Page 101 of Dead End

We walked to the farmhouse kitchen at the back of the house where Ashley stood at the large black cauldron with a measuring cup full of green liquid.

“Welcome back, Lorelei.” Ashley emptied the contents into the cauldron and stirred.

“Good to be back.”

“This is so cool,” Ashley said, marveling at the green steam that rose from the cauldron.

“It isn’t every day you revive an ancient army,” I said.

Phaedra pulled out a chair for him. “Sit down, vampire.”

“Yes, witch.” Otto expertly navigated the dining area and sat in the available seat. He must’ve spent more time at the farm than I realized.

“What’s in the cauldron?” I asked. It smelled faintly of evergreen.

“Different project,” Phaedra said. “We don’t need the cauldron for the army spell.”

“I was already in the middle of this when Phaedra got your message,” Ashley explained. “I have to finish or the batch will spoil.”

I felt a tiny bump of pleasure at her dedication to the craft. Nana Pratt would’ve loved to see her granddaughter thriving like this.

To my left, Phaedra and Otto seemed to be speaking in shorthand.

“Exactly how much time did you two spend together while I was gone?” I asked.

“We worked extensively on this,” Otto said.

“It isn’t a blossoming romance, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Ashley said from across the kitchen.

“I wasn’t wondering.”

“Nana Pratt thought every male friend I had was a boyfriend, even when I was in elementary school.” Ashley rolled her eyes. “It was annoying.”

“I can see how it would be.”

Ashley stopped stirring and gripped the handle of the long wooden spoon with both hands. “I miss her.”

“So do I.”

Phaedra carried the vase to the table. “Are we ready?”

I slapped my hands on the table. “Bring it on.”

Phaedra cupped the ancient artifact in her hands. She closed her eyes and recited an incantation under her breath. I didn’t recognize the language.

She finished the incantation and opened her eyes to stare at the vase.

Nothing happened.

I leaned forward to inspect it. “Is that a hairline fracture?”

Otto ran his finger along the side of the vase. “I don’t feel anything.”

I tried not to let my disappointment show. “For all we know, the legend is simply that. Maybe there’s no Yanmen Army.”

Phaedra gnawed at her bottom lip. “We’ll keep trying, Lorelei. I’ll work day and night until I’ve cracked it.”

“It’s all right, Phaedra. Nobody is expecting a miracle. Our best is all we can do.”

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