Contrary to Quinn’s comment about the weather, the night chill did not drop in temperature. We were slowly drying out from our late-night trip. My hair was slightly damp and wild as we returned to Devan’s house through the tree line. I noticed a painful knot in Seri’s hair. Ouch.

Hopping onto the back porch, I could see Travis Treent, Devan’s father, still giving his lesson to the trio: Alex, Brandt and Lana. I overheard the discussion, Glamours and how to break them.

Although the five of us were on our own, we were still learning. You are taught the basics, protection spells, glamours and runes alike, until age sixteen. From that, you can discover your path; you learn what interests you and what you think will be helpful. Having a large coven, talking with one another and being able to clarify things creates a great learning environment. A safe one, too.

For the most part.

Devan went into the house first, taking off his still-wet shoes. Following suit, Heaven stopped me, Devan’s mother. She spoke softly and placed a hand on my shoulder,

“Lexi? Can I borrow you for a minute? We’ve found something that should be yours.”

Like Devan, she was kind, heartwarming, and easy to talk to. Slightly smaller than I, she had a more auburn hair colour and caramel eyes, which conveniently Brandt had, a mamma’s boy.

Previously, my grandmother lived in this house before she passed away four years ago, and the place went up for sale. The Treents needed more space, and my parents were more than happy for them to purchase it. Often, we have left things behind by accident. I thought this was such an occasion.

“Yeah, not a problem,” I replied happily, following Heaven.

She took me into their library room. The door was closed, but my weakened senses perked up. Something familiar was behind this door.

It was calling to me.

‘This has never happened before.’

She opened the door, and a book was sitting innocently on an office desk. A brown leather-bound book with yellowing withered pages, this was old and used well.

My grandma’s signature was all over it—her book of shadows.

It was most likely filled with private encounters, dreams, spells and family history. Usually, the book is passed down to grandchildren for them to learn from, like an heirloom.

I brushed my hand over it, recalling seeing it open with scrawling on every page. A sad smile came to my lips. Although I saw it many times, I was never given it. I never owned it.

It usually was shared from the age of 16 or was passed down before death. My dad’s mother had dementia. She had hidden it and could not remember or did not want to tell where it was, why we didn’t know. She never mentioned the book nor the reason in her will either.

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“Where did you find this?” I whispered, turning back to look at Heaven standing near the door.

“Right underneath your feet. Wrapped in silk and hidden in a glamour,” she said back softly and motioned to the floorboards.

I unwrapped the binding on the side and flipped it to the long back page. A family tree is present. The last entry was ‘Alexander’, my brother. My father’s name is still in black ink, linked with my mother's name. My grandad’s name was scratched out.

I brushed my fingers over the illegible name and became aware of something else. It wasn’t the book calling me, and I looked down to the floorboards, where my feet stood.

“Did you find anything else?” I asked slightly louder, still looking down.

“What is it?”

I met her eyes. Her eyebrows furrowed with concern.

“I think… I think there’s something still there.” I looked back down as the calling strengthened, “May I?” I asked, looking for permission; I received a nod back.

Lifting the wood revealed nothing but a handmade wooden container deep enough to house the book. I knocked on the bottom and confirmed my suspicion. A false back, something was further down, underneath it. I pressed my palm down onto the bottom; it was easily elbow-deep.

Mustering magic to my fingers, my hand glowed weakly, “Relevora,” I coaxed.

The bottom gave way unexpectedly, making me jump. Lifting it out of the way, a pouch of black velvet tied with a gold cord sat. I relayed this to Heaven, who called for Travis to come quickly.

The colour black was used for many things, to contain something or for protection. This object is full of energy.

Getting it out was the next task. I switched positions, laying down on the cold, re-varnished natural woodwork. I reached down.

My fingers brushed the material, and a necklace flashed in my mind with a white pendant. The image came and went in a flash. I felt like I had seen it before. Reaching for it again, my finger snagged on the corner with no grip. The image came clearer: Victorian style, a single string of see-through crystals and a silver clasp on the back. Shifting again, I strained to reach it; grasping a corner, I pulled up the double-knotted velvet pouch from its hiding place and sat back.

I looked up to see Travis next to me, just as curious as myself. He replaced the wood as I took a look inside.

The necklace sat against the striking background of black. It looked hand-crafted, with clear crystals and a silver clasp, just like the images. The pendant had a blacked-out female shadow profile and a single diamond on the back.

I couldn’t tell if the energy coming off was good or bad; all I knew was that it gave me shivers. It would have sat comfortably around the bottom of the neck.

I remembered this. This was in the single wedding photo of my grandparents. The chain reflected the light from around her neck as she wore her white flow gown, and a row of flowers adorned her head from the circle ceremony.

We had thought to bury her with it but could never find it... But why was it concealed?

“This was hers as well. She wore it in her wedding photos,” I beamed.

Heaven looked over my shoulder, “It is beautiful,” she praised, giving out her hand.

I took it and stood up. Grabbing the book, I gushed out a thank you to both.

Heaven shook her head, “They’re rightfully your families,” she smiled.

----------------------------------------

The Grandfather clock struck 12. Midnight!

“Lexi?” Seri said sheepishly, “Do you mind giving me a lift home? I didn’t realise the time!” she appeared in the doorway with Alex behind her.

“No, I don’t mind! Come on. I don’t want to be driving too late. Have you got my shoes?” I replied, walking out into the small hallway.

She held them up in response, and we walked out of the front door with a chorus of goodbyes following us.

It was half 12 when I got home; after checking all the doors and windows, putting my wet shoes onto the radiator and getting ready for bed, it was 1. After the strange presence in the woods, I sealed the house with a protection spell. I thought about starting to read my grandma’s book in my hands.

’It’s already late. Just go to sleep, Lexi.’

I set them both on my desk next to my computer.

Crawling into my bed and snuggling into the thick cover, I fell to sleep, and for the first time in a long time, I did not dream.