by J. S. Malcom
“As in the Mona Lisa.”
Maggie nods. “Exactly. So, let’s assume the woman in the illustration was actually Leonardo Da Vinci, at least metaphorically. The book I was just reading described how Leonardo said she could use her magic mirror to see the future. Think about it. No one has ever figured out how he imagined so many inventions that didn’t become part of reality until hundreds of years later. Airplanes, parachutes, the helicopter, the armored car, and so many others.”
“Interesting theory. So, you're saying Leonardo could see the actual future, and it wasn't just that he had a powerful imagination.”
“I'm sure it was both,” Maggie says. “No one is asserting that Da Vinci wasn't a genius. Clearly, he was. Most witches display extraordinary intelligence levels, but I'm sure you know that.”
My mind goes to recent antics involving Jerome and Bobby conjuring a Pocket Pixie and the spirit of a dead psychic, leaving me to silently ponder that point. Still, the idea of Leonardo Da Vinci having been a veil witch is beyond cool.
“By the way, I just made tea,” Maggie says. “Pumpkin chai. It just seemed right for a chilly day like this. Oh, and there’s brownies too. Help yourself, if you’d like.”
The odds of me declining Maggie’s offer of pumpkin chai and a brownie are about the same for me ever showing up on time. Right, never gonna happen. I go out back, fill a mug, snag a brownie, and pop back out front. I perch myself on a stool next to Maggie, prepared for a nice, mellow day spent watching an empty bookstore. Chances are, Maggie will soon depart for a date with one of her many middle-aged suitors. That’s half the reason she hired me to begin with, not that I’m complaining. Basically, I get paid for sitting and stuffing my face.
Sure enough, Maggie’s phone buzzes against the counter and she reads the text that just came in. She jumps up from her stool. “It's later than I thought. Tom's already at the restaurant.”
I have no idea who Tom is, but I can pretty much bet that he and Maggie will be doing more than lunch, because Maggie soon has her coat on and is heading toward the door with a particularly lively bounce to her step.
She’s just about to leave when suddenly she stops and turns around. She shakes her head and says, “Oh, my. I nearly forgot. There’s someone out back in Special Collections. You should probably go and say hello.”
I raise my eyebrows and wait for more. Generally, we don’t bother those visiting the Special Collections room unless they ask for our help. After all, it’s one of the few places where our fellow witches can sink their teeth into stacks of books dedicated to true magic.
“She said she knows you,” Maggie says. “She seemed very nice. Okay, I should be back by four. Five at the latest.”
The door closes behind her and Maggie bustles past the plate glass windows outside, while I sit there wondering who the hell could be out back in the Special Collections room. A chill runs through me that has nothing to do with the weather, as my heartbeat kicks up a notch. I tell myself I’m just being paranoid. Maggie said “she,” so chances are it’s either someone from the Cauldron or one of the local witches from the city coven. I mean, come on. It’s not Vintain inhabiting Grayson or any other changeling. He’s a done deal. I finish my brownie, take a last sip of my tea, and set off toward the room out back known to just the select few who are allowed access.
I enter the room to see a woman sitting at the old table in there. She’s hunched over a book, with a stack of other books nearby. She has gray hair, and the lanyard of her reading glasses rests on the shoulders of her cardigan sweater. Apparently, she’s too engrossed in her reading to have heard me come in.
I clear my throat and wait for her to look up. When she does, my heart nearly stops. Until this moment, I’ve assumed I’d never see her again. In fact, I’ve assumed that she never truly existed, along with the place where we met.
Beatrice’s eyes meet mine and she smiles. “Oh, Cassie, there you are. It’s so nice to see you again.”
I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out as images flash through my mind. Riding in Grayson's sleek Jaguar. Parking in what looked to be an abandoned lot. Entering a building that just appeared out of nowhere to meet the same woman I'm now facing.
“I realize it’s a little abrupt, just dropping in like this,” Beatrice says. “But I’ve been meaning to ask. Have you given any more thought to working with us at the Shadow Order?”
Watch for more books coming soon in the Fae Witch Chronicles series!
In the meantime, go back and read what came first starting with Autumn Winters: Realm Watchers Book 1! Grab your copy here!
A supernatural world alongside our own. A paranormal enemy we face without knowing. And only one woman with the power to stop the threat.
Autumn Winters can suddenly see into another world, one full of supernatural beings that can't possibly exist. But another window has opened within her, bringing memories of when her sister also displayed magical abilities. That was just before her sister went missing, and she hasn't been seen since.
Autumn believes there must be a connection between what's happening to her now and what happened years ago. Determined to discover the truth, she sets out with the mysterious private investigator, Ian, to track down who was behind her sister’s disappearance. What Autumn doesn't realize is that she’s coming into her powers. And when the powers of a veil witch awaken, there are those who'll be waiting. Getting closer to the truth only means getting closer to danger.
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About J. S. Malcom
J. S. Malcom is the author of the Realm Watchers urban fantasy series, of which Autumn Winters is just the beginning. J. S. lives in Richmond, Virginia, a town full of history and ghosts (not to mention, many other supernatural creatures, including Autumn and Cassie).
Author Note
Thank you so much to all of you who have stayed with me through this series, reading various drafts and encouraging me to keep going when, at first, I wasn’t sure how my version of Faerie lore would go over. I’ve loved writing these books, and your assistance and repeated reassurances have meant everything. I’d like to extend a very special thank you to those of you on the “beta-reading” team for offering your astute observations and eagle eyes! With that in mind, a most heartfelt thank you to Carmen Repsold, Tammy Baker, Jennifer Mantura, Deborah MacArthur, Marja Coons-Torn, Patti and Patrick Winters, Rachel Karfit, Lacey Lane, Lori Kis, Susan Warr, Andrea van der Westhuizen, Diane Changala, Ed Carr, Tamara Ingram, Tina Fulkerson, Vicki McCreary, Kim Brown, Amelia Donna Rose, Victoria McCreary, Deborah Smith, Maria Myrback, Bonnie Ellis, Jennifer Ryan, Cindy Love and Tisha. Thank you so much! You guys are fantastic readers and I truly appreciate your time and efforts. Many thanks also to Kim, Darja and Milo at Deranged Doctor Design for creating such stunning book covers.