“Okay, Samhain it is,” my mom said. “That means we’ve got two weeks.”
I looked through the window to where the book sat on the kitchen table. Two weeks didn’t seem like enough time to plumb the depths of a tome like that, but it seemed it was all we were going to get.
“How do we start?” I asked.
My mom looked over at me, startled. “Oh. Wren, honey I really think we should… I mean this book could be dangerous.”
I frowned at her. “Didn’t you already test to see if it was safe to handle it?”
“Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t more danger to unmask on the inside, honey.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Are you saying you aren’t going to let me help?”
All three of the sisters looked at each other now, and I realized that not one of them had planned to include me in the investigation of the grimoire.
“Jess delivered that book to me. Me, specifically,” I reminded them.
“Wren, honey, you’re still so new to witchcraft, it wouldn’t?—”
“And whose fault is that?” I asked, firing up. “That wasn’t my choice.”
My mom’s face flushed with guilt, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to be the only Vesper left out of the most important thing to happen to our coven since the Covenant itself.
“Just… just let us get started. We won’t keep you from it when we know it’s safe, honey.”
“But I know it’s safe! Asteria said?—”
But I stopped myself suddenly. I had never told them about Asteria coming to me at Xiomara’s. I never told them what she had said, about the girl and the book, and how I needed to trust her. This silence was partly Xiomara’s idea—she thought the message was incomplete, and I should continue reaching out until I had more information. But for me, it was more than that. My mom and her sisters thought their mother was gone—not just dead, but that her spirit had crossed over peacefully. I didn’t want them to know that Asteria was restless and confused. What good would that do? Besides, her message wasn’t for them—she had never mentioned them at all. Her message was for me. The book was delivered to me. Didn’t that mean something?
“What did you say, Wren? What about Asteria?” my mom asked, interrupting my inner turmoil.
“Asteria… wouldn’t want me to be excluded,” I lied. “She wanted me to be a Vesper—a real Vesper. But I can’t be if I’m always on the outside.”
My mom’s expression twisted, and I experienced a stab of guilt. Butbefore either of us could say anything else, Rhi forestalled us by blurting out, “You’ve got to get going, Wren! You’re going to be late for your lesson with Xiomara.”
I wanted to argue but she was right, and Xiomara was not the kind of person you left waiting.
“Fine,” I snapped. “But I’m not letting this go.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” my mother sighed.
Normally, I’d have been angry that I couldn’t stay and continue to plead my case, but not in this moment. In this moment, a session with Xiomara was exactly what I needed. Asteria had left too many questions unanswered. If anyone could help me find those answers, Xiomara could.
5
Ihad to pedal like I was being chased down by a horde of zombies, but I made it to the Marin house on time. Eva laughed at me as she opened the door.
“What the hell happened to you?” she asked.
“Running late,” I panted. My face felt flushed and sweaty.
Eva just shook her head, still chuckling, and stepped aside to let me in.
I took off my shoes and greeted Eva’s mom, Maricela, who was pulling a tray of something cinnamon-smelling out of the oven in the kitchen.
“Hello, Wren! Did Eva tell you? We’ve got a waterworker in the house!” she said, smiling broadly.
“I know!” I said, smiling back. “It’s so exciting, congratulations!”
