The Coven's Secret

by Alicia Rades

  Well, that was a freaking dead end. I decided to focus on the real reason I came.

  I leaned my elbows on the table. “I’m not actually here about Halloween. I’m looking for answers about my future.”

  “Knowledge can be a dangerous thing, Lucas,” she warned.

  “It’s not like that,” I assured her. “I just need some guidance.”

  She straightened in her chair. “I may be able to help with that.”

  My shoulders relaxed, and I felt at ease. “The thing is, there’s this girl.”

  Everly’s eyes brightened. “Ooh, tell me about her.”

  “Nadine is… amazing,” I stated. “She’s just so curious about life, so full of this amazing energy that lifts me up every time I’m around her. I want to be around her all the time. I want to be… with her. But…”

  “But you’re the Reaper’s Apprentice,” Everly finished for me. “Which means you can’t be with her without hurting her.”

  “See? You understand,” I said. “Apparently that’s not common knowledge around school. The thing is, to be with her, I’d have to get rid of my gift.”

  Everly looked thoughtful. “And you’re wondering whether you should or not?”

  I shook my head. “No. I’m wondering how.”

  Her face fell. “Do you realize what you’re saying? Rejecting your powers like that—”

  “I know,” I said quickly. “I’m not here for a lecture.”

  “It’s not my job to give you one,” she stated simply.

  “I have to get in touch with a reaper, which I can only do on the Reaper Moon,” I said. “Problem is… I don’t know how to do it. I mean, it might be as easy as walking up to them, but if I have to do a ritual, I want to be prepared. I heard a story about a guy who did this years ago. Do you think we can contact him?”

  Everly sighed. “I’m sorry, Lucas, but my powers don’t work that way. The messages I receive are powerful, but I can’t decide who gives them.”

  “Can we at least try?” I begged.

  She narrowed her eyes. “You do realize what you’re getting into, don’t you?”

  “Yes, and I’ve thought it over pretty extensively. Will you help me or not?”

  Silence settled over the room for several long seconds. I held my breath.

  Finally, Everly sighed. “I’m not one to refuse help when it’s asked of me, so long as you understand what you’re doing.”

  I nodded firmly. “All I want is information.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “You realize I can’t guarantee that, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but I want to try,” I told her.

  She took a long breath. “Okay, I will help you. My fee is a hundred dollars per page.”

  “Page?” I asked curiously.

  She reached over to a nearby shelf and pulled out a stack of paper and a pen, then placed them in front of her. “I’m an automatic writer, Lucas. It’s how I receive the messages.”

  I shifted in my chair. I was probably going to have to borrow money for this, but to hell with it. I’d pay it back. Anything for answers.

  “I’ll pay whatever you charge,” I finally said.

  She nodded. “Then let’s get started.”

  Everly closed her eyes and positioned her pen above the paper. She breathed in and out, barely making a sound. A creepy clock with skeleton-shaped fingers ticked on the wall. I wondered if I was supposed to do something, but Everly didn’t give any instructions. I just sat there… waiting.

  At least if she didn’t write anything, I didn’t owe her anything, right?

  After two minutes that felt like two hours, the temperature in the room dropped. The hair stood on the back of my neck, and I shivered. I should’ve been creeped out, but I wasn’t.

  Without warning, Everly’s eyes began to move rapidly beneath her lids. Her eyelids fluttered open and closed the tiniest bit, and it really freaked me out. She was obviously in a really deep trance.

  Everly started scribbling on the paper, and the pen made chilling scratching noises against it. My heart leapt to my throat in anticipation. I jumped to my feet and rounded the table to read what she was writing. She didn’t respond at all, just kept writing like she was possessed.

  So you want to know about the Reaper Moon? she wrote in smooth, clear handwriting.

  I glanced around the room, as if expecting to spot a ghost hovering somewhere nearby, but I didn’t see a thing.

  “Yes,” I said aloud. I spoke quickly, like I feared the spirit may leave us at any time. “What can you tell me about contacting the reapers? Is there a ritual involved?”

  Everly began scribbling on the next line. Yes, but why would you want to do it?

  “That’s private,” I said.

  Won’t you confide in your brother, Lucas?

  I gasped. My eyes went as wide as saucers. The spirit that spoke through Everly was Eric?

  Maybe, I thought. I didn’t want to get my hopes up if this was some sort of trick. I hoped it was him, though.

  “E-Eric?” I asked, stumbling over the word. My throat closed up as I spoke his name. It’d been so long since I said it out loud.

  It’s me.

  My heart began to hammer fiercely. I wasn’t sure if I was excited to talk to him again or pissed this might be an attempt at manipulation.

  “How do I know it’s you?” I asked. My eyes darted around the room, even though I couldn’t see anything.

  We had a code word. Remember?

  I furrowed my brow. Code word?

  Then it hit me. Years ago, when my brother and I were just kids, we lay out under the stars one night talking about death. We decided that if one of us croaked off before the other, we’d contact the other using a code word. It was how we’d know we weren’t being punked by some mischievous spirit. I couldn’t believe I’d almost forgotten.

  “I remember,” I said.

  I gripped on hard to the back of Everly’s chair as she began scribbling on the next line.

  Mystic and Midnight.

  They were the names of the two cats we had when we were kids. My knees became weak beneath me. Before I collapsed, I dragged my chair around the table and sank into it beside Everly. She kept on writing while I tried to catch my breath and wrap my head around the fact that my brother was back in the same room as me.

  Do you believe me now? she wrote on the next line.

  That snapped me back to attention. I realized I may not have a lot of time left with Eric, and I wanted to get in as much conversation as I could.

  I straightened in my chair. “I can’t believe it’s you. I mean, I do, I just…”

  I couldn’t find the words.

  “W-what’s it like where you’re at?” I asked.

  I held my breath, awaiting the answer. I hoped to our goddess he wasn’t where I thought he was. I didn’t know if I could handle that. He took his own life, but he didn’t deserve an eternity in the Abyss for it.

  Alora’s wonderful, Eric answered.

  My jaw dropped open. I never thought I’d feel such relief to hear Eric was safe and happy with our ancestors.

  “You’re in Alora?” I asked breathlessly. “That’s great.”

  There’s no time for small talk, the next message read.

  “You’re right,” I said. “Do you know anything the Reaper Moon?”

  I leaned over Everly’s shoulder and watched carefully as she wrote out the next message.

  The people here talk a lot. I’ve picked up a lot of information. I’ve come to tell you not to do it.

  I gaped like a fish. “Wha—why?”

  My own brother wasn’t going to support me?

  Mother Miriam gave you this gift for a reason. Don’t give it up like I did.

  “This isn’t the same thing!” I cried. “Please, just tell me how to do it!”

  Everly’s pen paused above the paper, though her eyes continued to move rapidly—like she was still in the trance.

  “Eric, please!” I begged
.

  Finally, Everly placed her pen back to the paper and wrote, You must go to the cemetery and find the grave of Caesar Peppertrine. It is there where you’ll find the scroll that tells you how to contact the reapers.

  “Caesar Peppertrine?” I asked.

  Everly was already writing another message.

  Be careful, Eric cautioned. You must heed the warning from the card I gave you on Halloween. The choice is yours, Lucas.

  I swore my heart stopped for a couple seconds as I read the message. “You’re the one who sent me the Death card? What does it mean?”

  Everly’s pen didn’t move.

  “Eric!” I shot to my feet and looked around the room, but I couldn’t see him. “What does it mean!?”

  Everly cleared her throat, and my stomach dropped. I looked to her to see her eyes were wide open. She swayed a little, like she was dazed.

  “No!” I cried, my heart racing. “You can’t be done. I have more questions!”

  Everly set her pen down and spoke calmly. “I’m sorry, Lucas. I did what I could. You must recall I did not promise you any answers.”

  I slammed my hands down on the table, making the pen jump an inch into the air. “Then bring him back!”

  She shook her head regrettably. “I’m afraid he’s already gone.”

  I couldn’t explain the wave of anger, disappointment, and sadness that washed through me. All three emotions hit me at once. All I wanted was a few more moments with Eric.

  Like a brick to the gut, I realized how dangerous that thought could be. It was like all the other thoughts I heard, and I didn’t want to be that guy.

  I was going to live my life, and I was going to die happy.

  And that meant going down this road so I could be with Nadine.

  Caesar Peppertrine didn’t exist.

  At least, that was the conclusion I was coming to. His name was nowhere in the coven’s records. For the last week, I’d been leaving campus between classes to search the graveyard, but it was so huge it seemed to be taking forever. I entertained the idea that Caesar Peppertrine’s grave wasn’t on coven grounds, but it made no sense. Eric had specifically told me to go to the cemetery, which could only mean ours here in town; otherwise, he would’ve specified.

  I wondered if this was Eric’s way of throwing me off—of keeping me busy until the Reaper Moon had passed. But I couldn’t believe my brother would lead me astray like that. He’d given me the choice to make for myself. He wouldn’t lie to me.

  Which only meant one thing. Caesar Peppertrine’s grave was out there—and I was going to find it.

  But it was going to have to wait until after tonight. Tonight, I had other plans.

  I stood in front of the mirror on Saturday night, straightening the tie on my suit. The last time I’d worn it was at Eric’s funeral. I expected to feel ill putting it on, but I didn’t. Instead, I felt comforted, like Eric was here with me.

  Grant poked his head through the open bathroom door. “You ready?”

  “Almost,” I said, combing my hair back one last time.

  “Wow,” Grant said. “Haven’t seen you clean up this nice since—”

  He cut off. I could already hear what he was going to say. Since your brother’s funeral.

  “It’s okay.” I clapped Grant on the shoulder. “You don’t have to tread lightly around me anymore.”

  Grant gave me this confused look. “Who are you and what have you done with Lucas?”

  I got it. The old me would’ve been pissed for any reminder of Eric. But now that I knew Eric was in Alora, I felt like I could breathe at the mention of him again.

  I hadn’t told Grant about the night with the Seer and how Eric had given me a message. I didn’t want to chance anyone trying to talk me out of the Reaper Moon. I was going through with it, and that was final.

  I mean, I hadn’t found the scroll, but I had a week left. I wasn’t giving up.

  “I haven’t gone anywhere, buddy,” I said. “This is the old me coming back. Should we go find our dates?”

  Grant frowned. “You mean your date.”

  I furrowed my brow. “What happened to yours?”

  Grant raised his eyebrows, like he was really starting to worry about me. “Have you listened to anything I’ve said at all this past week? If I can’t go with Talia, it’s totally not worth going out with someone else.”

  “But you’re still going,” I pointed out.

  Grant shrugged. “I’ll be there to swoop in when Talia realizes Cody’s a total douche. Plus, I’m not missing a dance, man.”

  “Then let’s get going.” I could hardly wait to see Nadine.

  Grant and I took the grand staircase down to the Main Foyer.

  “You go on ahead, man,” I said. “I told Nadine I’d meet her here.”

  He gave me a salute. “See you soon.”

  I felt pretty awkward just standing there. I shot a glance around the foyer to see other couples chatting or sipping drinks. I was about to go sit down when movement caught my eye.

  Nadine stood at the top of the stairs, looking like a radiant goddess. It nearly knocked the wind out of me. She had her hair in long, beautiful waves around her shoulders, and wore a floor-length dress that had lots of sparkly diamonds on the bust and exposed part of her midriff. It was a deep, dark purple, like the color of my magic, and it looked really good on her.

  She glanced around the foyer, until her eyes fell on me. Her face lit up. My heart started pounding, and it was as if all time had stood still. I was rooted completely in place, and the only thing that moved around me was Nadine. She reached for the banister and started down the steps. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

  It wasn’t until she reached the bottom of the grand staircase and cleared her throat that I snapped back to attention. She blushed. “Everything okay?”

  I quickly reached my hand out and took hers. “You look… absolutely perfect.”

  She smiled brightly. That smile lit up my whole world. “Thank you.”

  After a few moments of silence, I realized it was my turn to speak again. “I’m actually really glad you picked that color. It’s, um, it’s my favorite. I didn’t know what color you’d wear, but…”

  I cupped my hands together and conjured the corsage I’d bought her. I opened my palms to reveal a velvety purple rose. “It’s for you.”

  Nadine gazed down at it, speechless. “Lucas, it’s beautiful.”

  She held her wrist out, and I placed the corsage over her hand. She ran her fingers over the petals.

  “It’s not as beautiful as you,” I said.

  She chuckled under her breath. “That’s sweet of you. You don’t look too bad yourself.”

  “I have my moments.” I took a step back and held my elbow out to her. “May I escort you to the dance?”

  She beamed and hooked her elbow through mine. “You may.”

  I led Nadine down the hall. We walked past the cafeteria and to the end of the hall, where a pair of double doors opened to a magnificent ballroom.

  Nadine’s jaw dropped when we stepped inside. The ballroom walls were a midnight blue, and the carpet was a deep black. The room was cast in moonlight streaming in through the tall, arched windows. Candles hovered above our heads. They weren’t attached to anything, but they bobbed up and down with ease, like one of the professors was using their Mentalist powers to set the ambiance. Tarot cards spun between the candles. I looked up and noticed they were all Major Arcana cards that spoke of good fortune and abundance. The Death card was nowhere to be seen, thank the Goddess.

  A live band played at the opposite end of the room, filling the space with a punk-rock melody. On stage, two skeletons jived to the beat in a coordinated dance. It was obviously the work of a talented necromancer. Grant was already on the dancefloor busting his moves. Amy and Mandy danced alongside him in black and white gothic gowns.

  “Would you like something to drink?” I asked Nadine.

  “Sure,” she answered w
ith a shrug.

  I led her over to the refreshments table. A sweet scent emanated from a bubbling cauldron.

  “Two, please,” I said to the Alchemist behind the table.

  As he started serving us drinks, Nadine hesitated at my side. “What’s in it?” she asked.

  I could tell by the way she eyed it she worried it might flare her symptoms.

  “It should be okay,” I said. “It’s just a hydration potion. Helps you go longer on the dancefloor.”

  “Oh,” she said brightly, sounding intrigued. “I’ll have to try it then.”

  We sipped our potion, which tasted fruity and sweet, with a hint of carbonation. My gaze roamed over the ballroom and stopped on the doors as Talia entered on Cody’s arm.

  “Uh oh,” I said under my breath.

  “What?” Nadine followed my gaze, and she realized what I was talking about. “What’s wrong with Cody?”

  I almost snorted. “Grant wants to kick his ass.”

  Nadine sighed, but she smiled in amusement. “Okay, he can’t be that bad. Talia really likes him. What harm is there in letting her enjoy his company?”

  The question was rhetorical, but it made me think of my mom. She claimed she enjoyed my dad’s company. Sure, there were times when he could be fun, but they were few and far between. Not that Cody was anything like my dad, but still.

  I took another sip of punch. “Depends. Want to get out there?”

  She beamed. “You’re really going to dance with me this time?”

  I tossed my empty cup in the trash nearby, then took her hand. “I told you I would, didn’t I?”

  Nadine threw her cup away before she’d finished, then followed me onto the dancefloor. The song had changed since we came in, but it was the same punk-rock type of music. Nadine started swaying her hips right away, but I just sort of stood back awkwardly. I was not a good dancer.

  “Woohoo!” Grant cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. “Nadine is on the floor! Let’s get this party started!”

  “Get in here, girl!” Amy cried, gesturing her forward.

  “Shake it!” Mandy added. She spun around and started twerking in Nadine’s direction.

  Nadine giggled as Grant swirled an imaginary lasso above his head. He threw it over her and reeled her to the center of the dancefloor.