the bedroom while they continued to rummage through the closet. I studied the next two choices. The daring red or the subtler navy dress?

I knew which one Poppy would choose, so I slipped on the red and black mermaid dress and slipped my feet into a pair of black heels.

"Va-voom," Grandma said when I presented myself for their inspection.

"That's the one!" Poppy crowed.

"I don't know," I said. I tugged on the plunging neckline.

"Don't wear it if you'll feel uncomfortable," Rose advised.

"Try on the navy dress next," Grandma said. "I also found these." She held out a frilly pink number and another white dress, but this one had a plainer cut and was embroidered with tiny yellow silk daisies.

The navy dress seemed to meet with Grandma's approval. "Oh, to have such a creamy complexion," she said. She tilted my chin up and looked into my eyes. "And the navy makes your eyes look even bluer, if that's possible."

"It's a little short," I said.

Grandma flipped up the hem. "Hmm. I can take the hem out about an inch," she said.

The navy was added to the maybe pile.

The pink dress made me look like I was wearing a bowl of sherbet, so I eliminated that one without even showing it to my fashion consultants.

The white dress with the yellow daisies was gorgeous. I twirled around, and the wide skirt flared as I moved.

"It's definitely the right era," Grandma said. "But it's a little too casual for prom, I think."

I was disappointed, but rallied quickly. "What about graduation? Would it work for a graduation outfit?"

"It would be perfect," Grandma said. "In fact, I wore it to my own graduation."

That left the red dress and the navy. "I can't decide!" I said.

"Why don't you take both of them home and sleep on it?" Grandma suggested. Poppy scooped up the poodle skirt, the saddle shoes, and a snowy white blouse with a Peter Pan collar. "Can I borrow these?" she asked.

"Of course," Grandma replied. "Now, who wants a snack?"

A snack at Grandma Giordano's meant espresso and cookies.

Rose looked at her watch. "Sorry, Grandma, we've got to get going. I have tons of studying to do. But we'll see you for Daisy's birthday, right?"

"I wouldn't miss it," she assured me.

With everything going on, my impending birthday had completely slipped my mind.