Chapter 11

Dust motes danced in the slanted rays of early morning sun as Tabitha rummaged through the ancient boxes in her grandmother's attic. The musty scent of old paper and secrets hung heavy in the air. Her grandmother's belongings lay scattered before her, a treasure trove of memories waiting to be unraveled.

She hoped she'd find something telling her about the magic totem her grandmother had mentioned in her last will and testament. The will had no information on what it was or where to find it. Could it be here among the spiderwebs and dust bunnies?

A stack of yellowed letters caught her eye. Gingerly, she unfolded the brittle pages, the elegant script revealing a correspondence between her grandmother and a mysterious figure. With each line, Tabitha's curiosity grew, hints of a deep secret woven between the words—a secret that had torn her family apart.

Clearing a space amidst the clutter, Tabitha created a makeshift workspace. She meticulously arranged the letters by date, piecing together a fragmented timeline, also coming across what looked like a map with a big X in the center. The story unfolded like a patchwork quilt, stitched with whispers of magic and heartache.

Nestled beneath the correspondence lay a weathered diary. Tabitha's heart quickened as she recognized her grandmother's handwriting. The pages crackled as she turned them, revealing entries about a powerful spell gone awry. A spell that spoke of twin babies.

Tabitha's brow furrowed. Twin babies? But she was an only child. The revelation sent a shiver down her spine, questions swirling in her mind like autumn leaves caught in a breeze.

Needing a respite from the attic's stuffy confines, Tabitha decided to visit Jasper, the town's historian and librarian. If anyone could help decipher the cryptic symbols sketched in the diary's margins, it was him.

The library greeted her with the comforting scent of old books and polished wood. Jasper, with his ever-present bowtie and spectacles, looked up from a tome as she approached.

"Tabitha, my dear. What brings you to my domain on this fine day?" His translucent form flickered with enthusiasm.

She smiled, the librarian's cheerful demeanor easing her troubled thoughts. "I was hoping you could help me with these, Jasper." She laid the diary open, pointing to the peculiar symbols.

Jasper adjusted his glasses, peering at the faded ink. "Ah, yes. These are quite ancient. If my memory serves me right, they represent a binding spell. Meant to protect something, or someone, of great importance."

His ghostly finger traced one symbol in particular. "Interesting. This one denotes twins." He glanced up at Tabitha, curiosity etched on his spectral features. "Do you have any siblings, my dear?"

Tabitha shook her head. "No, I'm an only child. That's what puzzles me. My parents never mentioned a sibling."

Together, they pored over the library's collection, searching for answers. Jasper discovered a map hidden within the pages of a dusty tome. The sketch matched one in her grandmother's diary perfectly, leading to a secret location deep in the woods.

As Tabitha prepared to leave the library, her phone chimed, a melodic interruption in the hushed whispers of ancient tomes. Bram's name flashed on the screen. She couldn't help but smile, a reflexive response to his presence even through the digital void.

"Tabby cat, you've been a bad girl," Bram's deep, playful voice filled her ear as she pressed the phone against her cheek.

"Me? Bad? Maybe."

His rough chuckle made her heart flip. "I can't wait to see that side of you."

She cleared her throat and tried to contain the images of all the bad things they could do together. In bed. Out of bed. Naked. For hours.

"People are starting to ask if you've dumped me already. I think I saw old Mrs. Wiggins giving me a sympathetic look at the grocery store. I'm hurt, truly." His rich laughter reverberated through the line, a soothing balm to the tension that had settled in her shoulders.

Tabitha giggled, the sound echoing softly in the library's tranquil atmosphere. She could picture him now, those brown eyes crinkled at the corners, a teasing grin tugging at his lips. "And deprive them of the juiciest gossip to hit Whispering Pines since I moved here? Never. I couldn't be that cruel."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. I don't think my fragile ego could handle the blow." Bram's voice was light, but she could detect an undercurrent of genuine relief. It made her heart flutter, a traitorous reminder of the growing affection she fought to keep at bay.

"Fragile ego, my butt."

"Hey, I'm hurt. Okay, I'm not. But seriously, how long is this detective work into your family history going to last? Do you need my help?"

"I'm not sure. I'm going to check something out. And don't worry. I know you've got your hands full at the brewery. I'll be fine on my own."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, honey bear. I'm sure."

They bantered back and forth, trading quips and laughter like a real couple. It was easy and effortless in a way that made Tabitha ache. They made plans for brunch the next morning, a promise of shared meals and stolen glances across the table.

As the conversation lulled, Bram's voice took on a mischievous lilt, a shift in tone that made Tabitha's pulse quicken. "So, what are you wearing?"

Tabitha rolled her eyes, a grin tugging at her lips despite herself. She could practically see the waggle of his eyebrows, the playful glint in his gaze. "Clothes," she replied dryly, fighting back the laughter that bubbled up in her throat.

"Mms, sounds sexy." Bram's voice dropped an octave, a rumble that sent shivers dancing down her spine. "You know, I've always found a well-dressed woman incredibly attractive. The mystery, the allure..."

"Oh, really?" Tabitha arched a brow, playing along. "Well, I'll have you know, I'm wearing a particularly fetching pair of jeans today. Very alluring."

"Jeans, you say? Be still, my beating heart." Bram clutched at his chest dramatically, the sound effect coming through the phone in a burst of static.

Their laughter mingled. For a moment, Tabitha allowed herself to bask in the comfort of their connection, the ease and joy of it all. She could almost forget the weight of the secrets she carried, the burden of the truth waiting to be uncovered.

"Bram, you're very distracting."

"Yeah, baby. Talk dirty to me."

She snorted a laugh. "I'll talk to you later."

But as the call ended, reality settled back in like a shroud. The dial tone echoed in her ear, a stark reminder of the distance between them.

She had to remind herself, once again, that their relationship was make-believe. A carefully crafted illusion designed to fool the world. But with each passing day, each shared laugh and tender moment, the lines blurred. The longing in her heart grew, a yearning for something real, something true.

But even as she walked, Bram's laughter echoed in her mind, a bittersweet reminder of the joy she couldn't allow herself to claim.

With dusk painting the sky in hues of amber and violet, Tabitha ventured into the woods. The map guided her steps, ancient trees standing sentinel as she wove her way deeper into the forest's heart.

There, in a small clearing, she found it. An old altar, overgrown with vines and moss, pulsing with an energy that made her skin tingle. This was a place of power steeped in history and secrets.

Tentatively, Tabitha placed her hand on the weathered stone. The world spun, colors bleeding together as a vision overtook her senses. Fragments of the past danced before her eyes—her grandmother, much younger, cradling two infants in her arms. Twins. One radiant with light, the other shrouded in darkness.

The vision shifted, scenes playing out in rapid succession. A family torn asunder, a child lost, a secret buried. Tabitha gasped, stumbling back from the altar. Her heart raced, pieces of the puzzle clicking into place with sickening clarity.

She had a sibling. A twin. And somehow, that truth had been hidden from her all these years.