Page 15 of Entranced By the Basilisks

Grace snorts. “The charm maker chose that when I showed her your photo. She said something about it being stronger when it fits a soul’s shape.”

I scrunch my brow at her and Grace shrugs. “Don’t ask me. I know almost nothing about glamour magics. It was eerie because I hadn’t even told her about the snakes before she picked this necklace to spell.”

Eerie. Everything about this world is eerie, and nothing seems to make sense. I shake my head before I mentally spiral down that train of thought.

Focus on good things, Emilia.This little piece of jewelry will make it so I don’t have to poorly hide the snakes under a scarf anymore. It will give me a sense of normalcy.

“Do I just put it on? No reciting a spell or anything?” I ask Grace.

Grace shakes her head. “No spell or anything. When you want to walk around in public, you just put it on like you would with a normal piece of jewelry. It’s temporary, the best that can be done on such short notice, but as long as you keep your distance from others, they shouldn’t be able to notice the snakes.”

“Wait. Keep a distance?” Confusion fills my voice.

“Well, this type of glamour will fool the eyes that your hair looks normal but won’t fool touch. The snakes probably won’t like it either. Glamours can be uncomfortable… so them biting people around you is still a possibility.”

Not quite the return to normalcy I was looking for, but better than nothing. Slowly, aware of the snake that escaped the scarf, I bring the necklace to my neck and hook the clasp.

I gasp. Instantly, a lock of my wavy black hair lies unmoving on my shoulder.

I can’t resist moving to touch the lock of hair, and instead stroke over scales of the hidden serpent. I yank my hand away with a jolt, but don’t get bitten.

I could have sworn that the triangular head had pressed against my fingers like an eager cat. Weird.

I swallow, my eyes suddenly welling with tears. If I can pretend that I don’t feel the movement of the creatures against my scalp, or hear their soft hiss, I’m back to normal. I sigh and the sound is full of gratitude.

“Thank you, Grace.”

“Of course!” she says as if her giving me this small prize of normality was a guarantee. As if the option of her not helping me was impossible.

I take a deep breath. Of course Grace is going to help me. Even Rose, who doesn’t know me, is going to help me. People want to help. The whispers in my head that every social interaction skirts on rejection are lies.

I’m not alone in solving this curse. Grace had even left a message for the director, though for once the man isn’t answering his phone.

We will solve this, and everything will go back to normal.

“So it’s just a waiting game?” I ask. “There’s nothing I can do to help this go faster?”Other than get naked with someone?

Rose’s smile is apologetic. “Not really. It takes time to contact the types of people who would have answers in this kind of situation.”

“I’ve already shot a dozen emails off and maybe the director will deign to answer his damn phone and give us more details about the provenance of the book that did this.” Grace scowls before shaking the ire away. “Do you want me to bring you home? Lowell already agreed to help transport your car.”

Home.

Oh dear God, I’m going to have to face my mother with snakes for hair.

“No!” I say.

I need space and quiet. I need to be busy so I don’t think about any of this. It will be impossible to do any of that if Ma is worried about me. Her reactions will be calm and brook no argument, but I can’t face the fear and worry in her eyes that she won’t be able to hide. Later, when I’m not so close to cracking, I’ll tell her.

I just need to regroup first.

“I want to go back to work.”

6

JASPER

The hot waterdoesn’t ease the ache in my chest at all. No matter the number of spelled salts that have been dumped in the soaking pool to solve and accelerate the worst of the shedding, the misery is ever present. This service elevates the Love Bathhouse from an enjoyable business to a necessity. If I liked any other serpent kin, I’d sing praises to any who would listen.

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