When the moon overpowers the sun... she rubbed her forehead, careful to avoid the bruising. The moon overpowers the sun, she mused. A day when the night was longer than the day maybe... the solstice... the winter solstice?
Jumping up from the couch so abruptly that Beau yelped and scrambled across the worn cushions, Olivia strode purposefully over to the desk and opened her laptop.
Bringing up the current lunar calendar for the year, she realized there would be another eclipse the night of the solstice. If there had also been one the night Hester originally trapped the demon that would mean... she brought up the lunar calendar online from twenty years ago.
“Son of a bitch,” she cursed.
If she was right, the final murder, and the raising ritual to free the demon Nathaniel, was going to take place on the winter solstice under a full lunar eclipse. That would mean they only had five days left.
Abandoning her laptop and picking up Hester’s Grimoire, she started searching once again. There had to be something in there that would be of help because the next time she faced her father, she was going to be prepared.
Theo paused mid-brushstroke and cocked his head, listening intently, sure he’d heard someone at the door.
“Olivia,” he called out but was met with silence. The knock came again, loud and impatient.
Sighing in frustration, he dropped his paintbrush down on the table along with his palette, then rubbed his paint smeared hands on the front of his jeans and stepped out into the hallway.
The pounding came again. Checking the peephole, he yanked open the door and stepped back, allowing Jake to stride into the hallway, stamping the snow off his boots.
“Took your time.” He pulled his gloves off. “It’s freezing out there.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you were with Erica tonight?” Theo asked in confusion.
“I am, but Olivia asked me to stop by.”
“She did?” Theo frowned as he eyed the package under Jake’s arm. “What’s that?”
“The reason she asked me to stop by, presumably,” Jake replied. “Where is she?”
“The library last time I checked.” He turned and headed in that direction, with Jake trailing wet footprints behind him.
Olivia looked up from her book as Theo entered the room. “Oh, good you’re finished,” she began, then realized Jake was standing behind him. “Jake, you’re here too. Great, that means I won’t have to repeat myself.” She glanced down to the snow melting at his feet. “You couldn’t take your boots off first?” She frowned.
“It’s been a long day, Olive.” He sighed. “Here, these are what you asked for...”
She took the package from him, slipping the items from the plastic bag and unwrapping them to reveal two rather large hunting knives.
“What do you want those for?” Theo asked in confusion.
“It’s a project.” She set them down on the desk. “You guys might as well make yourselves comfortable, we’ve got things to discuss.”
Jake dropped down in the nearest chair. “What’s going on, Olive?”
“I know when the last murder is going to take place.” She leaned back against the desk as Theo took a seat on the couch and Beau jumped into his lap.
“What?” Jake sat up straighter. “How?”
“Hester’s Grimoire,” she replied. “There’s a hidden message. It basically says the trap can only be opened on the winter solstice under a total lunar eclipse. According to the book, there was one the night Hester trapped Nathaniel. There was also one back when the original murders took place, but obviously the ritual couldn’t be completed because my dad was arrested and missed the eclipse. I’ve checked and we’re due one this solstice.’
“Damn it,” Jake swore.
“Uh, what’s a lunar eclipse?” Theo asked.
“It’s a…” Olivia stopped and closed her mouth, frowning. There was just no short and easy answer to that, especially not to a person who had no workable knowledge of planets and the solar system.
“You know what, that’s an explanation for later. Let’s just say it’s a special event that doesn’t happen very often, especially not coinciding with the solstice. I take it you know what the solstice is?”
Theo nodded.
