NOVEL NEXT Chapter 524: New family.
As they did that, the spirit explained the same thing to Connie who was sitting by the lake of life and death. The ghost was finally exhausted after trying to leap out of the space countless times but in vain.
"Connie." The spirit called the teenager gently.
Connie turned around and gave the spirit her back, but the spirit did not give up. It floated to the front and then froze Connie in place so that she could listen.
"You were happier without the memories Connie. Things will go back to when it used to be just us, and you can earn your way to reincarnation like Sylvester. Do you remember when Phoebe refused to learn your name?" The spirit gently touched Connie's head. "She said that she did not want to get attached to you and yet she eventually accepted you.
She started indulging you, buying you expensive candies. All this time while you were away, she kept filling that bowl and her drawers with sweets. She missed you so much child. She loves you so much that she was ready to fight against her aunt for daring to suggest that you be vanquished if you had turned evil.
Sylvester told me to bring you back home and David came here because he is worried about you. Old lady Mayfair has been calling since morning, asking if we had found you.
You are loved more that you know. Of what use is it to throw your whole future away for a sister that never loved you? Just let it go Connie and let us go home."
The spirit unfroze Connie and waited for around ten minutes for a response.
Eventually, Connie responded. "Do it, those are not memories that I even want to have, I already have my family with you guys." She granted the spirit permission to erase her memories.
Outside the space meanwhile, Phoebe and the guardians finished erasing and rearranging the memories of the Baltimore's. All traces of a teenage Connie successfully vanished from the world.
It was a strong ancient spell and Maureen and Arrow felt drained. Phoebe had to give then rejuvenation potions with a few drops of water from the lake of life so that they could restore some energy.
"It is done, all memories from this trip are also gone." Star quietly stated. "Now that they are unconscious, I propose that you take them to a familiar environment. When they wake up, they won't be overwhelmed by confusion." She continued to suggest.
Phoebe nodded, agreeing with her smart baby but her eyes fell on Cassie. "And her? Doesn't she need a hospital?" She asked, studying the area where a shard of ice had torn through her flesh.
"She is fine, you may prescribe some tonics for strength, but we patched her up really well. Mom, I am tired." Star yawned loudly and went silent.
Phoebe put the Baltimore's in her traveler's backpack which made Arrow's jaw drop open. Maureen stopped him from asking questions. All was said and done so they embarked on the journey back to the surface with Arrow leading the way, clearing up the ice.
They took the Baltimore's to their apartment and laid them down in their beds. Phoebe found Maureen in Cassie's bedroom. It seemed her aunt was reluctant to depart.
"What's wrong aunt?" She put a hand on Maureen's shoulder and asked.
"She is going to get away with it, all of it." Maureen answered.
From the voice, Phoebe detected unwillingness, which was no surprise. Maureen was a guardian; she could not stand injustice.
"It is not fair." Maureen said, choking back a sob.
Phoebe sighed, deep down she thought the same but what could they do? For Connie's sake, it was best to cut off all things Baltimore.
"It is not right." Maureen said. "I am not comfortable leaving it like this. I want her to pay, no matter how small the price, I want her to pay."
Maureen approached the bed and Phoebe's heart beat escalated. "Aunt what are you going to do?"
"I won't kill her." Maureen answered.
She shaved off Cassie's eyebrows and hair, all of it.
"It's not enough but karma will do the rest. Someone as dark hearted as her will suffer in future. It is likely that in future or in her next life, she will be deprived of family as she hated and contributed to the death of her twin sister." Maureen sighed, turned and left the room.
Phoebe was simply relieved that Cassie's head was still attached to her body. She closed the door and went to her apartment where everyone had gathered.
Maureen had sunk into a singular chair, she was nursing a whiskey already and brooding.
"Is all good?" David asked Phoebe.
She nodded, "I still have to check on them later to make sure that their minds are still sound and they remember nothing from our trip."
"Perhaps tomorrow since we are meeting with old man Rufus today, or we can ask mother to drop by later in the day and chat Lydia up." She thought up a better alternative.
Phoebe gave her aunt a thumbs up for the genius idea. "That is a good idea. It is my first time casting a spell like that and I am worried about possible side effects."
Raven Yin made a sound, with all that was going on Phoebe was yet to return him and black kitty inside the coins. "You don't not have to worry mistress, we will watch them and report back to you." Yin offered.
"That would be nice Yin." Phoebe threw Arrow a frosty side eye, he kept making various attempts to pat Yin's head and the bird was avoiding his touch. "Leave him alone Arrow he is not a dog in need to belly rubs." She rolled her eyes and began to walk towards the door. Phoebe figured David would lock up behind them.
Maureen's eyes lifted upwards as she remembered something. "What about the door which Rekha broke?" She asked, rushing her steps to catch up with Phoebe.
"Pike and the cleaning crew are already working on that." She informed her aunt.
Maureen blinked rapidly. "We have a cleanup crew. Ha! I thought that only the academy had those. You know that magic cleanup crews are different from ordinary ones, right?" Her voice dripped with skepticism.
"Actually, I borrowed that idea from the academy, they use equipment I provided. Equipment that was built by Connie and Sylvester is part of the crew, so he takes care of what they miss. I guess i learnt something from that academy even though I did not attend it." Phoebe pulled her shoulders into a nonchalant shrug.
They passed by the cafe to give grandma Mayfair a brief update on Connie and remind her to check on the Baltimore's.
Old lady Mayfair pointed Phoebe to another client, a teenager that had come in seeking for help. Phoebe spared a minute to hear her out and the problem was similar to that of the client of the previous day.
"I got this lucky charm bracelet since I was about to write the Fog state exam, but this thing keeps talking to me! My friend said I should come and see you because you sell lucky charms." Her eyes rotated around her sockets as confusion pooled in them.
Maureen leaned forward. "Let me guess, you bought it from a shaman named Gecko?" She asked suspiciously, arching an eyebrow.