Page 55 of The Vanishing Bookstore
Lenny lifted a finger to her lips. ‘Shush child, I’m back, I’m okay, and boy am I happy to see you too.’
Dora grabbed hold of her aunt and held her close, and it felt good. Then she let go of her and pulled Sephy close. When she released her, she smiled at them.
‘I’m still a bit woozy on the finer details but I remember the first lifetime and what happened and…’ She thrust Lucine’s book at them. ‘I’m ready to learn everything I need to break this curse. Will you show me how?’
Lenny let out a loud whoop and punched the air as Sephy began to cry. ‘You did it, Dora, you found the book. Well done, sweet girl, I knew you could. And yes, dear, of course we will. We’re so happy to hear you say this but remember, no matter how much we can teach, you are a blood witch, and your power is deep inside of you. All you need to do is to connect with the things you love and let it unlock itself.’ She patted her heart.
Dora nodded. ‘I am, or at least I’m trying to, I used the language of flowers to get to the cabin and it was so magical. The bookstore where the book was hidden revealed itself to me. It had vanished – Ambrose had struggled to find it for all of these lifetimes – but a clear path came to me in the woods, and there it was. Tucked behind a cedar tree. It was the most magical, incredible sight to behold. A store of happy endings, of stories and instructions.’
Sephy and Lenny looked at each other in amazement.
‘A vanishing bookstore? Is it still there?’ Sephy asked.
‘I’m not sure. Perhaps it only revealed itself long enough to let me find the book.’
Sephy looked thoughtful, but she and Lenny smiled, relieved. ‘It’s been a long couple of days for you, how do you feel? Any sickness this time?’
She shook her head. ‘I feel great, no nausea, and even if there was, I’d rather not sip that anti-homesickness tea. No offence, Sephy, but it’s time to teach me everything I need to know to put an end to all of this and I don’t think teas are the way to go.’
‘No, unless you throw it at him and scald him, then I guess it isn’t.’ Lenny laughed.
Dora grinned. ‘Who’d have thought it, the English women finally reunited and ready to rock and roll one last time.’
Sephy smiled at her, then turned to Dora. ‘We have some sad news for you, dear. Lucine is failing fast. Would you please go and sit with her for a little while and tell her that you’re ready to end this. It would be nice for her to pass knowing this.’
Dora felt a crushing wave of grief wash over her shoulders so strong that her knees almost buckled.
‘Why can’t we stop her from dying? If we possess magical powers can’t we put a stop to it?’
‘We can’t interfere with the life cycle, dear, it’s not possible unless you practise dark magic, and we don’t do that. It doesn’t work anyway – if you were to use it to bring someone back who has passed on you wouldn’t be bringing the same person back. They come back flawed, like a shell of their past selves, and it’s far too much heartache.’
‘How do you know if you haven’t tried?’
Lenny nodded at Sephy. ‘We tried it once and it was terrible. Your mother was not herself, she was cruel and mean, she thrived off wickedness and it was the worst mistake we ever made. To bring a loving soul back as a sick and twisted half version of themselves is worse than death itself.’
‘But can’t we just break the curse? Live another lifetime so I can spend time with my mother? Break the curse next time?’
Dora’s aunts looked at one another with sadness.
‘We think this is our only chance. I know you haven’t spent time with her now, but you’ve spent many lifetimes with her. This is about you finally living past thirty-five – with Ambrose. Getting a chance at having your own family. That’s what Lucine wants.’
Dora nodded, wishing she could do or say something. Instead, she turned and ran up the stairs to Lucine’s bedroom. Opening the door, the first thing she smelled was the medicinal, clinical smell of illness. Lucine was even frailer than she had been the day before, her head had shrunk into the pillows and she looked so tiny. Her eyes fluttered as Dora drew closer to the bed, sitting carefully next to her, they finally opened.
She looked at her and whispered, ‘Dora.’
Dora couldn’t stop the tears this time, they fell down her cheeks and she gently took hold of Lucine’s hand. ‘Mum.’
Lucine lifted her left hand and stroked Dora’s cheek. ‘You came back.’
‘I found your book and I’m home now. I’m never leaving again, I promise you.’
Lucine smiled at her. ‘I’m so happy, I knew you would. Do you remember everything?’
She nodded. ‘I do.’
‘Good, then you know that Corwin is not to be trusted and how dangerous he is.’
‘Yes, I do. I’m going to stop him this time, I promise I will.’
