Page 116 of A Witch-ish Guide to Protectors and Pendulums

Damn was right. Okay, I’d have to unpack all that later—like once the world was safe. Right now, work.

“Listen, I’ve got the amulet and the grimoire. There’s so much going on, but here’s the condensed version. Someone, probably the demon responsible for this whole thing—we think it’s Satan—brought Cain, Adam’s son, forward in time. Why? I don’t know yet. But new pages have been appearing in the grimoire and we need to meet up. I need you to head for the witches’ archives so we can join the dagger and try to end this.”

“That’s the condensed version?”

“I know. The safest place for us to meet is the Knap of Howar. That’s where the archives are located.”

“Knap of Howar? Sounds old.”

“And crumbling. There’s a little entry connecting two larger crumbling rooms. It’s hidden from people walking up because of how it’s situated. I need you to say:Cuir isteach mar chara.Can you remember that?”

“Cuir isteach mar chara? Yeah, I can remember that. A keen memory is one of my abilities. What does it mean?”

“Basically, ‘open up and let me in.’ I don’t know the exact translation. But a stairwell will open up out of nowhere and that will take you down to the archives. Madigan needs to be holding you, your hand, or shirt. The door will close behind you. The room will give you whatever you need if you’re hungry or tired. But don’t let anyone hear the password.”

“What about Lily Joy?”

“I’m trying to locate her and I hope to Lilith that she’s safe, but you and Madigan are part of this in a way that not even Lily Joy is. So please, be careful and get to the Knap of Howar.”

“I’ll get us there.”

“Can you do two days? I don’t think we can wait much longer.” I manifested him money, exactly as I had the first time we’d met. “There’s a private side to MBS Airport in Saginaw.”

“I know MBS.”

If anything, that made life a little bit easier. “Get to hangar nineteen. Inside, there’ll be a plane and a pilot waiting to fly you to Scotland.”

“How do you know there’s a hangar nineteen?”

“I don’t. But there is now. I’ve thought about trying to manifest you and Madigan here, but I’ve never done it remotely before and my powers—I don’t know if I’m strong enough. I scramble a hangar, oh well. I scramble you and Madigan…” Not a thought worth thinking.

“I have to get home first. I need the hilt.”

“And the book. Please don’t forget the book.”

“I won’t.”

“Repeat the directions for me, then.”

“Hangar nineteen. MBS. Private plane. Scotland. Knap of Howar.Cuir isteach mar chara.”

“Right. Okay, be safe, brother. I’ll see you in two days.”

“Two days,” he replied as I started to drift back through the door.

The door clicked shut and then disappeared. I drifted down into my body, very aware of my surroundings. Connor watched me with concern. “You find Sim?” he asked.

“I did. We’re meeting at the witches’ archives in two days.” I sighed. “I should manifest myself to them and bring them here instead of making them get there by themselves.”

“Simone, babe, he’s got power and you have to let him do his part. You can’t keep taking everything onto yourself. He’ll get them there. Let him get them there.”

“But I know I can get it done.”

“Not if you make yourself sick and right now, we don’t have a witch to heal you.”

Why in times like this did he have to make sense? “I manifested him money to help.”

“I trust my sister. I trust your brother. You’re not alone.”

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