Chapter 2

"Is this the right place?" My nose wrinkled as I got out of Aidon's car.

Thanks to my mate's lead foot, we'd made it to Salem in record time. And I wasn't even sore, and I was four months pregnant with triplets. Typically, spending a couple of hours driving had me twisted in knots. Money might not be able to buy you happiness, but it could get you places in comfort.

"This is the address Todd gave us," Stella confirmed.

Aidon approached the house first. The sound that the wooden stairs made as he stepped onto them made Stella and I hesitate before we joined him. He looked back at us. "It's sturdier than it seems. Appearances are deceiving," he reassured us.

Stella and I shared a look before grabbing each other's hands and running up to the porch. Aidon chuckled, making me roll my eyes and twist the knob. The dilapidated door groaned as we pushed it open. Stella glanced around a room that seemed to be suspended in time.

Waving a hand in front of my face, I entered the home. There was a dank smell that belied the pristine interior. The air was thick with the musty scent of ancient secrets, and a dim light filtered through the modern curtains. It cast shadows that danced across the updated wallpaper.

"This is a witch's wonderland," I murmured as my eyes scanned the room. "Given the dilapidated exterior, I was expecting décor that hadn't been touched since the sixties."

Stella shot me a look that agreed. "Do you think Olive was a witch? I swear witchcraft is a way of life here. It's why the city built a statue of Elizabeth Montgomery from Bewitched."

I lifted a shoulder as I walked around the space. "It seems more than likely she was an actual witch. These ingredients go beyond what you would expect for a mundie playing at Wicca."

Aidon tilted his head to the side and gazed at me. "Surely, you can feel the residual power lingering in the house."

My hand went to my stomach when the babies rolled in my womb. Could I feel anything? Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply and opened my senses. "I do now." Ever since Stella and I had been kidnapped during a visit to a tattoo parlor, I'd erected impenetrable shields to prevent it from happening again. I hadn't realized how much was cut off in the process. "It's not only witchcraft. There's something more there, too."

My eyes flew open when Aidon's hand joined mine. He looked around the room while feeling our babies move, and he started doing that more often. "You're right, Queenie. It isn't demonic. Does it feel like Dark magic?"

I shook my head. "It's not like Lyra. It could be one of her lackeys that hasn't gone fully evil, though."

Stepping further into the room, I scanned the area as I assessed the energy. The worn floor creaked beneath our weight, reminding me that the woman might have had nice things and kept a neat home. But it was still over a hundred years old. And it appeared as if the structure hadn't been kept up.

My eyes caught sight of peculiar symbols etched into the wooden surface. It was like stumbling upon a cryptic language only known to those well-versed in the arcane arts. Trying to crouch down, I grunted and groaned as my body refused to cooperate. Thanks to having three babies, my stomach was much bigger for my early stage of pregnancy. Every movement was becoming increasingly awkward.

"I've got you, love," Aidon said as he helped me down. His blue eyes narrowed as he knelt beside one of the symbols. "These are not just random drawings. They hold purpose and meaning. Powerful magic was at work here recently."

"That's not surprising. Based on reports, we knew a spell was cast here," I replied.

Stella held a hand over the top of the symbols. "How can we understand what the purpose of these were? Or where they originated?"

"Understand magic?" I chuckled. "That's like trying to understand why cats do anything. It"s a mystery wrapped in an enigma, smothered in fur."

Stella snorted and nodded her head. "That's very true. A few basic tenets guide things, but there are too many magic wielders for the rest to be set in stone."

So much of magic was impacted by a person's intent, which was affected by more than just their worries. Personalities, bad hair days, or being cut off while driving down the highway all changed the way a witch's spell turned out. Add the other magical beings in the world, and you had too many possibilities to comprehend.

Aidon stood and crossed the room with a somber expression. "This cauldron," he pointed to the black pot hanging in the fireplace, "feels ancient. And the residue suggests a convergence of potent forces. This might be nothing more than a witch whose spell went wrong."

I sidled up to the cauldron, peering inside as if I expected a magical rabbit to pop out. "If that's the case, Olive's efforts weren't Instagram-worthy. Could you imagine her posting, ‘hashtag that didn't go as expected'?"

"I don't think she did this. An older witch would have enough experience and control to block out miscellaneous thoughts that might mess her up," Stella said. She thrust her hands on her hips and spun in a circle, her eyes narrowing on a bookshelf housing dusty tomes that looked as if they hadn"t been touched in centuries. "These books might hold clues. We should check them."

"Clues?" I perked up. "It"s worth a shot."

As we explored the shelf, Aidon"s posture changed. He stiffened and went on alert. "The atmosphere here is heavy with mystical energy. You're right. It's more than a simple case of magic gone wrong."

Burying my nose in the crook of my arm, I sneezed several times. Wiping it with a tissue from my purse, I looked over at Aidon. "Maybe the walls are the keepers of Salem"s secrets."

Stella snickered. "Quick, someone ask them where the best cappuccino is. Priorities, you know?" Her laughter continued as she went back to flipping through one of the ancient tomes.

Aidon sighed. "It's frustrating not to be able to identify where this power came from."

"Welcome to my world." I smiled sweetly at him. "Does it feel familiar to you, Yahweh? You've been alive since before the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. You've seen it all, right?"

Aidon narrowed his eyes at me. "And yet, I feel like I didn't truly come to life until I met you. There are elements that feel familiar, but as a whole, I can't put my finger on it."

I resisted the sigh that wanted to come out. I had been hoping he had some answers. I was tired and hungry. Growing three babies took a lot out of you. "Alright. These symbols, the cauldron, the residue – they're all interconnected. There"s a story here. We just need to decipher it."

Stella pulled another faded leather-bound book from the shelf. "Let"s see if this one has a pop-up section that might explain something. It looks old enough to be useful."

I moved closer to her and marveled at the book"s worn cover. "We should do a preservation spell before you open that," I suggested. "I don't want to be responsible for that thing falling apart."

Aidon gestured to the bookshelf. "You should do them all. This library is likely invaluable to Olive and her family."

Stella and I cast the enchantment before we began looking through them. Whoever this witch was, she had danced with mystical forces and paid the price. After looking through a fourth journal from one of her ancestors, I stopped and looked up at my mate and best friend. "These symbols aren't in here. I don't think we are going to find the answers in these books. We should check the rest of the house for clues."

Stella put the book she was looking through back and inclined her head. "Good idea. We should start upstairs and make our way to the basement."

Aidon led the way to the second floor. Searching the two rooms and bathroom up there didn"t take long. I found a door that took me to the attic. It didn't look as if anyone had been up there for decades. Back on the first floor, we found Olive's bedroom.

Stella lifted a bottle of perfume. "My grandma uses this perfume." She spritzed some of it and sniffed. "Ah, it takes me back to my childhood."

"Nana's Chanel does that to me," I added as I sifted through her closet. "It feels wrong to be looking through her private things."

Aidon looked up from where he was searching under the bed. "We need to know what she was doing, but we can skip the drawers."

We finished in the bedroom quickly and moved on to the kitchen. There were a number of herbs and oils in the pantry for her potion-making. Nothing that would give us a hint as to what had happened to her. Stella located the door leading down to the basement and whistled from the bottom of the creaky wooden stairs.

"This space doesn't fit with the rest of the house," Stella said.

I saw what she meant when I got down there. The basement was a treasure trove of oddities that seemed to be competing for the title of "Most Unsettling Collection". We descended into what felt like the heart of the supernatural. The air down there was thick with a musty scent. It reminded me of vanilla ice cream that had been left on a patio table for days.

Aidon's senses were on high alert as he passed Stella and me. He reached up and pulled the string, turning on the light. The bulb flickered overhead, casting eerie silhouettes on the peeling paint and leaving most of the room in shadows.

Stella used the flashlight on her phone, its beam cut through the darkness like a magical sword. "Remind me what we"re looking for again?" she asked as she swept the light across dusty shelves adorned with peculiar trinkets.

"Anything to help us understand what we"re dealing with. The answers might be hidden here," Aidon said.

I tilted my head, surveying the dusty, cobweb-laden corners of the basement. "So, basically, we"re on a treasure hunt in the world"s least inviting treasure chest. Brilliant."

Aidon chuckled and pulled me into a hug. He placed a kiss on my lips before releasing me and patting my ass. I put more sway in my hips as I walked away from him. The groan that left him would never fail to heat my blood. Moving around the row of shelves on one side of the space, I froze when I saw the open door.

"I found something over here," I called out.

Stella's heels clacked on the cement as she rushed to my side while Aidon's steps were silent. "What is it?" My best friend asked as she came to a halt beside me.

"If I had to guess, I'd say it's a makeshift ritual room." I pulled my lips between my teeth and entered the small room.

My eyes widened at the sight of peculiar symbols etched into the floor. Stella pointed out the remnants of recent spell work. I bent over the table and sniffed the scattered herbs and arcane residue.

"Is it just me, or did we stumble upon the set of a low-budget witchy movie?" I quipped, trying to mask my unease with humor.

"Yeah, but this goes beyond movie props. Powerful spells were recently cast in here," Aidon observed as he scrutinized everything.

Stella's hand waved through the air and picked up where Aidon left off, saying, "But none of this looks as old as the stuff she has upstairs. Does Olive have children or grandchildren? Perhaps this is their space."

"As if this wasn't complicated enough," I muttered. "There were no pictures, and none of the other rooms looked lived in. Not to mention this space feels dirty."

Stella shivered and ran her hands up and down her arms. "Do you think there"s a discount on exorcisms if we bundle it with a basement cleanse?"

I snorted and laughed at the same time. "Are you serious?"

"Serious is my middle name," she replied, doing a theatrical bow. "Stella Serious Hawkins, at your service."

Aidon shook his head at our antics as he walked through the room, listening to us. My pulse kicked up when he suddenly stopped. The air became heavy, and I felt that someone was watching us.

"Do you feel that?" I whispered. "Can you see where they are at?"

He shot me a sidelong glance. "Not exactly. There"s definitely a presence here. And it"s not the friendly ghost kind."

Stella gaped at him and hissed, "Do I have to remind you that the spirits we've dealt with haven't been all that friendly? We are in serious trouble if you're saying this ghost is worse."

"Fantastic," I muttered under my breath and moved closer to Stella. Our supernatural treasure hunt just took a darker turn. I shot Aidon a concerned look. "Stella has a point. Are we talking about Casper"s evil twin or a wraith?"

Aidon exhaled, his breath visibly condensing in the chilly air. "Neither. There's a lot of anger, but the energy almost feels like it could belong to one of the gods. There"s a subtle but unmistakable undercurrent. Something doesn"t feel right."

"Ah, the classic "something doesn"t feel right" scenario," I griped. "That staple belongs in horror movies, not our lives. Do you think a demigod was involved with Olive's disappearance?"

Ignoring my attempt at levity, Aidon continued, "We need to be cautious. Whatever we"re dealing with goes beyond the typical magical mishaps."

I nodded. "There"s a darker layer to this supernatural puzzle. It"s a good thing I love solving things."

"Well, color me intrigued," Stella replied. "A puzzle with a demonic twist. I hope there"s a prize at the end, like a lifetime supply of chocolate or a demon-slaying vacuum cleaner."

I wanted to snicker but shot Stella a somewhat reproachful look. "This is serious. We can"t afford to underestimate whatever is down here."

"I know better than to do that," she retorted. It was obvious the gravity of Aidon"s words wasn"t lost on her. "Alright, let"s play it your way. Team Serious is back in action. What"s the plan?"

Aidon"s eyes scanned the room, his expression focused. "Proceed with caution and keep our eyes peeled. The divine energy is faint, but that doesn"t mean it"s weak. We stick together on this one and keep our guard up."

"You're worried this demigod could hurt me or the babies," I observed. My voice wavered, and my hand went to my stomach. "Can we add ‘and try not to trip over our own feet' to the plan? I"m particularly skilled in that department with my growing belly." It was easier to use sarcasm than it was to really think about my vulnerabilities.

Aidon wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. "I won't let anything happen to you or our little ones," he said.

"I know you won't. Let's find whatever is hiding in here and get out of this place," I said and squeezed him.

Stella gasped and grabbed my hand. "We should cast a reveal spell. I bet that will show us something."

I gave her an arch look. "It"s a long shot. I can't see demigods leaving behind anything that might lead to them."

Aidon snorted. "You're giving most too much credit. It's a good idea."

"Alright. Let's do it," I agreed.

Holding Stella's hand, I called on my magic and chanted the spell with her. Almost as soon as the energy rippled out of us, a bright light filled the room. It nearly blinded us before it receded.

"Holy shit," Stella cursed.

"You're surprised? We pack a major punch, Stells." Blinking to clear the dark spots, I glanced around, looking for what was different.

"Over here," Aidon said from behind me. Stella and I spun around.

My jaw dropped open. "It looks like a secret vault." That was the first thought that came to mind when I laid eyes on the thin square outline of light about three-quarters of the way up the wall.

Stella smiled over at me. "I've always wanted to have a secret safe hidden in plain sight."

"Me too! It'd be the perfect place for my salt water taffy," I agreed.

Stella laughed at that. "It's the only thing stopping Tseki from eating all the good flavors."

Aidon observed our exchange with an arched eyebrow. "Should I be worried that you two are turning this investigation into a battle of snark?"

I grinned and patted my mate's chest. "Life"s too short not to sprinkle a bit of humor into our mystical endeavors. How do you think we stayed sane during our time in captivity? Now, let"s unveil the secrets of this hidey hole, shall we?"

Stella tilted her head and pressed her fingers to the wall. "How do we get in?"

I shrugged as I started probing the space. I yelped when my fingers grazed a seemingly inconspicuous spot and got a jolt of power. Aidon reached for them and cradled them in his hand. "You've got minor burns." His voice was a harsh growl, and he glared at the opening as a soft click resonated through the room

We watched as the panel opened, accompanied by the creaking protest of hinges. "This is not what I expected to see in here," I said with a furrowed brow.

Stella went into full investigator mode and started inspecting the contents of the secret compartment. Inside lay a collection of letters. They were neatly arranged and sealed with an elegance that bespoke an era where handwritten correspondences were an art form.

"I haven't seen handwritten letters for decades, and it's been even longer since I've sent one," I said, feigning a dramatic whisper. "Maybe they're love letters from someone who died at war or something."

"Seriously? You come up with that when Olive disappeared mysteriously?" Aidon looked at me as if I'd lost my mind.

I held up my hands. "What? That was common during World Wars one and two. I'm not sure if it was as popular during later battles."

Aidon grabbed an envelope and opened it. Stella and I read over his shoulder. I looked at her. I could hardly believe what I was seeing. The envelopes contained information that painted a vivid picture of a secret magical community.

Stella"s eyes gleamed with a mix of excitement and scholarly interest. "These aren"t ordinary letters. The information suggests there's an exclusive cult. Oh! It's like a clandestine society with layers we"re only beginning to peel. Their name is the first enigma to unravel."

I gave my bestie a look. "Order of Umbra? What the hell kind of name is that?"

"Is this a group of people who don't get along? It makes no sense," Stella mused.

"The name is inconsequential," Aidon said as his gaze shifted from the letters to Stella as he shot her a look that spoke of the gravity of the situation. "Do you think this community is linked to Olive's disappearance?"

Stella nodded thoughtfully. "I think there"s a good chance it is. These letters indicate she's pretty involved with them."

Shaking my head, I tried to stop my stomach from churning. "And her connection to them goes beyond casual membership. Our missing witch wasn"t just part of this community. She held a pivotal role," I said, pointing at the information in the document.

Stella let out a whistle. "She was the VIP of this magical community. Move over, Hogwarts. We"ve got Salem"s exclusive magical society."

I shot her a look that bordered on both fear and amusement. "We need to look into this. Having a secret society like this can't be allowed right under my nose."

Aidon scowled at me. "Suddenly, I really hate your role as the Pleiades. I don't like this one bit."

"I know what you mean," I sympathized and continued to delve deeper into the contents of the letters.

I could hardly believe I was standing in a witch's house in Salem, of all places, unraveling the mysteries of Salem"s secret magical community. With every letter, the threads of our investigation wove a tapestry of enchantment, leading us further into the labyrinth of the supernatural. The game was afoot. And this time, it wasn"t just about finding a missing witch. It was about uncovering the secrets that could reshape the magical landscape.