Page 68 of Rise of the Melody
Mo shook her head in confusion as she took her best friend’s hand and rubbed it. “Do you mind if I do some chants?” she asked.
“Not at all,” I told her. “Anything you want.”
The three of us stood together around Aunt Lorna for an hour before Mo needed to get back to the café.
“Her spirit is still strong in there,” Mo assured us. “Whatever this is, she’s fighting it.”
She gave me a long hug and promised to come back soon.
When Ron left for work with assurance from me that I’d keep him updated if anything changed, I texted my group to let them know Aunt Lorna was in the hospital.
Half an hour later, Teague, Clare, Shani, Nora, and Chrystamos walked quietly into the room and I gawked.
“They let all of you in here?”
Teague grinned. “Small town life. We promised we’d be quiet and respectful.”
They each hugged me and I accepted their affection. But when I pulled back from Chrys, I couldn’t help but stare at the murky cloud that hung around his shoulders.
“How do you like my new look?” he asked with only a hint of humor.
“Wow,” I said. “Any idea yet who did it?”
He shook his head. “None. I feel totally normal.”
I looked around at the others. “That’s kind of scary.”
“Very scary,” Shani said. “Our parents are freaking out.”
“I bet.” I looked at my aunt and went to her side, taking her hand. Everyone turned their attention to her.
“What happened?” Shani asked.
I wanted to tell them about Zar. It was right on the tip of my tongue, but then I would have to explain why he sought me out. My mouth clamped around the information, and I shook my head.
“She’s been having horrible headaches forever. And they seem to get worse when anyone brings up the night of the disappearances. We were talking about that when she passed out and fell into this coma. I think….” I bit my bottom lip, a flare of panic surging in my chest.
Teague moved closer to my side. “You think what?”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t make any sense, but I have this weird feeling that this is magical.”
They all looked around at each other.
“What would cause headaches and a coma, though?” Clare asked.
Nobody had an answer for that, so I spoke up. “I saw a book in the mayor’s library that might be able to help, but I don’t think he’d be happy if he knew we were looking at it.”
“What book?” Nora asked.
“Dark Spells for Sons and Daughters of Nicneven.”
Teague hissed through his teeth. “I’m not allowed to touch any of those books. He’s been tasked with watching over them for the Synod.”
I had to go for it. “When I was there one day, he took it out and was reading, and he put the ribbon marker in a page that I think might have information that can help.” I put a hand on Teague’s forearm. “If you could just get in there and snap a picture of those pages….”
He literally blanched and grabbed the back of his neck, but after a long pause he nodded. “I can try.” His voice wasn’t filled with hope.
“I appreciate it, Teague.” I looked down at my aunt. “The sooner the better.”
