Page 12 of An Oath at Midnight

I stared at the nondescript card again before sliding it back into the book. My darkness nudged me, pushing again. I didn’t know if I could hold it back indefinitely, but if I ever got really bad, I’d do what I had to so no one got hurt.

The moment I broke a blood oath, one I’d made to my family, by going to Clayton for help—the trajectory of my life had changed. I didn’t know how exactly, I just knew it had.

After that day, after we battled Cora, Brody, and Clayton at our cemetery, everything had fallen apart.

Bram had started going away, leaving me, and I’d felt the darkness crawling closer.

I became someone else, someone full of anger, who lacked any kind of control—someone I didn’t like very much at all.

It’d been two and a half years and I still hadn’t worked out how to live in my own skin again. I was lost, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever find my way back.

I slid the book into the drawer and closed it. But maybe that was a good thing. The old Magnolia had messed everything up, had almost gotten herself and her family killed.

That wasn’t who I was anymore, but I did know, if this new monster came for any of us, I’d destroy it.

* * *

“Come by the clubhouse Friday night. We’re having a party,” Willow said as she grabbed her bag and strode toward me.

I often helped Willow out at The Cauldron, and today I was working the afternoon for her since she had some appointment she needed to get to. Wills was an earth witch, she could manipulate wind and the plants and trees, move boulders, and could cause a fairly decent earthquake if she wanted to. She also had a magical blade that warned her of danger.

“Whose birthday is it?”

She chuckled. “Lothar.”

The hounds had taken to celebrating birthdays recently. It started when Willow threw a party for Warrick, and now they all wanted one. It was getting out of hand, but the hounds loved to party hard and were taking full advantage. “What kind of party are we talking about?”

“Nothing too wild,” she said, reading my mind and giving me a nudge. “You know you want to. Everyone will be there.”

Everyone except Bram. When he vanished like this, he could be gone days. My belly gripped. I really hated how we’d left things before he left. I hadn’t even said goodbye. I rubbed my chest, the ache there wouldn’t subside. “Maybe.”

“I want us to hang out. I feel like we haven’t talked in ages. Come, okay? It’s important.”

I opened the door for her. “I’ll try.”

As she passed, she gave me a look that said I’d better be there, and then she strode out. I pulled my phone from my pocket, checking it again. Still no word from Bram.

I’d dreamed about Margot all night, and I was exhausted today. To keep my mind off everything, off Bram, and Margot, I needed a menial task, something that forced me to concentrate. Grabbing a notepad and pen, I got to work taking stock of our inventory in the storeroom. Willow didn’t do it nearly often enough. Then she’d run out of something, and Else and I would be left scrambling to make more.

My and Else’s tonics and potions were stored in the back for safety, only the harmless stuff was displayed out front. I was working my way along the shelves by the register when the door opened and three witches walked in. My spine straightened, but I didn’t let what I was feeling show on my face. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction.

Amelia, as always, was in front, with Leah and Claire following. Always following. It was seriously pathetic.

“Oh, look who it is, ladies!” Amelia said. “I haven’t seen you in so long, Magnolia. What have you been doing with yourself?”

No, we hadn’t seen each other in a while, we’d barely had any interaction since we finished high school, which was the way I liked it. “Working,” I said. “Is there something you need?”

She grabbed a basket. “Just a few bits and pieces for my new place, you can’t be too careful. I plan on strengthening my wards.” She leaned in. “We heard about Margot.” She screwed up her face, eyes wide. “Sounds like she was tortured…they carved into her before they finally…you know…”

My fingers curled into fists, and I turned away before I swung at her.

There was silence behind me, my disgust in her gossiping over Margot’s horrific death was received loud and clear. I ignored them and got on with what I was doing while they made their way around the store, talking under their breath but loud enough for me to hear, like we were still in fucking high school.

What I wanted to do was kick their asses out, but again, I wouldn’t give those bitches the satisfaction.

Leah finally walked over and peered at me through the shelf I was standing behind, her familiar, a small dog named Biscuit, tucked under her arm. “Sorry, we didn’t realize you and Margot were friends,” she said, a ridiculous, overly innocent look on her face that said she did in fact know.

“Do you have everything you need?” I said, ignoring what she’d said completely.