Page 4 of Potions and Proposals
Rosie was finding the cement floor fascinating.
“What else did they tell you?” Lucy folded her arms.
“They’re sending someone to collect the grimoire, and to ensure the work is getting done.”
Lucy gritted her teeth to stop herself from taking out her frustration on the messenger, but she could feel her diplomacy starting to slip. A babysitter was the last thing she needed. She was already stressed about being behind schedule, Mum had been acting weird about the coven meeting tonight, and Benedict had been oddly quiet lately. Every day on the way to work, she’d been paranoid about what he might’ve planned forher as payback. Maybe that was why she’d fallen so far behind on schedule, busy looking over her shoulder instead of focusing on what was right in front of her.
She shook away all thoughts of her nemesis, not wanting Rosie to suspect that anything other than the book was bothering her. “They know the grimoire can’t leave the vault. If they wanted their babysitter to come down here, they’d need the coven’s permission, and God knows how long it’d take to convince them. Some of the older families in Foxford didn’t like me working with the Order in the first place.”
“I don’t like the idea of anyone other than coven members or us having access to the vault. The Vatican would love to get their hands on some of these texts and enchanted objects, and we don’t have the time to babysit the babysitter,” Rosie agreed. “How about we say to hell with the Order and keep the grimoire locked up? We can bury the damn thing far away somewhere where no one can find it, not you or them.”
She’d never been one for diplomacy. Lucy wished it were that simple.
“You know we can’t do that. The High Priestess has spoken;challenging the Vatican isn’t an option.” She held open the glass door for Rosie to go through. “Translating the texts is for everyone’s benefit. Between the dark spells and questionable potions, some of the natural remedies could advance medical discoveries. I don’t want the people of today to suffer because of the past.”
Silence fell between them. They’d run the library together since they’d left college, and the thought of someone disrupting their sanctuary made them both uneasy.
“Hopefully, whoever comes has an open mind. The village won’t like it if whoever arrives has a negative attitude,” Lucy said at last, locking the vault door behind them. The fluorescent lights went out, leaving only the torches lit on the walls.
“Then it might not be the grimoire who goes missing. We could send them down a tunnel. They might get lost.” Rosie winked, though she’d never hurt a fly – not even a spider. “But let’s not worry about that today! Tonight will help you relax. Nothing like a good barefoot frolic in the woods and a skinny dip in the lake to celebrate the end of summer.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to frolic for the both of us.” Lucy grimaced at her beaming friend, who loved a good time. She was the extrovert in their dynamic duo. Lucy wanted nothing more than a soak in her tub and too many candles to rid her mind of all the ancient spells.
“Don’t bail again.” Rosie’s face fell. “Harriet and Luisa returned from their dig to celebrate with us. It won’t be the same without you.”
“Mandatory coven meeting. If I don’t go, I’ll get an earful. I can’t exactly skip out when my mother is the High Priestess.”
“You could come after!” Rosie took her arm pleadingly.
The grandfather clock chimed for seven o’clock, echoing through the tunnels. Lucy was already pushing it if she planned to get to the temple by eight. “By the time the meeting ends, it’ll be late. I need to gather my strength if an Order member is on the way to inspect my work.”
Rosie gave up. “Next time, no excuses! I love this library just as much as you, but thereismore to life than these dusty books.”
Lucy stuck her tongue out at her, but she felt guilty for missing the equinox tonight. She wished shecouldspend the night relishing in the beauty of nature. Not that she didn’t love her job, but between the whispers of her becoming the next head of Foxford coven and her translation work, she was beginning to forget how to relax.
“Now, can we please get out of here? It’s freezing down here,” Rosie complained, though she was wearing a sweater vest overanother jumper, and wolves ran a temperature that would kill a human.
“That’s a lot of layers for someone with—”
Rosie shoved her playfully. “Don’t you dare make a fur joke!”
“I’d never,” Lucy said innocently, giving Rosie a cheeky grin. “And I know how much you hate the cold, but we have to keep the vault climate controlled.”
“Don’t remind me. I’m the one who had to beg the coven for it to be installed,” Rosie said. Her face looked a little paler than usual as they approached the gilded knights, making her freckles stand out.
“And have I told you how much I appreciate it?” Lucy batted her eyelids, trying to distract her. She didn’t like asking the coven for anything herself, even if she had good reason to. She never wanted the village to think that her requests were granted because her mother was their High Priestess, or because the Hawthorne family had helped build and maintain Foxford during the war on witches.
“With every morning coffee you bring me.” Rosie stayed close as they made it through the dark tunnel lined with sword-bearing knights. Their gilded heads turned ever so slightly as they passed. “I really hate that your grandfather installed these. We could have got a dog.”
“Already have one.” Lucy smirked when they reached the gargoyles by the secret entrance.
“At least this dog doesn’t have to go to a coven meeting,” Rosie reminded her.
“Veritas se revelet,” Lucy incanted:let the truth be revealed. What had been a dead-end stone wall transformed into a row of bookshelves. With a loud crack and hiss, one of the bookshelves slid open to the second floor.
Rosie disappeared to turn off the lights, and Lucy hoped she wasn’t too disappointed about tonight. Lucinda brushed herhands on her tights. The reminder of the meeting had made her palms sweaty; she could only hope it was to talk about the upcoming Autumn Festival and not her pre-destined future.
Walking through the stacks and down the stairs, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was ready to follow in her mother’s footsteps. Surrounded by books in this converted cathedral filled with vast knowledge and a thousand stories, she knew there was a difference between studying leaders and becoming one.
