Chapter 26

Another ride took us back into OldOlmeda. The streets were beginning to fill in earnest, and the restaurants were doing brisk business. It had gotten later than I’d thought, and I grabbed a fast bite before they filled up completely.

Fluffygot us a free drink and many compliments, and she sat obediently with her tongue happily lolling as the restaurant workers all came to take a photo with her. Ian should’ve written his URL on the side of her bee vest—so much free publicity!

Afterwe were done with our early lunch, and I’d ordered Dru’s favorite sushi to be delivered to the shop so she could eat during our lunch lull, Fluffy and I made our way through the crowds and reached a more silent neighborhood. The detached houses showed signs of age and a growing number of needed repairs—peeling paint, a missing porch railing here and there, a blue tarp covering part of a roof, tiny front yards that had seen better days.

Westopped for a group of kids and parents who had started trick-or-treating early, and I got compliments on my witch costume and my furry bee familiar.

“You know,” I told her as I gathered her in my arms to walk the rest of the way because she was starting to look worn out, “I think they’re right. Youare my familiar.”

Fluffypanted and tried to lick my face.

“No licking. Eating makeup is bad for you.”

Modernwitches didn’t have familiars per se, only pets for company like anyone else. But maybe that was something I’d assumed rather than the truth—please-call-me-Tammy hadn’t even owned a cat, and neither had Grandma. I might not share my magic with Fluffy, but we did make a great team.

“Isn’t that right, Fluffy-fluff?”

Fluffybarked and drooled on Ian’s jacket.

“I understand. SometimesI want to drool on Ian too.”

Along walk later, we reached the house Vicky had pointed out as the old coven home. PuttingFluffy down, I studied the structure.

Itwas creepy.

Theone-story house didn’t appear much different from the ones on either side, but there was something about its ramshackle atmosphere that made the hairs on my arms stand up. It had obviously been abandoned for a while now—windows boarded up, the step leading up to the front door sunk in the middle, the screen door hanging loose, and the gutters overflowing with masses of leaves and dirt. The small circle of a yard surrounding it was covered in browning grass of different lengths. It encroached on the broken brick path connecting the house with the sidewalk.

Itlooked like a one-hundred-and-fifty-year-old relic forgotten in a dusty attic.

Fluffylet out a small whine.

Ikind of wanted to let out one too.

“Strength, Fluffy. Let’s take a look around.”

Tugginggently at Fluffy’s leash, I went around the side of the house, the grass crunching underneath my sneakers. Two windows on the side weren’t boarded up, so I peeked inside, but they were so covered by grime, it was impossible to discern a thing.

Theback of the house had a small expanse of yard, fenced in by rotting slabs of wood and a bit of chain-link. I wondered how it had ended up in such disrepair. Shouldn’t a house this old fall under some kind of historic preservation scheme? I should ask Ian.

Thebackyard was also covered in uneven grass lumps, no signs of recent living. No trash from passersby or squatters.

Istudied the grimy, run-down back side of the house, dark and austere under the noon sun.

Yeah, I wouldn’t want to come anywhere near, either.

Afterchecking the other side of the house, I confirmed what my first inspection had told me: no pentagrams.

Onthe outside, at least.

Itook a fortifying breath and made sure my weapons were still there in my skirt’s pocket.

“Ready, Fluffy?”

Fluffytugged at her leash, away from the house.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Remindingmyself that the fact Fluffy wasn’t barking or growling was a good sign, I took the two steps up to the back door and tried the knob.

Thedoor opened with a noisy groan, but a lot easier than I’d expected for a place abandoned for decades.

Excitementcrept into my chest. This was good.

Iwaited for my eyes to adjust to the darkness inside and walked in.

Andright there, on the dirty hardwood floor of the kitchen, was a dark red pentagram.

“Yes,” I exclaimed, raising triumphant fists into the air.

Fluffybarked in surprise.

“It’s all good. This is great news.” I approached the pentagram and took a photo. “Iknew four pentagrams was a weird number.”

Placingmy hand on one of the points, I awoke my magic.

Detect.

Magicpulsed back, thicker and deeper than with the other pentagrams, and somewhat…slimy.

Iwiped my hand on my skirt. For the remains of magic to linger so strong after two days, it meant the spell used here had been a lot more powerful than in the other pentagrams.

That, and the fact the house must’ve amplified the power, if it really had been a hotspot of dark magic.

Igot to my feet and peeked into the other rooms. There were a few bits of cheap furniture, an ancient couch with the springs showing, and a bathroom I didn’t dare look inside. The kitchen itself must’ve been remodeled in the fifties, with sunny yellow paint that somehow managed to give the room a depressing atmosphere in the dim light coming through the dirty windows and the open door.

Ibrought Fluffy close to the pentagram and crouched by her side, pointing at the swatches of blood. “Okay, Fluffy. Can you follow the trail of whoever did this?” There was a chance the witch hadn’t used a glamour potion here since the house was far away from the crowds.

Fluffylolled her tongue expectantly, her tail bobbing side to side.

“Sniff, Fluffy. Find the evil witch.” I made exaggerated sniffing motions.

Fluffysat down and stared back in adoration.

Well, we couldn’t all be blessed with cuteness and brains.

Itook us out of the house and sent Ian another text update.

Oncewe had put some distance from the lair of gloom and depression, I began to brainstorm.

Whoeverhad transferred Bagley into Crane obviously meant to try again. For such a strong spell, the witch would need all the help she could get—which meant a place drenched by the magic of countless spells. Likely dark, in this case.

Myshop was too busy during the day, and they’d know it wouldn’t be as easy to break in during the night anymore. They weren’t trying to use the old coven house—yet.

Maybethey were waiting for the crowds to die down?

Butno, the days around Halloween were charged with power, especially where spirits were concerned. They would’ve tried right away. Especially if they were worried Bagley’s spirit might fade away now that she’d been torn from the shop and Bagley’s original spell to try to keep her around after death.

Whatother places carried enough dark-magic baggage for a witch to try to use?

Theanswer came in a flash of metaphorically blinding light.

Thehaunted house.

Oneof the ThreeSisters, to be exact. TheVictorian mansion where a coven member had been said to eat her master’s heart after he’d dumped her, dooming him to a lifetime of terror and pain inside a closet as he could never quite die from his injuries while the servant had been alive.

Alittle extreme, but I could see the servant’s side.

Ifa place had absorbed dark magic into its walls, that one had to be on the top three.

“Up to some scares, Fluffy?”

Fluffybarked, letting me know that she was up to anything.