Page 135 of The Glittering Edge

Alonso places the ring on the ground and holds up the match, letting his magic surround it like two giant hands. Then he blows it out.

The moon disappears, and the world goes completely dark.

Alonso doesn’t close his eyes, even when they start to water. He can’t see Penny and Corey, but he can feel them. They’re there, and they’re okay. Alonso has to focus. This is their only chance, and the rest of this spell is on him.

After a few moments, a hazy wall descends before him, moving like smoke and water. It brings Alonso back to that night at Second World Emporium, and to the day he found Nimble in the woods.

This is the Veil, and it’s clearer than it’s ever been.

Alonso can’t see anything beyond it, which is good. It means he’s protected, and by proxy, so are Penny and Corey. In his mind, he calls on the tokens. Grave dirt, Anita’s hair, engagement ring. Three pieces of a puzzle that should show them the full picture.

There’s a glow across the Veil. The curse should appear as a thread, and soon enough, it takes form. Except it’s notonethread. It’s a dozen connections, one in Corey’s direction, and the others spread out along a three-dimensional axis. Alonso can picture each thread connecting to every single Barrion alive. They all meet at the center, which resembles—

A pulsating heart.

Alonso’s stomach heaves at the sight. Is it supposed to look like this? It’s gruesome, bloody. He pushes past the sick feelings in his stomach and reaches out, wrapping a hand around the thread connected to Corey. Alonso loses focus for a moment. Because the thread is warm, like flesh.

Because itisflesh, and blood, and sinew.

Alonso is overcome with dread, and every instinct is telling him to pull his hand away. Or maybe it’s the dark magic itself telling him something about this is wrong.

“I knew your magic was powerful.”

The voice comes from across the Veil. Alonso knows who it is before he sees his face, so much like his own.

Giovanni is back.

Alonso only glimpsed him in Second World Emporium, but now his grandfather is a few feet away on the other side of the Veil. His arms are crossed, and he’s considering Alonso with a terrifying detachment. When Giovanni grins, his teeth are black. “Come across. I won’t bite.”

“You’re a poltergeist,” Alonso says. “On principle, I don’t believe you.”

But Giovanni’s face doesn’t change. His smile is frozen, his gaze unwavering, and Alonso begins to sweat.

This isn’t his grandfather. This is a rotting ghost who wants to inhabit his body and use his powers for evil. But Giovanni was a powerful witch in life, and even with the Veil between them, his magical pull is strong.

Giovanni lifts one hand, curling his fingers inward. “I said comeacross.”

One of Alonso’s feet shuffles forward, and all the air is suddenly pulled from his lungs. He has to concentrate to keep his other foot in place.

“I’m undoing this curse,” Alonso says.

“A curse, huh?” Giovanni says. “You sure that’s what you’re dealing with?”

Alonso lets go of the thread. It’s like Giovanni is voicing histhoughts out loud. “Of course it’s a curse.Yourcurse. Or did you forget that you ruined the Barrions and the lives of your daughters?”

“There are other spells that destroy lives.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

Giovanni shrugs. “That’s for you to figure out.”

“You could help me.”

“What will you give me in return?”

“Nothing,” Alonso spits.

Giovanni nods at the fleshy rope. “Then go ahead. Try to change your fate.”

---