Page 25 of Hallows End

It doesn’t take me long to dress in a green sweater and faded blue jeans. When I return downstairs, I find everyone in the kitchen, eating and laughing.

“It’s good to see that you’re all friends now,” I say as I take the extended plate from Breena and bite into a bagel with cream cheese. “Jaho is thebest.But I’m psychic enough to know that you didn’t just come over for breakfast.”

“As I said, I knew you needed us,” Lorelei says, still eyeing Jonas speculatively. “I heard you crying this morning over the sound of the shoreline.”

“I’m okay,” I reply and then roll my eyes when Lorelei frowns at me. “I really am. I just had some interesting dreams, that’s all. We’ve all been dreaming lately.”

“Hmm,” she replies and pops the last of her bagel into her mouth. “If you say so.”

“I do. Also, we need to call an emergency meeting with the coven.”

“Why?” they ask in unison.

“Because there’s alotgoing on, and I need their help.” I sigh and glance at Jonas.

You can tell them.

I know, but then I’ll have to explain it all again with the others. I’d like to tell it just once.

“Why do I get the feeling they’re having an entire conversation without us?” Breena asks Lorelei.

“Because they are,” Lorelei answers. “And it’s rude.”

“Just trust me,” I plead quietly. “Weneedthis meeting. As soon as possible.”

“So, heisa witch, then,” Breena says with a smile.

“You have no idea.”

“Thank you all for coming so quickly.”

It’s only been about six hours, but we’re all assembled at the aunts’ house, outside on their beautiful patio, sipping tea.

Xander, the coven leader, leans against the pergola post, watching Lorelei openly. His jaw is tight, and a muscle in his cheek ticks in frustration.

But Lorelei just ignores him and sips her tea.

“What’s going on, darling girl?” Astrid asks kindly. “And, please, introduce us to your handsome guest.”

“Everybody, this is Jonas Morley,” I begin and nod when both Astrid and Hilda look at me in surprise. “This is the man I told you about the other day, the one I saw in the woods.”

Jonas and I spend the next hour explaining everything to the twenty people gathered. Xander’s dark eyes narrow, and he crosses his arms, but he’s quiet as he seems to take it all in.

When we finish, there are a few moments of silence as everyone processes the story we just told.

“This is at once amazingandhorrifying,” Astrid says, finally breaking the silence. “Jonas, what you must have witnessed over the past few centuries is just incredible.”

“And sad,” I murmur. “There has to be a way for us to break the curse. We have the person who cast it here with us, but I’d like to hear Xander’s thoughts.”

“I have heard of Hallows End,” Xander says, and I feel Jonas tense beside me.

“That’s impossible,” Jonas replies. “The curse itself wiped it from existence.”

“There is mention of it in ancient texts,” Xander continues, frowning. “I don’t know if it’s because it was mentioned in a Book of Shadows that it ended up safe from being completely erased, but the lore states that it’s located in Europe. Not here in New England.”

“It’s fifty yards from my back door,” I say, my tone as dry as the Sahara. “I’ve seen it.”

“And everyone in Hallows End is caught in a time loop,” Margaret Sanders says thoughtfully. “That’s interesting to me.”

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