Page 50 of The Glittering Edge

“Why was it hidden like that?” Corey asks.

“Because it’s full of illegal spells.”

Corey presses a fist to his mouth, but he doesn’t object as Penny looks through the table of contents. The jagged edges of words catch her eye:Hexes,necromancy,bargains…

“Bargains?” Penny says. “What are those?”

“What they sound like,” Alonso says. “You give something up in exchange for something else. It’s like making a deal with the devil, except the devil is the Second World. You give it a sacrifice, it gives you lots of magic in exchange.”

“Could we break the curse that way?” Corey asks.

“Hell no. You can’t layer magic on top of magic like that.” Alonso grabs the book back. “That’s why this book is dangerous. It doesn’t tell you how complex these spells are, or how they interact. Hold on, I know it’s in here…” He flips through a few more pages and then stops. “Ha! Got it.”

Alonso lays the book flat and turns on his phone flashlight so they can see better:

THE UNWINDING

If the witch who casts a curse wishes to rid the mortal plane of this spell, they must gather three tokens that represent the past, present, and future. These items must have personal significance to the witch and to those suffering from the curse’s effects. A witch will need to use their metaphysical hands to cut the threads of the spell, leaving it adrift in the Second World and letting it starve.

Unlike other spells, there is no set incantation to unwind a curse. An incantation must be written by those who will participate in the unwinding. There should be three verses, all consistent in style and length.

Be wary that an unwinding opens a wide channel to the Second World.

“Shit,” Alonso says, “we have to write the spell on our own. It’s like being in summer school again.”

Corey flips the page, but that’s a spell for permanent transfiguration. “That’s it?”

“I guess so.” Alonso snaps the book shut. “There are three of us, so we should each choose a token and write a verse of the spell. If we write it together, it’ll be easier to draw on your energy when I unwind the curse.”

Corey chews his bottom lip, and for a moment, Penny swears he’s going to back out. But he says, “When should we be ready?”

“The next full moon, which is…” Alonso looks at his phone. “August ninth.”

“Wait, August ninth?” Corey grimaces. “That’s when my family is having our gala.”

“Oh,” Penny breathes. The Barrions’ annual fundraiser at Meredith House is one of the biggest events in Indiana, or maybe in the entire Midwest. They choose a different nonprofit to support every year, and if you buy a ticket for at least a thousand dollars, you’ll get access to the Barrions’ private home. The high price point means the normal people of Idlewood can’t afford to go. Instead, the party draws politicians, athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and even a few socialites. It always gets written up in theIndyStar.Penny pores over the article every year, reading and rereading the descriptions of the ice sculptures, the extravagant floral displays, the Barrions’ coordinated outfits. The gala is everything the Barrions represent: exclusivity and mystery and wealth.

Alonso shrugs. “All magic gets stronger during the full moon, so we need to wait. It’ll give us the best chance.”

“If I’m not there all night, my family is going to get suspicious. It’s not a good idea.”

“I’m saying we don’t have a choice.”

Corey sighs. “Fine. I’ll make it work.”

“Then we have a month,” Penny says. Speaking the words makes her chest swell with hope.Mom will be back soon.Buoyed, Penny plucksThe Blackfire Grimoirefrom Alonso’s hands. “I’ll keep this.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because we’ll all be more comfortable if it’s not lying around your house.”

“Are you saying you don’t trust me?” Alonso says, that edge back in his voice.

Penny presses her lips into a thin line. “I honestly don’t know.”

Alonso works his jaw, and Penny is sure he’s going to argue with her, but he only says, “Take care of it.”

“I will,” Penny says. But she immediately breaks that promise when she stands up, because the book slips from her hands, falling open on the floor.

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