48 Hours Earlier
Just before midnight, Angel and Charlotte finally reached New Orleans. Turning onto Decatur Street, a few blocks from his sister's shop in the French Quarter, he slowed to look for parking. Spotting one, he eased the van into the space, shifted into park, and turned off the headlights while leaving the engine running.
Throughout the drive, Charlotte had remained mostly quiet, choosing not to initiate conversation. Their interactions were largely confined to rest stops and gas stations, focusing only on who would use the bathroom first and how much chocolate he should buy, which was quite a bit.
The pervasive silence during the trip felt stifling. He had come to appreciate their chats and playful teasing, which had built a strong connection between them. Now their bond was in jeopardy, leaving him worried they might never recover. As he thought about the drive and what he would tell his sister, Charlotte stirred from her uneasy sleep.
She let out a soft yawn and looked around. "Are we here?"
"Almost." Angel tapped the wheel. Gathering his jumbled thoughts from throughout the day, he turned to her with resolution. "Cassie lives a block away, above her shop. When we get there, I'll go up first and talk to her. I'll only share the basics: I found you a couple weeks ago after you'd lost your memories, so I took you in. I won't mention your powers. It's a flimsy story, but it'll be enough to prepare her."
She managed a thin smile. "Thank you for saying 'powers' and not 'demon.'"
"Of course." He nodded solemnly. Licking his lips, he continued, "There's another reason I'm going to hold back some details at first."
She could hear subtle pain in his tone as he explained, "What you need to know is that our parents are strict Catholics, and they preached to us insistently. It wore on Cassie. She loved witchcraft and the supernatural, and they often scolded her for it. It caused tension between us because I usually took my parents' side in the arguments."
Taking a breath to collect his thoughts and rein in his emotions, he concluded, "So at seventeen, she left home and moved in with a friend until she turned eighteen and joined the military. We reconnected later in the service, but we had a rift between us for a long time. I was a jerk of a brother when I should have been more supportive."
Despite the ache from their fight, Charlotte reached out and touched his arm. "I'm sorry."
Uncertain about reciprocating, Angel nodded with a subtle smile. "Thank you, but things are much better between us now." He took a deep breath through his nose, releasing a soft sigh. "But since she's always insisted that she has 'the gift,' I want to see how she reacts to meeting you. See if she senses your power."
"I don't want to frighten her." Charlotte grimaced.
"Trust me—she doesn't frighten easily. If she's as powerful as she's claimed over the years, she'll just be very curious. Will you be okay with her scrutiny?"
"Yes! I need it. If you're right about her, maybe she can help me unlock my past. Give me my memories back, so we can—" Swallowing, she stopped and turned her face toward the window, her cheeks flushing.
"Good." His voice was thick with emotion. "I want that, too."
He couldn't see her lips curling slightly upward as she fixed her gaze on the side window. Switching the headlights back on, Angel glanced at the side mirror for oncoming traffic and merged back onto the street. He made a right turn at the corner and coasted down the block before parking in front of the building housing his sister's shop and apartment above.
He took the key out of the ignition and opened the door. "I won't take too long."
She noticed a few people still out, enjoying the warm night. "Should I get in the back and disappear?"
"No. You have nothing to hide here," he assured her. "Just keep the doors locked."
Relieved, she nodded and hit the lock switch after he closed the door. As Angel stepped onto the sidewalk, her gaze shifted to the sign above the magic shop's front door: "Charmed, I'm Sure."
Angel glanced over his shoulder once more, then, approaching the side door, he rang the buzzer. A moment later, he heard a faint click of the lock disengaging, allowing him to enter an inner hallway.
To the left was the side door to his sister's magic shop, and to the right was another shop, currently empty. He walked down the short hallway, taking the stairs up, while the hallway next to them led to the rear parking lot.
Upon reaching the landing, Angel noticed another staircase leading up, likely providing access to the roof. A few feet ahead, he saw two apartment doors—one on each side of the hallway. The right apartment, like the empty shop below, appeared unoccupied.
Pausing, he reflected on the short conversation he'd had with his sister early that morning when he'd announced he'd be coming to visit.
"You're welcome here for as long as you need." Cassie sounded thrilled but added with a softer, concerned tone. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." It wasn't the most convincing answer. He followed up with clarification. "There's something I want to discuss with you, but I'd prefer to wait until I arrive."
She could hear the exhaustion in his voice. "Of course. I'll have everything ready for your arrival. Do you have an ETA?"
"It'll likely be close to midnight if I can avoid serious construction traffic."
"That sounds good to me, little brother." She paused. "Drive safe. I love you."
"Love you, too, sis."
Her comforting voice had soothed him somewhat, and now that he was here, he realized just how much he'd missed his sister. He swiftly walked to her apartment and rapped his knuckles against the wooden door. There was the sound of shuffling feet, the turn of a lock, followed by the door opening.
The hall flooded with light, revealing a stunning woman in her late thirties. She was elegantly dressed in a green blouse and leggings that hugged her legs from waist to ankles. Nestled just above the cleft of her breasts was a beautiful, petite quartz crystal amulet. Her long, honey-brown hair was styled in a ponytail, the ends flowing gracefully over her right shoulder.
Soft lips, lightly tinged with faded strawberry lipstick, curved upward, reflecting her happiness at seeing Angel. Her warm brown eyes contradicted the smile as they glistened with sadness, understanding the real reason for his visit.
"Kevin!" Cassie wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry about last night."
Shedding his work persona, Kevin absorbed the hug and support. "Thanks, sis. I wish I'd gotten there in time."
She squeezed tighter, giving him a moment to collect himself. When he pulled away, she asked, "Is that why you wanted to come stay for a few days? To finally take some time for yourself?"
"In part, yes." He rubbed his neck. "But it's more complicated than that."
She stepped aside. "Well, come in and tell me. Can I get you anything to drink?"
Kevin noticed a limited selection of liquor in one of Cassie's cabinets. "A hot cup of tea sounds really good right now."
Moving past him, Cassie led the way to the kitchen. As he sat down, she began to prepare the tea. As she worked, she asked, "So, what's on your mind?"
Kevin took a deep breath. "Something happened a couple of weeks ago. Something that I think your specialized talents may be able to help me with."
Cassie stopped, turned, and gave him a whimsical look. "Oh?"