Page 74 of Monster's Mystery

“Of course! We’ve got nothing to hide. And if you do happen across a secret, let me in on it, will ya?” He winked,

I chuckled. “Of course.”

“Have a seat,” Everly said, moving the afghan she was making off the couch beside her. “Jim will make us tea.”

“I will, will I?” Jim said, amused.

“Please?” Everly said, batting her eyelashes at him.

Jim leaned over the couch and pressed a quick kiss to her lips before he left the room with a bow. “Your tea will be ready in a few minutes, ladies.”

It was sweet to see how much the couple obviously loved each other, after so many years.

“How did you two meet?” I asked, getting comfortable on the couch and curling my legs to the side.

“He was already working here when I arrived at the academy,” Everly said, a faraway expression on her face. “I met him in second year, once we were allowed to come to Wellspring. It was love at first sight.” She blushed slightly. “The academy let me continue my classes even after the birth of our child. I would commute by mirror, running back and forth multiple times a day to nurse her while Jim looked after everything here.”

“Sounds exhausting,” I said.

“It was.” Everly nodded. “But I wouldn’t trade those years for anything.”

“That’s sweet.” I had been idly flipping through the pages of the book I was holding, noting the dates at the top of the pages, but I stopped suddenly in May 1664. “Oh, there was a wedding at the castle.”

“That would be Master Blackthorn,” Everly said, peering over at the pages. “He met his wife at school, but not here, obviously.”

I read aloud,

Clarissa Wilde, now Blackthorn, is a beautiful bride, naturally, but it was her joy which was infectious at the nuptials. Even young Master Blackthorn was seen smiling, something which was rare to see before this day indeed. I wonder how much of it was because his family didn’t approve of his intended.

“That’s sad that his family didn’t approve of Clarissa. I thought they were more open-minded,” I said, frowning as I turned the page. “Aiden’s family doesn’t fully approve of me, you know.”

Everly raised one eyebrow. “It wasn’t so long ago that courtships like yours were discouraged.”

“Do you disapprove?” I said, tensing slightly.

“Not at all, my dear.” Everly reached over to pat my hand. “We are all the same in here,” she tapped her head. “And even more importantly, in here.” She pointed at her chest. “Who we fall in love with shouldn’t be affected by our outward appearance.”

“Exactly.” I continued reading aloud,

Master Blackthorn has announced his intention to create a school for all, with Mistress Clarissa as his co-head. We cheered for his decision, but there are others in Wellspring who are angry that our lord has wed a beast, and will be bringing even more to the island. I fear for the peace here, and have gone to warn Master Blackthorn of the idle whisperings. He laughed them off, but thanked me most graciously.

I flipped to the next page, heart in my throat,

Mistress Clarissa was found in front of the castle this morning, her body solid stone. Any attempt to return her to her usual state has failed. Master Blackthorn is beside himself with despair. He’s called in experts in every field, hosting them in the castle. I heard that many of them were his teachers at his academy. The Wildes arrived later this afternoon, which tells me that this is very serious indeed. I am saddened by the actions of what I suspect are my neighbors.

“How awful,” I murmured, turning to the next page.

September 1666: Master Blackthorn has made an interesting request of us. We granted it, naturally, but our home is now tied to the dark forest in an unusual way. He has placed a spell on our front door, so that anything that enters by that portal would shrink to the size of an ant. It has allowed us to increase the dimensions of our home beyond our wildest dreams, and we are able to store provisions for many. Unfortunately, any edible content does not taste quite right afterward, but during a hard winter, none shall complain. As for the spell that ties the door to the forest, he did not explain how it worked, only that if it should go awry, to follow these steps to fix it within a fortnight, else something terrible should befall the academy, the isle, and all who live here.

My gaze skipped over the steps that were required, and I gasped. “Everly, Jim said that nothing had ever gone wrong with the door spell. But when did you notice that it took longer to shrink a person?”

Everly frowned. “It was about two years ago now, I think. Right when the new semester started.”

“In my first year…” I said thoughtfully, trailing off. “Yes, that makes sense. Can I make a copy of these steps, please?”

Getting approval, I cast the spell to copy the words, lifting them off the page. They hovered in mid-air while I dug my grimoire out of my purse and made it the appropriate size again. I flipped to a blank page and the spell drifted down to attach itself to its new home.

A snippet of words on the next page caught my eye, and I read on, but silently,

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