Divination (Spells and Sins)

Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

"Energy flows where the intention goes—be wise where you send it."

Elysia

“ W hat are you doing?” I asked as Lunara picked up the book between us and began flipping through the yellowed pages. The paper sounded like it would fall apart and crumble into dust at any given moment.

“Wasn’t there a section on the clock tower in here?”

“Yeah, it was the first thing I saw when I opened it at the library. Why?” I turned the car into a coffee shop parking lot and pulled up to the drive thru speaker. “Do you want a latte or something?”

“A chai tea would be amazing.” She continued turning each page and scanning the contents while I ordered drinks for us.

When we got to the window, she gasped.

“What’s the matter?”

She practically smashed the book into my face. “What do you see here?”

“Nothing with it that close to my face.” I chuckled and pushed the book to a more reasonable distance. “It’s just the clock tower.”

“No, there?—”

“Here you go.” The attendant at the window handed me two cups. “Have a nice day!”

After handing Lunara her chai tea, I set my pumpkin spice latte in the cupholder and pulled into a nearby parking spot.

Taking a much needed sip of my latte, I let out a contented sigh. “Much better. Now, what did you find?”

Lunara placed the book in my lap and pointed. “Runes. Do you see them?”

I squinted and looked at where her finger rested. “They do look like runes.”

“Right? They’re fae runes!” She continued pointing at different areas on the page. “Here. And here…oh, and here!”

“Our town has always had some kind of supernatural past, but what do you think it means?” I took another sip of my drink and put it back in the cup holder so I could pick the book up and look closer. “I’ve passed that clock tower numerous times and never noticed any runes on the building.”

“I wish I could read them.” She leaned closer, squinting her eyes as she studied the page. “I’ve seen these runes before in some of our historical texts.”

Trying to ignore her earthy scent, I said, “It’d be nice if you could figure out what they mean.” I smirked as I flipped through the book to get a better idea of what it contained. It was filled with cryptic stories about my town's supernatural past, but nothing solid.

When I turned to the next page, I was back on the section about the clock tower with the photo of its freshly constructed countenance standing tall and proud on Main Street. It spoke of the founding of the town, but I couldn’t find any mention of a supernatural layer to the old monument. But then a piece of paper slid out and onto the floorboard from the back.

Lunara reached down to retrieve it and unfolded it delicately. “It’s an old newspaper clipping.”

“It looks like some kind of puff piece to me with a title like that.”

Tall Tales of the Clock Tower

We both leaned over and began to read it in silence.

Skimming the tattered piece of newsprint, I couldn’t believe what I saw. “Oh my, look here.” I pointed at the page, still stunned by what I found. “It says there were whispers among the townsfolk about a hidden artifact tied to Hallow Ridge Grove. Do you think…?”

“Possibly.” Lunara finished reading and folded it back up then turned her attention back to the book. “I think I saw something about blueprints of the clock tower somewhere.”

“You did?” I zeroed in on the picture and frantically searched the writing underneath it. “The caption under this photo doesn’t explain anything about the runes or mention anything magical.”

“I know. It’s frustrating.” She rested her head on my shoulder and gestured to another paragraph. “Look toward the bottom.” Her finger jutted out to point at the lower portion of the page. “There. The Hallow Ridge Grove Historical Society.”

“It’s just a couple streets over.” I closed the book and hugged it to my chest. “Maybe the blueprints could hold a clue as to what the symbols mean on the building.”

“Maybe.”

“Let me call Morgana and tell her what we’ve found.” I eased back marginally to look at Lunara’s face. “I should probably ask if there are any updates on Thalia while I’m at it.” Dialing her number, I pressed the phone to my ear.

Morgana picked up on the third ring. “I don’t have any good news.”

“We don’t either, but we’ve got a lead.” I stared into the distance as I said, “We’re going to go check it out.”

She was silent for a spell, and I started to wonder if we’d gotten disconnected. “Morgana?”

Letting out a heavy sigh, she mumbled, “I’m here.”

“What’s the matter?” I couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d been withholding stuff from me lately.

“Someone.” She cleared her throat. “Someone saw you and that…that fae kissing ,” she said harshly.

The latte soured in my stomach at the hate from my mentor now radiating through the phone. She was like a mother to me, but at that moment, I didn’t feel like she was the same person who’d taught me how to use my magic, who’d been patient with me when I’d gotten things wrong.

No, the person on the other end of the line was a stranger now, because I’d never heard her talk like that about anyone or anything. She’d always been so understanding.

“I don’t think that’s any of their business or yours.” I closed my eyes against the bile rising in my throat. I’d never opposed Morgana and the feeling didn’t sit right with me.

“It is if it affects our coven,” she hissed out. “A relationship between a witch and a fae is an abomination.”

Opening my eyes, I glanced over at Lunara who sat patiently with her forehead creased, probably wondering what in the world was going on.

Morgana seemed to forget that Lunara was also half-human. The abomination she spoke of had already taken place.

“I—I don’t understand what the problem is. It’s not like we’re going to have kids.”

“Kids?” Lunara asked.

I side-eyed her. “Shh.”

Morgana swore underneath her breath. “It’s not about children, it’s about magic. Mingling your magic with hers can be devastating.”

“How?” I asked.

“It doesn’t matter how.” She paused for a moment. “Just… drop her back off in the woods and come help us look for Thalia.”

My hand gripped the phone tighter as I hissed, “No.”

“Excuse me?” A brief moment of silence spread between us before she said, “I am your high priestess. You’ll do as I say and get your ass over here to help us search for your coven sister.” Her heavy breathing told me I’d struck a nerve, but I wasn’t backing down.

“I need to find this orb thing.” I rolled my shoulders to ease the tension building up in them. “I think if we find it, we can help both the town, Thalia, and the fae.”

Morgana’s heavy sigh blew through the line. “Look, I know you think it might be helpful, but if we band together we won’t need her.” After Nova called for Morgana in the background, Morgana’s distant voice called, “I’ll be right there.”

When I was certain she’d put the phone back against her ear, I asked, “You had her help us just an hour ago. What’s changed?”

Lunara leaned over and whispered, “Are you talking about me?”

I placed a finger over her lips and asked her silently with a look to keep quiet.

Morgana seemed to wrestle with what to say as she sputtered a moment. “I—well, I didn’t realize how much she’d weaseled her way under your skin. You need to get away while you can.”

“While I can?”

“Yes.” More curse words were flung around under her breath. “Please, for everyone’s safety.”

“Because Lunara is so dangerous.” I wasn’t even going to get into the fact that she was half fae or that she’d already empowered me with her magic back at the library to help locate a book that appeared to be helping in our search.

“You have no idea what the fae are capable of. They may not be able to lie, but they know how to twist the truth for their own agenda. Just get back over here.”

The line disconnected and I pulled it away from my ear to stare at the screen.

“What did she say?” Lunara’s warm palm rested lightly against my thigh. “You’re troubled about something and it sounds like it’s about me.”

“Apparently, you’re dangerous.” I choked on a laugh. “And we shouldn’t be kissing.”

“Are my kisses dangerous?” She smirked and withdrew her hand.

I grabbed it and placed it back on my leg. “Your kisses are definitely dangerous.” I winked and leaned over to lightly press my lips to hers. “So, so detrimental to my health.”

“I see,” she said against my lips and backed up to gaze at me. “She wants me to leave, doesn’t she?”

“Yes.” There was no sense in sugar-coating things. We’d both been nothing but honest with each other from the get-go.

“Are you going to take me back?” Her breath hitched as she waited for me to answer.

“No.”

“No?” Her hand gave a squeeze. “Are you sure?”

“Are you going to hurt me?” I asked.

“Now, why would I do that?” She used her free hand and cupped my cheek. “Do you think you’ll hurt me?”

“Absolutely not.” I grinned and shifted to kiss the inside of her palm. “Let’s go check out the historical society.”

As I backed out of the parking spot, I wondered if one of us would end up getting hurt, but not physically. She had to eventually go back to Faerie, and when she did, I was more worried about my heart getting broken.