The Book of Lost Souls

by Michelle Muto

  Three more people joined the line behind them and Ivy wondered if Nick would be able to get away long enough to talk.

  “You okay?” Nick asked, his voice far less harsh than it had been earlier. Only the slightest hint of edginess remained.

  Ivy shrugged. “Yeah.” But she couldn’t quit staring at him and she didn’t feel okay. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. This was horrible! What idiot ever said that if you really liked someone it was comparable to walking on clouds? It felt more like dodging traffic on a New York freeway.

  Nick’s face softened. “Give me a few minutes.” He motioned toward an empty booth.

  Shayde pulled Ivy away from the counter toward the booth. They slid onto the vinyl seats to wait for their order.

  “Hey, guys!” Raven said sliding in next to Shayde. “Just saw you guys here and thought I’d say hello. Gareth is down at the pet store picking up bugs for his new lizard.”

  Nick strode toward them with two sodas in to-go cups.

  “While you’re waiting,” he said, scooting in next to Ivy.

  Raven nodded to Shayde. “Gareth wants your opinion. On the... Oh, never mind. Just follow me.”

  Shayde followed Raven’s lead. “Be right back.” Shayde snagged her soda. “Thanks for the soda, Nick.”

  Ivy waited until they’d gone outside. “I’m really sorry, Nick,” she gushed. “I’m not any good at this.”

  “Good at what?” he asked, the cold tone back in his voice. Even his dark eyes had an icy look to them Ivy hadn’t thought possible.

  He’s still hurt and still putting distance between us, she thought.

  “Dating. Figuring out if it’s the right guy or not. If I really like someone, or I just think I do.” She hoped he’d say something to let her off the hook, but he just sat there, staring at her like she hadn’t finished speaking.

  “Don’t do this to me, Nick. What do I have to say? Look, I think what you said to me the other night was right.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “What was that?”

  Ivy swallowed hard. “That, we may not be who we end up with, but I think we’re both what we need.”

  She couldn’t meet his eyes for fear he’d see how nervous she was. She would not beg for forgiveness. Not even from Nick Marcelli. She waited. It felt like eternity, although it was probably less than ten seconds.

  “Fine. Never mind then,” she said. “Is our pizza ready?”

  “In a minute,” he said softly. When Ivy finally met his gaze, he offered a slight smile and slid out of the booth. “What makes you think all the sudden I’m really the one? That this is the right thing for you?”

  Ivy’s insides were in turmoil. Part of her wanted to stand up and kiss Nick in front of everyone. Another part wanted to storm past him and put him out of her thoughts. This wasn’t an audition! How could it turn out like this?

  “I don’t know, Nick. I have no idea when it’s really right between two people. I only know when it’s wrong. Dean was wrong. All I could think of was you.”

  Nick’s uncle called her and Shayde’s name, holding their order.

  A smug little grin appeared at the corner of Nick’s mouth, but he still didn’t say anything.

  “Like I said, never mind.” Ivy took her soda and shoved past Nick, brushing up against him. She turned, startled at how that single moment of contact made her feel. Nick seemed just as puzzled.

  Why couldn’t he say anything? Had she spoken up too late? Oh, this was so humiliating and... painful.

  She spun around, feeling the weight of his stare—possibly everyone’s stare. Snapping up the pizza boxes, she ran blindly out the door, hoping Shayde hadn’t wandered too far off with Raven.

  Phoebe was in the parking lot leaning against her silver Mazda Miata. Her arms were folded loosely across her chest, but Ivy found nothing casual about the hatred on Phoebe’s face. “You should have stuck with Dean.”

  “Don’t mess with me right now, Phoebe. I’m not in the mood,” Ivy shot back, feeling a crackling, tingling sensation within her. A low humming throbbed in her ears.

  “Or what?” Phoebe jeered. “You might just have some of those new powers everyone thinks you do. That is, if last night’s third-rate carnival event when you sent your friends over the Prescott’s wall was any indication. Where did you ever find a spell like that? Still, you have no idea what black magic is until you tangle with me. See, I really do practice black magic.” Phoebe laughed and placed a finger across her lips, which were curved sardonically. “Shhh! Don’t tell.”

  Phoebe? Phoebe was the one who had followed them last night? Where did she think Ivy was going? If Phoebe really did practice black magic, she might be the one behind all this. Come to think of it, she couldn’t remember seeing Phoebe the night of the dance. She might have been in the cemetery.

  Phoebe grinned. “I see you’ve put together a little piece of the puzzle, Ivy. You always were so smart. You were so busy paying attention to Dean and the rest of your little friends that you never noticed me. If Bane and your miserable dog had been upwind, they might have known I was less than a hundred feet from Dean. Even he didn’t know I was there. The spruce tree hid me and my scent pretty well, I think.”

  “You followed me?” Ivy said, furious. The tingling in her body felt worse, it was moving outward into her legs and arms. A spell came to mind, and Ivy couldn’t quit thinking about it.

  Snakes. She remembered it having to do with snakes. Lots of them. Page two hundred nineteen, The Rise of the Dark Curse. She wondered how Phoebe would look with a head full of writhing, venomous snakes.

  Don’t, a voice echoed in her head.

  She set the pizza boxes on the hood of her car, barely aware she was preparing to duel Phoebe if she had to, and yet she felt sure she’d lose in such a silly display of anger. Whatever was happening to her, even if she were going dark herself, Ivy thought Phoebe was darker. Way darker.

  Okay, Ivy thought. No snakes. But she couldn’t just let Phoebe walk away. Not untouched, anyway. Phoebe had to know who she was dealing with. Another spell from The Rise of the Dark Curse came to mind.

  Phoebe laughed again, a high and bitter sound. She stood taller, hands tense at her sides. “Bring it on Ivy, if you think you’ve got what it takes. But no matter what, Nick is mine. How many ways do I have to spell it out for you? I suppose I could wipe you off the face of the earth, send you to the very depths of hell itself. But, I’m going to make you a deal—”

  “Nick will make his own decisions. If he chooses you it won’t be because of any deal.” Ivy feared Nick had already made such a choice, but she wasn’t backing down now.

  Ivy softly uttered a curse from the book, pausing long enough to raise her hand and block one of Phoebe’s spells.

  In near zombie-like fashion, Phoebe raised her hand to her mouth and tore off the end of a perfectly manicured nail. Then, she began to gnaw on the ragged edges of it. Ivy noticed a small trickle of blood. It was mesmerizing. She could stand her and watch until Phoebe chewed the whole nail from her finger and start on the next.

  “Ivy!” Shayde and Raven were hurrying toward her, breaking her concentration.

  Raven stared, speechless at Phoebe, unable to say a word. Like Ivy, she was momentarily fixated on the blood.

  “Stop it!” Shayde demanded, shaking Ivy. “Stop it right now!”

  The buzzing in Ivy’s head had vanished. Phoebe was still worrying at the nail bed of her index finger. The sight no longer held Ivy in a trance and she recanted the curse. Her friends had to intervene. If they hadn’t come when they did, how much longer would she let the hex go on? What if someone else had seen?

  It’s that damn book!

  “What’s this?” Phoebe said, spitting out a bloody piece of nail. “You need backup? A werewolf with absolutely no powers over me and some vegan of a vamp?”

  Shayde growled, low and guttural, sending the hairs on Ivy’s neck on edge. It was a sound she’d only heard when Shayde hunted and was goin
g for the kill. But that was as wolf, not human.

  Raven didn’t look any happier. “I normally don’t drink low-grade, but I’m off my diet,” she said.

  Phoebe grinned, the blood making her red lips even more crimson. She licked the blood off the end of her finger. She examined the nail bed for a moment or two. “Nice,” she said. “I wonder where you learned such a spell. But, if you want to play rough, MacTavish, then we’ll play rough. Next time, leave your friends at home.” She gave a quick glance at someone approaching from the restaurant, but Ivy didn’t dare turn to see who it was. Phoebe pivoted on her four-inch heels and got into her car.

  “That book has to go, Ivy,” Shayde said quietly.

  “Ditto,” Raven agreed. “I don’t ever want to see you use that book again.”

  Ivy forced herself to nod. They were right. “Thanks, guys.” She looked to see who was approaching. It was Nick.

  “Isn’t there a Bitch-Be-Gone spell?” Raven asked a bit loudly.

  Despite her use of a spell from the book, Raven was trying to cover it up. For now. But, how much longer? Ivy shook her head. “Don’t I wish.”

  “Too bad,” Raven said.

  Nick erupted into laughter. Thankfully, he hadn’t seen the whole incident. “Bitch-Be-Gone?”

  “Just looking out for your girlfriend, Nick,” Raven said. Her tone had an edge of sadness to it.

  Nick shook his head and sighed heavily. “Ivy’s not exactly…” His eyes locked with Ivy’s.

  Not exactly? Not exactly what?

  “Fine!” Ivy said. A tangle of emotions overwhelmed her—fear, shame, and now, total embarrassment. “See you at the house, Raven. Come on, Shayde, let’s go.” Ivy snatched the boxes off the hood of the car and shoved them at Shayde. The pizza was probably cold by now and they’d have to heat it up when they got home. Or, they could eat it cold for all she cared. It had been stupid to come here. They should have gone over to the Wok of Life and had Chinese. If Phoebe wanted Nick so badly, she could have him.

  Good riddance, Ivy thought, and felt more miserable than she ever had in her life.

  CHAPTER 26

  “I don’t know which one of you is more depressed,” Shayde said to Ivy and Spike.

  Ivy adjusted from her slouched position at the kitchen table and pointed to Spike. “He is. I’m okay, really. Just deep in thought about the missing book.” There were a lot of things going on in her mind, and the book was at least part of it. But Nick took center stage. His comment to Raven had hurt more than she’d expected.

  Ivy’s not exactly my girlfriend...

  Okay, he hadn’t finished the sentence, but that’s what he was going to say. There was an empty ache in her chest unlike anything she’d ever experienced. What was she thinking? How could she let someone into her heart like she had Nick? Stupid, stupid, stupid!

  Spike sighed heavily. Ivy detected a small hitch in it that sounded more like a sob. “She’s beautiful,” he said. “I don’t blame him.”

  Ivy’s head jerked in his direction. Yeah, Phoebe was rather pretty, but beautiful? Who’s side was Spike on, anyway? “You weren’t there! You didn’t see her. I didn’t think she was that hot. I don’t know what he sees in her.”

  Spike didn’t know what he was saying—it was the bug withdrawal. But Phoebe… maybe she could think of a way to turn Phoebe into a slug or make her butt the size of Texas.

  Spike and Shayde both put down their pizza slices. Raven took a sip of her soda. The grandfather clock ticked loudly in the other room.

  “What?” Ivy said. “You guys think she’s beautiful?”

  Spike fidgeted with his pizza slice. “But I did see her,” he said, his eyes now a bit watery. “Gareth showed her to me. I was only hanging out in the parlor when you came to get me because I couldn’t stand to see her in my old terrarium any longer. Her skin is amazing—so sleek and coppery with the darkest, most perfect black spots.”

  Raven burst into laughter. “Oh, this is too freaking funny.”

  “What? What spots?” Ivy asked.

  Raven could barely contain another outburst of laughter. Even Shayde snickered.

  Ivy glanced at her friends. “Oh. You’re not talking about Phoebe, are you?”

  Spike picked up his pizza and stared at it. “Phoebe? He named her already?” He devoured the last of his pizza in three bites, belched, then searched the pizza boxes for more. All that remained were crumbs.

  “Spike’s talking about Garth’s new lizard, isn’t he?” Ivy asked, embarrassed.

  Shayde laughed. “Yep. You’re the only one thinking about Phoebe.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure Nick isn’t even thinking that much about her,” Raven added.

  “That much?” Ivy said.

  “Oh, geez Ivy,” Shayde said. “I’m really sorry it didn’t work out for the two of you tonight. I was hoping it would.”

  Raven nodded in sympathetic agreement. “It had all the potential of being hot.”

  Ivy stared at the floor. Spike eyed the pizza crusts on her plate and she shoved it toward him.

  “Dessert. We need dessert and a different topic.” Raven slid the chair back and skipped to the fridge. She pulled out the caramel and chocolate sauce and a small container of sprinkles from the bottom shelf.

  Shayde nudged Ivy’s arm. “Yeah, ice cream will cheer you up. Nothing like a bunch of empty, sweet calories to make a girl happy.”

  Ivy flicked her hand at the cabinets and four bowls and spoons made their way to the counter. The freezer door opened and a large carton of vanilla ice cream floated lazily through the air. Spike caught it and opened it, tossing the lid into the sink.

  Devlin whined at Ivy’s feet.

  “Fine, why not?” she said. A smaller bowl made its way next to the four larger ones. Devlin barked in delight.

  They made heaping bowls of ice cream drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce and topped with sprinkles.

  “Are you sure?” Shayde asked as Ivy set a bowl with half a scoop of ice cream on the floor for Devlin. “It’ll give him hiccups.”

  Spike gave Devlin a pat on the head. “Hiccups?”

  Raven took her finger and wiped away the extra chocolate from a spoon. “Yeah. Too much sugar does it do him. And, like all Beezlepups, he hiccups spurts of fire.” She licked the chocolate from her finger. “The last time Devlin set the living room drapes on fire.”

  “I wonder if it’s Phoebe,” Ivy said, earning her a quizzical look from everyone. “The book. Phoebe said she’d been studying dark magic.”

  Shayde took a mouthful of ice cream. “Makes sense I suppose. But why is she attacking the Regulars?”

  “I don’t know what her motive is. I don’t know a whole lot about Phoebe.” Ivy added extra chocolate syrup and sprinkles on her ice cream. “What I do know is there’s something not right about her.”

  “Besides the fact she’s after Nick?” Raven teased.

  Ivy shot her a half-playful, half-serious, don’t go there glare.

  “So how do we find out if she’s got the book or not?” Shayde asked.

  “I make a little trip down to the river,” Ivy said.

  “Huh?” Shayde said.

  “Spike says the guy who gave him the note hangs out by the river. Maybe he’s meeting Phoebe there.”

  Spike nodded in agreement.

  “And you just happen to think they’ll have The Book of Lost Souls with them?” Shayde asked.

  Raven gave Ivy a hard stare. “Sure. Just like Ivy carries around its twin everywhere she goes.”

  It would have been difficult not to notice everyone looking at her, and it didn’t take rocket science to figure out both of her non spell casting friends weren’t thrilled about the book. They just didn’t understand.

  “Well, I can’t leave it in the house,” Ivy said, feeling more than a bit defensive. “And what if I just happen to stumble upon the dead and the damned? Maybe there’s a spell in The Rise of the Dark Curse that can send them back.”


  “You are not going to go through that book again!” Shayde said. “Tell me you’re not...”

  Raven folded her arms across her chest. “I’m with Shayde on this one.”

  “It’s the only way, guys! Do you think that whatever spell Phoebe cast to bring back Vlad and Countess Báthory has a generic counter-spell?”

  Shayde narrowed her eyes. “You’re not bringing that book. And we’ll know because we’re going with you.”

  Ivy realized she should never have said anything about going down to the river. “If I promise to leave the book here, then you two are staying behind. I’m not risking anyone else.”

  Raven and Shayde exchanged knowing glances and it made Ivy wonder what they’d been discussing. She didn’t have to wait long.

  “We’ve been talking,” Shayde admitted. “We’ve agreed that it’s time for us to step in. We want you to give your mom the book.”

  Both her friends stared at her, waiting for a response. A flash of anger welled inside her. They didn’t trust her with the book any longer. They didn’t think she could handle this on her own.

  Spike’s gaze shifted uneasily among them.

  “See?” Shayde said. “You’re upset. You’ve got to get rid of it, Ivy. Can’t you see what it’s doing to you? No good can come of this.”

  Raven leaned forward. “We’ll make you a deal. We’ll stay behind if you give your mom the book. We’ll even give you until Friday night. That’s two whole days. And, we’ll be with you when you do tell her. Fair?”

  It didn’t go unnoticed that ever-cautious Shayde didn’t bat an eye. They’d planned this.

  Ivy felt her hands clench into fists. “I can’t believe you guys! I can’t believe you’d do this to me!”

  Raven slammed her palm onto the table, making Spike and Devlin jump. “And we can’t believe the things you’ve done to your friends or to Devlin! Do we really need to go over all of them? Do we? It’s controlling you, Ivy. You can’t go one day without reading it or touching it, can you?”

  Ivy shook her head. It hadn’t gone unnoticed they hadn’t mentioned the incident with Phoebe. They were right. She didn’t want to admit it, but they were. Every day, the book had a stronger hold on her. There were times when all she wanted to do was ignore everyone and sit in her room with the book. There were times when she wondered how a particular curse worked. It had to stop now while she still had control.