Page 34 of Midnight Witch

“I think I’ll pass on that,” she said glassily.

“I knew it!” Popo bobbed excitedly on Cortes’s shoulder. “I said you had good seeds, Enrique. How about we—mmph, mmph!”

Cortes muzzled his filthy-mouthed familiar and fixed Mrs. Son-Ha with a penetrating stare. “You can see my future?”

The old lady shrugged. “I see the possibilities of several futures for each of you.” Her gaze flicked to Nikolai. “It doesn’t mean any of it will come to pass, though.”

Nikolai couldn’t help but feel that she’d just given him some kind of warning.

Mae lifted her chin, her tone growing defiant. “Who are you, really? Also, how come there’s a divine barrier around your house?”

Nikolai startled. Vlad blinked.

Violet exchanged a stunned look with Miles. “Is that what that is?!”

“I felt something familiar out on the drive, but I didn’t realize it’s a barrier,” her cousin muttered, troubled.

“I should think it’s familiar. It’s the reason that magic didn’t work on you.” Mrs. Son-Ha’s mouth twisted into a cunning half-smile. “But you should know that, sinceshealready told you.”

Mae stared, confused. “She?”

“Our ally in Chicago,” Violet said awkwardly.

“She contacted us and told us we had to return to New York,” Miles explained.

“What’s a divine barrier?” Cortes arched an eyebrow. “And who’s this person in Chicago you’re talking about?”

“How about we take this conversation to the kitchen?” Mrs. Son-Ha grumbled. “I’m not as young as I used to be and my legs are hurting from all this standing around. I’ll make you some hot cocoa.”

“We’re a bit old for hot cocoa,” Mae remarked.

Mrs. Son-Ha narrowed her eyes. “You’re gonna have the hot cocoa and you’re gonna enjoy it, young lady.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mae mumbled hastily.

“I’m in half a mind to invite her to the cartelmyself,” Cortes told Vlad.

They followed the old lady to the back of the house. The kitchen was surprisingly cozy and devoid of dog smells. Mae waited until Mrs. Son-Ha finished making their drinks before asking the question on everyone’s lips.

“If you’re not a witch, then how come you didn’t fall under the Dark Council’s spell?”

Mrs. Son-Ha grimaced. “Dark Council? Sheesh, talk about an original name.” She took a careful sip of her cocoa and waved a hand around. “The barrier around this house is pretty strong. Besides, I have a number of spirits protecting me from external influences.” Her narrow-eyed gaze landed on Hellreaver where he was exploring the kitchen. “That thing had better not break anything.”

Hellreaver flinched and silently returned to Mae’s side.

“Spirits?” Nikolai asked skeptically.

Vlad grimaced. “You mean, ghosts?”

Miles looked around the room nervously.

“Ghosts, spirits.” Mrs. Son-Ha shrugged. “Call them what you want. As a Shaman, I can communicate with them and earn their protection.”

“A Shaman?” Cortes said carefully.

“But Alicia said ghosts don’t exist,” Mae protested.

Mrs. Son-Ha stared. “Who’s Alicia?”

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