Chapter 47
FORTY-SEVEN
SALEM, PRESENT DAY
Dora had left the house while her aunts were both sleeping, expecting to see Hades in the garden.
A coating of early morning icing sugar sprinkled frost, covering the tops of the cars on the street and the leaves still left on the trees.
It was turning into a haze as the morning sun began to burn through it.
Dora crunched her way through the carpet of gold and red autumn leaves that lay on the uneven red brick pavements.
This truly was the most beautiful time of the year.
It was Halloween tomorrow and she’d woken to a message from Stephanie to say their hats were ready.
She still hadn’t broached the subject with Lenny, but Sephy had thought it was a good idea so at least she and Dora would dress up and hand out the candy.
It was her first Halloween in Salem that she remembered, and she wanted to make it special.
Back home in London she’d decorate her tiny flower shop, Vintage Rose, with pumpkins, gourds and ghosts, making a spooky window display and she always had a big jar of sweets for any kids that came in trick or treating.
She hadn’t got many, but she had made a huge fuss of the ones that did come in, usually customers’ children whom they brought in to see her.
As she crunched her way through the leaves down Chestnut Street, she couldn’t help wondering how Morana was today.
The woman had got dragged into a mess not entirely of her own doing, and the fact that her name was inside the book connected to Dora’s mother concerned her greatly.
Which in turn made Dora think that Morana was just like her, a born-again witch who had no idea who she really was.
Perhaps that was the reason why when she’d worked the spells, they had been powerful without her knowing about her past. Most people if they picked up that book and tried to cast a spell might have some degree of success, but not instant like that.
It was obviously very clear that Morana was a bloodline witch, somehow connected to them, and she felt that her aunts were not taking it as seriously as they should be.
On her way to Salem Bespoke Boutique to pick up the hats, Dora walked past a group of tourists getting ready to do a historic walking tour that was led by one of the locals, Sarah.
Dora had loved doing her tour with Ambrose.
He had surprised her last week and signed them up, even though he knew everything there was to know about Dora and Salem.
It had been fun though and Sarah had been so lovely.
She had enjoyed learning about her past in the town that had always been her home, except for this time around.
Now, she was making up for lost time. The shop was in darkness and the sign read closed, but Dora knocked on the door, and it was opened by a smiling Stephanie.
‘Dora, it’s so good to see you. I think you’re going to love these.’
Dora grinned at her. ‘I know I will, I can’t wait.’
She followed Stephanie to her workshop, where there were three stunningly intricate and the most beautiful witch hats that she had ever seen.
‘Oh my, they are incredible.’
‘Yay. I’m glad you like them, although if you get your aunt Lenny to wear one I think I might pass out with shock. It will probably make the front page of the Salem News.’
‘Hahaha, I might join you, but I’m not holding on to much hope. Thank you so much.’
Stephanie picked up the black hat and placed it on Dora’s head, a little moving around and tightening it to make sure it fit just right.
‘What do you think?’
‘I love it.’
All three hats packaged securely, Dora tried to pay, but Stephanie was having none of it and chased her out of the shop with a promise to send her pictures tomorrow of all three of the English women wearing them.
Dora’s heart felt full, this town really was filled with pure magic, the people were so kind, and she had never felt more at home as she strolled back to show her aunts the prettiest witch hats she had ever set eyes on.
But still, she couldn’t get Morana out of her mind. If Dora was going to truly move on from all of this – from Corwin, and the past – she knew Morana was the key.