Page 42 of Into the Dark, We Go
A sleepy waitress brought us menus and water.
"So, what do we have so far?" Mitchell asked.
"Witches, cemeteries, rituals, offerings. Digging up graves to find the grimoire," I said, counting them on my fingers.
Tilly hadn’t exactly inspired confidence, and she hadn’t told us anything new. Duane was still our only lead, and I wanted to get back to him as soon as possible, hoping he’d sobered up.
"Not quite what I’d expect we’d find," Mitchell said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Ow." He winced, pressing a small cut on his otherwise smooth skin. Mitchell was the type to shave every day; his face was consistently hairless, fresh, and dewy. Nick, his polar opposite, was far less finicky. Dark stubble had begun toshadow his jaw, adding to the storminess in his thought-heavy eyes. I couldn’t help but smile at the contrast. It showed in their behavior, too. While Mitchell was quick to speak and take charge, Nick preferred to stay in the background, holding his thoughts in until he was absolutely ready to share. Thinking out loud simply wasn’t his style.
"But maybe it will lead us somewhere," Nick said, joining the conversation with a visibly more relaxed demeanor than earlier. "There could be some kind of cult operating here or?—"
"Or a drug cartel," June said.
Nick seriously considered her words and then said, "It sounds plausible, but I don’t know. Was Lucas into partying or something?" The last question was directed at me.
I shook my head and didn’t offer any further explanation. Lucas might’ve smoked weed during the off-season, but only occasionally and in moderation. His sports career was his top priority. I didn’t want them getting sidetracked and blaming his disappearance on drugs.
"A cult that somehow got to Lucas and Amanda. Hmm." Mitchell frowned, deep in thought. His gaze fell on his sister. She flipped nonchalantly through a book at the table, peering up at him as though she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. "What are you reading there?"
She obliged and showed him the cover:The Shadows of the Hills: Legends of Appalachia.
"Where did you get that?"
June murmured something inaudible, her cheek resting on her fist. With her round face and light hair, she could pass for a sweet child if she wanted to, especially when she wasn’t spitting sarcastic remarks.
"Did you steal the book from that store?" Mitchell guessed. "Have you lost your mind?"
"Just studying some useful literature. What else was I supposed to do?"
"Not steal!"
"I’m saving your money." June snapped the book shut and waved it in front of his reddening face. "Nellie didn’t pay for that stone for... what’s it called?... her chakra thing! And I got this."
"The stone was a gift," I intervened, grabbing the book from June.
I opened the table of contents, scanning the titles: "The Witch of Willow Creek", "The Raven’s Peak Hills Werewolf", "The Guardian of the Woods"…
"Well," I sighed, handing the book back to her. "I hope you get more out of that than I will the stone."
"Juniper," Mitchell growled, his nostrils flaring. It was the first time he had used her full name, which meant he wasn’t playing around.
"Mitchell," she replied calmly, unfazed by his irritation.
"Let’s go have a little chat." He rose to his full height, and it was clear that a stern lecture was imminent. June reluctantly followed him, and they disappeared behind the building.
"I hope Sergeant Mitch isn’t opting for corporal punishment," Nick quipped, watching them go with a raised brow.
I ignored his comment and turned to face him. "Do you know her? Mathilda? Tell the truth." I sensed this was my only opportunity to ask. He wouldn’t talk in front of Mitchell or June, but maybe he’d open up to me.
Nick’s expression turned defensive. "What? No!"
"Why didn’t you ask her about your mother?"
He hesitated before confessing, "I don’t know. I don’t trust her. And honestly, she freaked me out a bit."
A weight lifted off my shoulders. "Yeah, she was a bit...odd."
June and Mitchell returned to the table just as our food arrived. They both seemed fine, with no visible signs of their earlier tension. I hoped that meant they’d worked things out. June grabbed the book from the table and slipped it into her tote bag. Out of sight, out of mind.
