Page 46 of Dead End

I had no idea how to feel about the recent development, but I didn’t want to risk him waking up and catching me watching him like a creep. I wasn’t ready for that conversion—the inevitable now what? Carefully retreating, I slipped out from under the covers and padded to my wardrobe before softly opening the door on a belated exhale.

Out of all the places in the whole world, my happy place would be a wardrobe full of clothing that fits my love of darkness. The only thing that resembled a light color was my baby pink corset for when I was feeling particularly sassy. I’d never worn it in public before, but today, I said to hell with it and quickly swiped it off the hanger while trying to be extra sneaky so Jason wouldn’t wake up.

Was it wrong that I was going for the ‘wam bam, thank you, sir?’ Maybe, but the thought of him bringing it up last night, after we both opened up about being hurt, made me want to fling open the door and take off running into the night again. Dressed in my fishnets, my black, high-waisted skirt with the cutest little chains woven in, and the lovely pink corset, I felt like a woman ready to take on the world.

Said woman grabbed her Doc Martens and turned to look at a sleeping Jason one last time. I could really get used to seeing him spread out on my bed like that. Naked from the waist up, his head was turned away, but I could still admire the tight muscles of his back that led down to an even tighter ass and his wide shoulders that were perfect resting spots for my ankles.

It was then that I realized I had been standing there for a whole five minutes, staring like one of those weirdos that watch other people sleep.

You’re not a vampire, October; stop acting like one.

Shaking my head, I glanced at the branch next to my bedside, the spot Jessica usually slept on, and found her still missing. I remembered how much she hated the rain last night, so she was probably still irritated with me. I was guessing she didn’t feel like coming back yet, and I couldn’t say I blamed her. She was going to give me so much shit for almost dying the one time she wasn’t there. Talk about embarrassing.

Standing on my tippy toes, I snuck out of my bedroom, shutting the door quietly behind me, and didn’t put on my shoes until I reached the landing at the bottom of the stairs. Voices echoed from the kitchen area. I followed the noise to see my aunties standing over the cauldron, a fire blazing as something suspicious bubbled in the pot. Pip was waving her wooden spoon around in wild, panicked gestures.

“Just taste it! It’s not going to kill you this time, I promise.” Pip tipped the spoon into the green-looking slime just as a bubble popped, chunks flying in every direction.

“I swear, sister, if this gives me a wart, you are on my shit list.” Fe glared and braced her hands on her hips just before sipping on the spoon. I held my breath, wondering if I’d have to try and bring her back from the dead after she croaked from whatever the hell she just drank.

“Hm, I would probably add more lizard tongues. That would be just the ticket.” Auntie Fe smacked her lips together while straightening and finally noticed me awkwardly standing in the archway.

“Are you hungry, pumpkin? I can cook you up something real quick, or do you want to try my stew?” Auntie Pip asked excitedly, already heading towards the cupboard to pull out a wooden bowl.

Auntie Fe was frantically shaking her head behind her sister, gesturing with one hand slicing across her throat. Okay, message received. Eat it and die. No thanks, not today, Satan.

“Uh, no, that’s okay. I had a big dinner last night,” I said in a rush, taking a step back out of the kitchen in case I needed to make a run for it. “Have you seen Jessica?”

The cauldron behind my oblivious aunties started to boil over even more until one giant green bubble floated out of the pot and headed right towards the high peak of the ceiling.

“Not since last night in the green house. What exactly were her words, sister?” Auntie Pip asked, stroking her chin in thought.

“I believe she said she was going for a stroll or something along those lines to get some peace and quiet.” Auntie Fe turned to me, tilting her head at my curious behavior as I kept backing out of the room very slowly, my eyes following the bubble that was about to explode.

Oh, and, October, please be a dear and tell Maddie to hurry home after class. Hexes and spells are her next lesson. A stubborn girl denies her cursed aptitude and only ever wants to be at the campus library for whatever reason. Where did October go...?” I heard her question trail off in the distance.

I was already out of the doorway and halfway down the hall on fast-moving feet, the stained glass door within my reach. The moment my hand touched the brass doorknob, a loud boom came from the kitchen that shook the whole house like an earthquake, and I could hear my aunties shrieking in outrage. Thank God I missed that show. I couldn’t imagine what the kitchen looked like after the side effects of Auntie Pip’s cooking methods.

I needed to talk to Maddie about the guys anyway. Maybe she could give me some insight on what I should do.

Of course, I had to stop at The Wicked Quill for a new book, and I was lucky that Baen wasn’t there to see me buy it. I’ve read every single page of that book about necromancy, but they only described where my people came from and the danger we held.

Last time I was at the bookstore, I’d purposely skipped over one book I’d seen out of the corner of my eye that made me shake my head in disbelief because there was no way that I’d need it. So that’s how I ended up on Main Street, now heading towards campus for a trip to the library with a book tucked under my arm that made me blush thinking about anyone seeing it.

How To Necromancy 101: For Dummies

Looking both ways for any prying eyes, I flipped open a page to skim over in curiosity because today was going to be the day I finally tried to raise the dead. Everyone else was flourishing with their new abilities, like they were made for this world, but I felt stuck.

Now, place your hand over the decaying body and close your eyes. Will the power to flow through you! You are one with the power to raise the dead, so command it to be so!

“Pssst.”

My head snapped up from the ridiculous book, but literally no one was around. I could have sworn someone was trying to get my attention. I shivered, shaking off this spooky place. With a shrug, I continued walking with the library in sight as I buried my face back in the book I was beginning to suspect might actually not be helpful.

“Hey, you! Psst.”

Okay, what the crap? Can’t a girl have some time alone to learn about her powers without looking like an idiot in public? I snapped the worn paperback closed and spun in a circle, but it was literally a ghost town with no one around besides the weird ass marionette doll lounging on a wooden bench. I looked away, dismissing it, but immediately did a double take.

It couldn’t be... Was that the same doll Jessica kept pointing out? It had to be. Nah, there’s no way. Who the hell would leave that creepy thing just lying around on a bench outside the library? That was just strange. Stepping closer warily, I blinked rapidly to make sure my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me, but nope. Clutched in the tiny hands of the dummy was a letter made of parchment, and on the front of it read, Miss Hallowell.

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