“He’s been staying at an inn close to the sanctuary while he’s been healing from the injuries you inflicted upon him. I don’t think you’ll be able to get near him now without having to deal with hisnew friends.” Placing the half-empty glass of water down on the small table in the living room, Magda stood up.
“Is there anything we can do to help Violet and Fiona?” I asked.
“Like what?” Forrest asked.
“I don’t know. Shouldn’t we try to rescue them or something? They could come with us up north.”
“You would ask Fiona to leave her children behind?” Magda asked.
“I would assume that it would be preferable to the alternative,” I spat back. “If she stayed alive, she could at least see them eventually.” I sat down on the sofa and slumped forward. “I know. It’s not a smart thing to attempt. I just feel awful that they’re going to die, and we can’t help them.”
“Child, what part of ‘they are coming for you’ do you not understand? You delay leaving this goddesses-forsaken place any longer than is necessary, and you won’t have time to worry about Violet and Fiona, because you’ll be dead too!” Magda cried. Tears started rolling down her face. “You must leave tonight! You cannot waste another second of your time worrying about anyone other than yourself!” Her arms flailed as she motioned me to move.
Magda reached into her pocket and brought out what appeared to be a golden skeleton key with an eye at the top. “As you know, your grandmother and I were close. We both came from very unconventional backgrounds. That combined with our shared interest in magic made us quick friends,” she said with a sad fondness. “I loved your grandmother with my entire being. My universe only consisted of her. She was my sun, moon, and stars. And when it was her time to leave us, I thanked Hecate for allowing us to have the time together that we did.”
While I was growing up, Magda had been quite close with my grandmother and me, but I’d had no idea of their feelings for one another. I felt guilt and sadness that I had been unable to recognizethat part of them and see them as they were, which was two women deeply in love.
Magda handed me the skeleton key. It looked to be made of gold, although I had never seen this much gold in one place, so I couldn’t be sure. The eye at the top appeared to be made of pearl and onyx. It was surrounded by beams of lapis lazuli. It was absolutely stunning.
“Why are you giving me this?” I asked.
“Before your grandmother passed, she asked me to hold on to this for you. She said that it was a family heirloom, and that under no circumstances should it ever end up in anyone else’s hands besides mine or yours. It has the power to grant access to places and things no one but you has the right to access.”
I looked at Magda, confused. “What are you talking about? This doesn’t make any sense.”
“Shh, child. If you would let me finish.”
I waved my hand at her to continue.
“She said that this key would offer you a way out in times of great need. I am giving this to you now so you can use it to leave this place.”
“I don’t understand how this key is going to help us. Is it for a secret home my grandmother had somewhere?”
“When you leave tonight, you must go into the Nightwood and find the clearing shaped like a half moon. There you will come across a portal. Use this key to access the portal.”
I wasn’t sure if it was nerves, but at the mention of a portal, I laughed hysterically.
“I fail to see what is so funny about this, child,” Magda chided.
“I’m sorry, Magda. There’s just a lot to unpack in that short little sentence. A portal? To where? And what am I supposed to do once I’m there?”
Magda took a deep breath and let out a long sigh before answering. “It’s a doorway. It will take you back to the start.”
I stared at her, stunned and confused by the words she had just uttered. “Back to the start?” I whispered to myself. I narrowed my eyes at Magda. “What do you mean by that?”
“I wish I could elaborate, child,” Magda replied, pulling at a loose thread on her sleeve that wasn’t there.
My mouth fell open. “No, that’s not good enough. Nothing you’re saying right now is making any sense.”
She looked at me with pity. “Aurelia, my dear, I wish I could tell you more, but I can’t.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I protested. I was past being confused and was now starting to get annoyed. “Magda, please.”
“I’m bound, child. I can’t tell you anything more, even if I wanted to,” she whispered. Her voice was calm and soothing. She was aware that her evasion of my questions was tearing something within me.
I shook my head. “I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. I deserve to know what the fuck I’m running into!” The annoyance I had felt seconds ago now shifted into anger.
“I’M BOUND!” Magda cried. “Do you not know what that means?” The diminutive woman looked up at me with sadness and regret.
