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“Daddy?” Aurora turned to Fitzgibbon. “We have to help Delilah. I know you’re hurting, but you need to set that to the side so we can help Delilah. Please, let’s do this together.”

Fitzgibbon’s eyes were shiny with unshed tears. “Okay. We’ll help.” He pulled his daughter into his arms and held her tight.

Ronan watched as father and daughter embraced each other. How many times over the last several years had he been in Fitzgibbon’s current position? He’d watched Everly step into a murder investigation, not knowing if what she could see or hear would scar her for life.

One thing was for certain, Ronan would do everything in his power to make sure Aurora was safe and justice for Delilah was finally served.

6

Tennyson

After Aurora’s experience with Delilah, Fitzgibbon had taken her home with him. He’d said they’d work on the Civil War angle together and would come back after lunch. Jude had also gone home which left Ten, Ronan, and Everly. It was the first time in a long time that the house was their own again.

“Explain to me what just happened.” Ronan set down a mug of steaming tea in front of Everly and walked back to the counter to make one for himself.

“Aurora was channeling Delilah,” Ten said. “You know, like that scene in Ghost when Whoopi Goldberg speaks for Patrick Swayze?”

Ronan nodded. “Aurora was able to hear what Delilah was telling all of us.”

“The best way I can describe it, Daddy, is that it’s like you’re standing off to the side while the spirit uses your voice. All of your senses still work and you can listen to what’s being said.” Everly took a tentative sip of her tea.

“You’ve done this before?”

Everly nodded. “Once or twice.”

Ten hadn’t known this. Everly had never mentioned channeling another spirit.

“Don’t worry Dad, Mimi Bertha was with me.” Everly patted Ten’s hand.

“Were you inside the spirit’s mind while they spoke through you?” Ten was far more curious in what Everly experienced than he was angry at the fact that both his daughter and Bertha had kept this information from him.

“No and I don’t think Aurora was either. Although it would be easier for Aurora to get a glimpse at Delilah’s mind than it would be for me since they’re related.”

Ten grasped what Everly was saying instantly. “Does that mean you can do the same thing with Erin?”

“I’ve never tried it,” Everly said, looking thoughtful. “I just get the feeling Aurora probably can.”

“How?” Ten asked. “How can Aurora do it, I mean? She’s got no psychic gifts that we’re aware of. Or do you know something I don’t?” He raised an eyebrow at Everly.

“It’s the magic, Dad. It’s inside her, like in her DNA. I got Mimi Erin’s red hair and Aurora got Delilah’s magic. I don’t know how that’s possible. Uncle Cope might know more about it. He’s talked about being able to bend spoons when he was about my age without his mother teaching him how to do it. The Devereaux magic is inside of him.”

“Can this magic connection between Aurora and Delilah somehow help us solve Delilah’s murder?” Ronan asked.

“I don’t know, Daddy.” Everly was silent for a few seconds. “I think a lot is going to depend on how open Aurora is to Delilah. Also how open Uncle Fitz allows her to be. He was super freaked out when Aurora started speaking in Delilah’s voice. His fear might stop Aurora from reaching out.”

“Good point,” Ten agreed. Fitz had also been freaked out over some of things Everly had been able to do with her gift. Mixed with that fear had been relief that Aurora didn’t have those skills.

“We need to talk to them when they come back this afternoon. Me with Aurora and you with Fitz. He needs to understand that Aurora isn’t in any danger and that this connection to Deliliah is part of her. It’s so strange that our homework has to do with interviewing a family member about their lives and in walks Aurora’s great-great-great-grandmother. Uncle Fitz likes to think Aurora is all his, but she’s got blood ties too.”

“There’s definitely a lot to consider,” Ten said, his mind turning back to the matter at hand. “Let’s take a look at the diary.” Ten picked up the book. The leather was buttery soft and rust-red in color. He imagined it must have been red back when it was new. Ten held it up and flipped through the pages. They’d somehow missed the photograph of Delilah and Ten wondered if there was something else tucked into the pages.

“Oh!” Everly gasped when a lock of hair fell onto the table. The locks were raven-black, coiled and wrapped with a green ribbon.

“Is it safe to touch?” Ten asked. Hair magic was very powerful and he didn’t want to suffer the consequences of whatever spell had been cast upon it.

Everly held her palm over the hair and shut her eyes. “Yes, it’s safe. It was a gift from Delilah to this ‘J’ person, whoever he is. She gave him the photo and the lock of hair.” Everly frowned. “I understand giving someone your picture, but why would you give them your hair?”

“That’s a good question,” Ten said.