“A few nights ago, I found something my mother left hidden. An ancient grimoire in a secret chamber beneath the greenhouse. When I opened it...” She swallowed hard. “It showed me women being hunted. Tortured.” She raised her eyes to meet Jessie’s. “They looked like her. Like… me.”
The reaction was immediate. Despite the warm summer air, the temperature dropped suddenly and frost formed on the windows. The houseplants Jessie had scattered around the kitchen began to turn brown and shrivel.
“Whoa,” Jessie breathed, her breath visible.
“Andthatstarted happening,” Muriel said. “My magic is overflowing, for lack of a better word, especially when I’m feeling strongly about something. Though to be fair, that was happening before I found the book. I think that might be what set things in motion.”
“Like a magical trigger?”
Muriel nodded.
“No wonder you’re freaked out. Tell me more about this book.”
“I’m not sure I can. I know it’s ancient and it seems to have attached itself to me. The pages are filled with symbols I can’t read, but canfeel,if that makes any sense.”
“Oh, Ree.”
“There’s more. The day after that happened, some creepy guy showed up at my house.”
Jessie sat up straighter, her innate protective instincts flaring. “What guy?”
“He said his name was Silas Corvus and that he knew my mother a long time ago. Then he told me that my magic would become unmanageable unless someone taught me how to control it.”
“How the hell would he know that?”
“I don’t know. He had a magical signature. Maybe he was able sense it somehow.”
“Let me guess. He offered to help.”
Muriel nodded.
“I hope you told him where he could shove it.”
That was what Jessie would have done, but Muriel was, by nature, non-confrontational. “I didn’t say anything. He left me his card though. That’s when I called you. I don’t know what’s happening, but I’m scared. I need answers, and Mythic is the only place I might find them.”
“You did the right thing coming here.” Jessie stood abruptly and started pacing, which was never a good sign. Jessie only paced when she was working up to something. “And as for finding answers, I might have already done something.”
It was Muriel’s turn to narrow her eyes. “What kind of something?”
“After you called, I went into town and talked to Brandon. I know things are weird between you two, but he’s a good guy. If anyone can help you figure this out, it’s him. I mean, he owns a magical bookstore full of ancient texts and?—”
“Jessie.” Muriel held up a hand. “Breathe.”
She sucked in a breath. “Are you mad?”
“No,” Muriel said honestly. “In fact, I had the same thought myself. About him being able to help, I mean.”
“Oh. Good.”
“But Jess, you have to understand. I wouldn’t ask him if I had any other choice.”
“I know. But like I said, Brandon's different. Don’t look at me like that. I've spent months around him. He's patient and kind, and he's never once tried to use his magic to manipulate or control anyone.”
“That you know of.”
“That I know of,” Jessie conceded. “But Matt trusts him.”
“Because Brandon helped him findyou.”