That’s the question that haunts me as I drop my keys into my purse and pick up the object I’ve brought along, and my copy of this week’s book club read – Sierra Simone’sPriest, a taboo, forbidden and deliciousromance between a man of the cloth and the woman who tempted him to break his vow on the altar of his church. Something about their story appeals to the sinner in me.
Tonight, I’m breaking a vow with myself.
Staying silent isn’t protecting me any longer. My silence cost Beth her pole studio, and it put Celeste in the path of a killer, and it nearly took Gideon from me.
This isn’t about me anymore.
When I turn the corner into Butcher Street, the object heavy under my arm, I blink in surprise.If they cancelled this week’s meeting and forgot to tell me, heads are going to roll.The lights in Nevermore Bookshop are on, but I can’t hear any laughter or gossip, or smell Celeste’s baking. I hesitate on the street, shifting my object to the other arm. Winnie appears at the window and waves at me. I let myself inside, careful not to bang the object against the narrow shelves as I navigate through the dusty shop. When I enter the room, I nearly drop it in horror.
The Nevermore Coven is amess. Everyone is silent, dishevelled, shells of the vibrant women I secretly adore. The murder board is scattered in pieces across the floor, surrounded by a fortification of overfilled wine glasses that no one has touched. Only Beth is on her feet. She paces the length of the room, wringing her hands and muttering under her breath. Her usual slick ponytail is sagging, with wispy strands floating around her face. The bags under her eyes need to be checked as oversized luggage.
No. This won’t do.
I stride over and drop the object onto the floor in the middle of the circle. Mina jumps as books and murder board pictures go flying. Beth shrieks.
“Argh, you spilled my wine!” Komal cries.
“Arabella, what gives—” Isis’s eyes blow wide as she takes in the painting that’s face up in front of her. “Is that… Is that you?”
Every member of the Nevermore Coven leans in to get a good look. I thrust my hands on my hips and wait.
“Arabella,whyis there a naked painting of you with what looks suspiciously like Claude Monet’s signature in the corner?” Winnie asks.
Eight pairs of eyes turn to me.
I take a deep breath.
“I’m going to tell you all why. But first, I have one condition.” I glare at Isis. “When I’m done, I will not be taking questions.”
“But—”
“No questions.This is new for me. I need to keep some pieces of myself.” I close my eyes. “Please.”
For a moment, all is still around me. Then a warm hand closes on my arm and Isis says, “Arabella, sit. We’re here for you.”
I open my eyes and look down at eight women who, despite my best efforts, know me better than anyone and still want to be my friends.
I sit.
And with a lump in my throat the size of a Birkin bag, I spill every secret.
I give them every raw and aching memory of my long life.
I give them all the shattered icicles they’ve chipped off my heart.
As I talk, Celeste creeps closer to me, until her arms go around me. I don’t shrug her away. On my other side, Winnie squeezes my knee. At some point, possibly around the time I tell them about waking up and finding Gideon and my necklace gone, Dora reaches up and brushes a tear from my cheek.
I should have trusted them a long time ago.
When I’m done, I’m not the only one crying. I straighten up, push Celeste lightly off me, and fix them with my most vicious Arabella glare. “I’m telling you all of this because we need to catch the killer, and if Celeste is right and he’s after me, I’ll need your help.”
“You have my sword.” Winnie leans in, eyes damp with tears and wild with potential mischief. “Well,Alaric’ssword, if he ever lets me have one again after I accidentally cut open his first edition Churchill biographies.”
“And you have my…” Celeste mimes wolf claws at me, but says for the benefit of the Nevermore Coven, “Rolling pin.”
“And my yoga mat.” Beth leans forward. “Whoever burned my studio is going to regret the day they crossed the Nevermore Coven.”
The room stirs with life once more as the Nevermore Coven get to work.
