Page 55 of Switching Graves

“I just need a deck for my purse. I forgot mine at home,” she mumbles as she goes without bothering to check if anyone is listening to her.

After a moment, Jonah and Ava stalk behind her and chit chat while I admire every square inch of the peculiar showroom. Bookshelves are scattered all around, packed with well-loved novels of every genre you could think of—though most appear to be spiritual. A modest collection of signed vinyl records is spread across the walls beside random knick-knacks that seemingly have no place, and crystals strung onto long fishing wire hang from the ceiling. The floors are creaky and worn, obviously original to the building, and each table looks like it’s been purchased secondhand. They’re all covered in loose crystals or baskets full of herbs.

“There are my skeptical friends,” a hoarse, low voice greets from somewhere in the back.

My head swings in that direction just as a tall and slim, older woman makes her way past all the displays. A long, geometric maxi skirt brushes against her bare feet and midriff peaks out beneath a blue, cropped T-shirt.

“Hey, Matilda,” Ava greets sheepishly as the woman pulls her in for a side hug.

“And you brought a new friend.” The woman eyes me up and down in quiet appraisal with a contradictory smile, then turns her attention back toward Ava.

“That’s Poppy,” she introduces. “This is her first time in Nocturne Valley.”

“Is it?” Matilda asks skeptically, her voice raising pitch.

I feel the strange urge to defend myself.

“Matilda is one of the few people here in Nocturne Valley who doesn’t treat us like we have the plague,” Ava explains.

“You said the same thing about Miss Kay,” Jonah points out matter-of-factly as he grabs up a handful of an herb marked cardamom.

Ava frowns and shrugs her shoulders. “I thought she was.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say to Matilda, holding my hand out for her to shake. She looks at it, then drags her eyes back up to meet mine.

“You as well. Though, we’ve already met once before. I helped your mama with a little shielding spell quite a few years ago.”

My hand lingers awkwardly in the air as I open my mouth to assure her that can’t be true when Beatrix interrupts me. “I’m looking for one to use every day, but nothing is speaking to me,” she complains from the floor, drawing our attention to her. “Any suggestions?”

“You know as well as I do, I can’t answer that for you,” the woman admonishes, turning away from my completely. I have a feeling she enjoys being cryptic just to get a reaction from people.

Beatrix frowns. “I was really hoping to find something today.”

“I’ve got a few more back here that I haven’t had a chance to add into my inventory, if you want to take a look,” Matilda offers, waving her hand toward the other end of the store. Beatrix climbs to her feet and shuffles behind her.

“She’s kind of out there,” Ava whispers, eyeing Matilda’s disappearing form.

“You can say that again,” Jonah scoffs, swiping his hands across his jeans.

We start in the direction Beatrix disappeared in, unsure what else to do.

“How did she immediately know who your mom is?” Ava asks me with a curious, raised brow, as if the comment she made earlier has only just now hit her.

“No idea.”

Surely, Aunt Divina wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this—even if she did spend four years at Ravenshurst. And if there were some off chance she was referring to my real mother, I still don’t believe it. You couldn’t pay her toeverstep foot back into Nocturne Valley after they cast her out for good.

Still, the woman seems so sure. I’m itching to know more.

We walk to the back and find Beatrix settled in an office chair, rifling through boxes as Matilda warms water in an electric kettle.

She offers us tea, but none of us take it.

“I heard what you said about Miss Kay before,” she begins, carefully lifting her mug to her lips. The three of us share a nervous look, and she chuckles when no one has the guts to explain.

“Well, I’m not going to bite your head off for it. I agree, many people in town are not acting like themselves lately.”

“She was just warning us. She seemed genuinely concerned,” Ava rationalizes.

---