Page 38 of Herbs & Hex-breaking

“I did work to break the spell that was cast against her on the sabbat of Samhain—Halloween night,” I told him. “It seemed to have worked at the time.”

Johnny nodded. “Halloween was three weeks ago and yeah, things did improve. For a little while anyway. So what the hell happened today?” Then he blanched. “Sorry, I wasn’t criticizing your spell casting.”

“It’s okay,” I said to him. “I’m not too happy about this situation either, and I promise you that I’m going to make it my priority to find out what’s going on,” I assured him. “Would you please forward me the video that you showed me?”

“I’ll do it right now,” he said, pulling his phone from his back pocket.

“Are you still carrying the protection sachet I put together for you?” I asked him.

He patted his front shirt pocket. “Yes, I am.”

“Good. Keep it on you.”

“I’m carrying my grandmother’s rosary too,” he admitted. “She gave it to me for protection after I had that reaction to peanuts.”

“That’s a strong magick,” I said. “A spiritual and loving gift from your grandmother.”

“It won’t like…contradict or cancel out the stuff you gave me or Hattie, will it?”

I smiled. “No, it won’t. They’ll complement each other nicely.”

“Okay,” he said and blew out a long breath. “Thanks for coming down here, Kate. Hattie and I truly appreciate it.”

“Where are Hattie’s parents?” I asked.

“They were in Tuscaloosa, visiting her paternal grandparents. They’re on their way back.” He checked the clock on the wall. “I imagine they’ll be here soon.”

“I’m going to head out,” I told him. “You call me if you need to talk, or if you or Hattie need anything.”

“I will,” he said.

Impulsively I gave him a quick hug. “It’ll be okay,” I said to him.

To my surprise he hugged me back and held on. He was truly frightened, I realized, as he clung to me for a few seconds. While I had the chance, I checked Johnny to see if he had any hexes laid against him. I was relieved to find that he did not.

I’d put money on the table that it was because of the rosary that he was carrying.

We let go of each other and I slipped out of the room and headed for the exit. Dex, I discovered, was sitting by a window in the waiting room. As soon as he saw me, he rose to his feet.

“How’s she doing?”

“Broken wrist, concussion,” I said. “They’re going to keep her overnight at least.”

“I’m glad it wasn’t any worse,” Dex said and slipped his arm around my waist as we walked out together.

Happy for the support, I leaned into him a bit.

I waited until we had returned to his car and could speak without anyone overhearing before I told him the rest of what I had found out. After watching the video that Johnny had forwarded to me, Dex’s expression changed.

“Holy shit,” he breathed. “You can see her go up in the air from the force of the blow...yet there’s no one behind her.”

As we drove back home, I explained how I had given Hattie my own pendant for protection.

He frowned. “You gave your pendant to Hattie?”

“She needs it more than I do,” I said, rubbing my forehead. A tension headache was brewing, and I was feeling slightly sick to my stomach.

“Don’t suppose that you had the chance to check to see if her fiancé had any hexes on him?”