Chapter 17
Ididn’t sleep that night. How could I be expected to?
The weight of what I had learned was pressing on me like a physical force, fomenting panic in my chest and a whirling dizziness in my head.
I had flipped through the whole rest of the book, but there was not another mention of Abaddon anywhere to be found.
If he was so well known, surely there must be more information out there?
I suppose I could Google it and go down an internet rabbit hole, but that felt like a really bad idea.
In the first place, I knew that much of what I would find would be based on religious traditions, and I didn’t think that would be the most helpful source of information.
I needed facts. I needed context, and not just any context.
I needed witchcraft context. I needed to understand how Abaddon had appeared in our traditions and our lore.
And for that, I likely needed more books I had no business reading, which meant I knew where I was heading first thing in the morning.
I waited in my room until the sun had risen, until I started to hear the sounds of stirring down in the kitchen and up and down the hallway.
I let the minutes tick by, knowing it would look suspicious if a teenager was the first one up on a Sunday morning.
As I got dressed and ready for the day, I found that, instead of avoiding the mirrors and other reflective surfaces, I was purposely looking into them.
I found myself glancing around for any sign of that teardrop-shaped piece of sea glass, wondering when it would appear again, and what I would see when it did.
My mom was already out in the garden, coaxing lush greenery from the wintry landscape.
I was relieved I wouldn’t have to face her.
I’d spent enough time looking at my own reflection this morning to know that I looked terrible, and if she’d gotten a good look at me, she’d probably send me back to bed and forbid me to leave the cottage today, and I couldn’t let that happen.
I had to get back to the bookshop, and my shift at Shadowkeep was the perfect excuse to get there.
I ducked into the kitchen, grabbed a muffin from the fresh plate on the counter, and mumbled a hurried hello to Rhi, who, fortunately, was distracted enough with her measuring spoons that she merely threw a wave over her shoulder and not even a glance as she said, “Morning, Wren, honey. I made muffins.”
“I’ve got one, thanks!” I said. “Can you tell my mom I went down to see Eva?”
“Sure, sure,” Rhi said, already bent over her bowl again. “This spice blend still isn’t right.”
I assumed that last comment wasn’t really meant for me, and slipped out the door.
As I moved through the garden, I noticed the smoke rising from the crooked metal chimney poking out of Persi’s workshop roof.
I stopped, watching the gray tendrils twist up into the morning breeze.
Persi was inside. Alone. It felt like she’d barely left in recent days, emerging only for brief visits to Shadowkeep, and the occasional meal.
I hesitated, and then plunged across the lawn toward the workshop.
Even as I did it, I knew it was stupid. There was a much better chance of my mom spotting me if I stayed in the yard, and Persi was likely to slam the door in my face anyway, but neither of these arguments deterred me.
I kept trudging until I stood facing the door.
I knocked, first gently and then, after being met with silence, a little louder.
I thought I heard a shuffling, and from the corner of my eye, I saw the curtain twitch in the nearest window.
But the door remained closed, and my further knocks went unanswered.
I sighed. I was starting to think I’d been extremely foolish to promise Leila that I’d help her with Persi.
Persi was, by every measure I could perceive, unreachable at this point.
I was probably the last person she’d open up to, and if I couldn’t even get her to talk to me, what chance did I have of keeping my promise to Leila?
Well, I reasoned miserably, I only said that I’d try, not that I’d succeed.
Leila should keep her expectations low. Speaking of which, I’d agreed to meet her that afternoon. I was already dreading it.
Despite now having to sneak back across the yard, I managed to avoid my mother’s notice.
It was unseasonably warm today; the wind coming off the water didn’t have its customary winter bite, and the fresh snow from the day before was already dissolving into a sloppy gray slush.
I was glad I’d put on my boots as I sloshed my way down to the bookshop.
Susan was in her customary place behind the counter.
Instead of reading a book this morning, she was reviewing a sort of ledger, and sorting through receipts.
She glanced up when she saw me come in, and smiled with genuine warmth.
“Well, hello there, Wren,” she said. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
“Yeah, I, um… I was just going to look for a couple more books.”
“Same topic?” Susan asked, tactful in spite of the fact that the only other creatures in the shop were the cats, as far as I could tell.
“Yes.”
“Well, then, I suppose you know where to look,” she said, gesturing vaguely to the back room before returning to her little mountain of receipts.
“Thanks,” I muttered, and slipped around the counter and past her to the back room, hurrying to the last row, and ducking around the corner. If I could just spend some time sifting through—
“Oof!”
I walked right into someone, slamming our shoulders together and stumbling backward into the nearest set of shelves, sending several heavy books tumbling to the ground. I regained my footing, and looked up to see an equally flustered Nova Claire trying to get to her feet.
“Nova! I’m so sorry, I didn’t know anyone else was back here,” I gasped, extending a hand to help her to her feet, which she blatantly ignored.
“You should still watch where you’re going,” she snapped, brushing the dust from her jeans.
“I know, I was just so—” I stopped short as my gaze fell on the book she was holding. “What is that?” I asked blankly.
“A book,” she said shortly. “We are in a bookstore, you know.” She flung her hand in an impatient gesture that encompassed the whole room.
“I know that, but… are you buying that?” I was pointing at the book, my heart pounding as I recognized the imagery on the back cover. It was a conjuring Circle, and it was horribly familiar. Nova was holding a second copy of the very book I now held in my own hands.
“No. I’m… putting it back.”
“Putting it…” I took in her shifty look, her oversized coat. “Did you steal that?”
“Of course not!” She snapped. “I just… borrowed it. If I’d stolen it, why would I be bringing it back?”
“It’s not a library, Nova,” I scolded. “You have to pay for these books.”
“Yes, I know how bookstores work, thanks, Wren,” she hissed.
“Would you keep your damn voice down, please? I couldn’t buy this book, okay?
I didn’t want anyone to know I was reading it.
But the fact remained that I needed to read it.
So I… improvised. It’s going back on the shelf now. No harm, no foul.”
“Okay, fine, but… why did you need to read that book?”
“What do you care? Are you policing my reading list now?” Nova snapped. She was doing her best to maintain her almost bored demeanor, but there was a defensiveness in her tone, and her usually ivory pallor was tinged with pink circles on her cheeks.
“No, it’s just… why do you have that book?”
“How is that any of your business? You don’t see me asking you about the books you’re—” She stopped short as she caught sight of the book I had poking out of my bag.
Her eyes went as wide and round as coins, and she pointed an accusatory finger at me.
“Wait a minute. What the hell is that? Why do you have that book?”
Well, shit.
“I… asked you first,” I hedged, trying to match Nova’s acerbity, but spoiling the effect with the audible tremor in my voice.
“I’m serious, Wren!”
“So am I!”
Nova pressed her lips together. She looked like she wanted to hit me, or maybe just snatch the book from my hands, but I tightened my grip on it. Then all at once, Nova’s face crumpled. She dropped her defensive stance, and lowered her voice to an urgent whisper.
“I have to show you something,” she hissed. “Can you come to my house?”
“Now?”
“No, not now!” she spat, like it was a stupid question. “Can you come tonight? My mom won’t be home.”
“I… yeah, I think so. What time?”
“Not any earlier than ten.”
“What do you want to—”
“Please, Wren.” I’d never heard such a pleading tone in her voice. “I think I’m in over my head.”
I swallowed every question I had and just nodded. “Okay. I’ll be there.”
Nova’s eyes softened. Her shoulders slumped. “Thank you.” She shoved her not-stolen book back onto the shelf. Then she brushed past me out of the back room, and disappeared.
Susan poked her head into the back room, looking slightly alarmed.
“Is everything all right?” she asked. “Nova Claire just ran out of here like the place was on fire.”
I tried to smile. “Yeah, everything’s fine. She was just in a hurry.”
“I see,” Susan said, a slight crease forming between her brows. “And what about you? Did you find what you were looking for?”
I hesitated. Nova’s sudden appearance and the shock of our encounter had driven my actual reason for coming to the bookshop right out of my mind.
“I… no, I still have to look. Um… I’ll be right back.”
I returned to the book shelves, and though I searched for well over an hour, I didn’t see any other books that could shed light on Abaddon. Frustrated and smelling of book dust, I thanked Susan and made my way back outside.