Page 54 of Hallows End
“This is absolutely fascinating,” she says at last. “I can’t say it’s anything I’ve heard of before, but I’m in a very different part of the country. Let me ask around and do some reading.”
She scowls as if she’s frustrated.
“What is it?” Xander asks her.
“Well, it’s peculiar. I’m completely blocked when I try to reach out and speak with Jonas’s guides or ancestors. It’s like the phone is just…disconnected. That’s not unheard of, but it is rare for me. I want you all to beverycareful. This isn’t the kind of curse you simply play with. It’s powerful. More than any of us realize. I can feel that much. But it’s also not the only reason you’re reaching out to me tonight.”
“No,” I agree. “We’re also calling because of some other weird things that have been happening in Salem.”
“It’s almost Samhain, child,” she reminds me. “Of course, things are happening. And I hope you’ve reinforced your protective shields.”
“We have,” I rush to assure her. “And will continue to do so. But I have questions about skinwalkers.”
Miss Sophia’s eyes sharpen and narrow, and before she can ask questions, I tell her about the red dog and the fake Giles showing up at Breena’s home.
“Excuse me,” Miss Sophia says and sets down the phone. I glance at the others in surprise as we hear running water and see lights start to flicker around the room.
She lit candles.
“I’m sorry,” she says when she returns. “I needed to reinforce my protections here. What you speak of is not something I’ve ever heard your mother or aunts talk about before.”
“Us, either,” I agree.
“But we’ve never been a target before,” Breena adds. “Miss Sophia, could things like this have happened to Agatha and the hundreds of others who were murdered before, but they just didn’t say anything to anyone?”
“Agatha would have told her sisters,” Miss Sophia insists, completely dismissing anything to the contrary. “I can’t imagine that any witchwouldn’tconfide in someone they trust after seeing something like that. It has to be frightening.”
“What if they didn’t know?” Xander asks. “What if they didn’t realize that’s what they were seeing?”
“Possible,” she says slowly. “But unlikely.”
“We didn’t know that thethingat Breena’s door wasn’t Giles,” I insist. “Miss Sophia, it was Giles in every way—his mannerisms, even his voice.”
“But Giles would never have said, ‘you won’t invite me in?’ He never would have asked it that way.”
“No,” Giles agrees. “I wouldn’t have.”
“But it’s not untilnowthat you realized that,” I add. “Breena, in that moment, you would have sworn that Giles was at your door. All I’m saying is it could be that any of the previous targets, my mother included, didn’t realize that thethingspeaking to them wasn’t the person they knew and trusted.”
“You make a good point,” Miss Sophia says. “And you may be right. But just like I’m being blocked regarding the curse, I can’t see what’s happening with this murderer either. I’ll try harder and keep you posted. In the meantime, Lucy, I have something for you. Years ago, I visited Salem when you were quite young, and your mother asked me to hold onto something for you until the time came that you needed it.”
I blink at her, feeling tears prick the backs of my eyes. “What is it?”
“She warned me that you’re not the most patient woman. Don’t worry, I’ll send it to you, but I don’t trust any shipping company. My granddaughter, Lena, and her husband are leaving tomorrow to embark on a journey. Mason is an archeologist, and there’s a new dig in Burma with a huge discovery of Painite, an elusive crystal. Mason is beside himself.”
“I think I’m besidemyself,” Giles says, his eyes alight at the news of a rare crystal. “I hope I’ll get to ask him some questions.”
Breena rolls her eyes, but Miss Sophia continues.
“I’ll have Lena and Mason stop there on their way out of the country. I just don’t trust this package with anyone else.”
“Thank you.” I smile at the kind older woman. “For everything.”
“I wish I had been more help. I’ll do some thinking on my end. Good luck to all of you. Keep your wits about you. I’ll talk to you soon.”
She ends the call, and I glance around at everyone in the room.
“I hate surprises,” I announce and set my phone on the table. “Like,hate.”