Page 32 of Snips, Snails and Werewolf Tails

"No."

With each passing day, I try to balance my responsibilities as alpha and an increasing urge to watch over Elspeth. She becomes more reclusive, and her style changes. Gone are her flowy dresses in earthy tones and flowery prints; now she wears black gowns with leather bodices and tall boots with heels that could take an eye out. I start to wonder if it isn't just her appearance that has changed, but herself, too. It's like the dark magic is corrupting her. Little by little, pieces of Elspeth fall away, replaced by something colder, and darker, and much less likeher.

I have to do something, but I don't know the first thing about removing residual dark magic from a witch. So, after leaving her apartment one morning, I make a detour to the coven to speak with the other witches.

As soon as I tell them what has been happening, Sybil shakes her head in dismay.

"I knew that something was wrong," she says with a frown. "It's been far too long since she's been back here, and we've been suffering without her magic. I had hoped that she was just enjoying some time with you alone."

"How do we fix her?" I ask.

"She isn't a broken machine," Blair scolds. "She is awitch, and witches are complex. Between the dark magic and all of Elspeth's emotions, it's a wonder something truly awful hasn't happened yet."

I shudder to think what that could possibly mean.

"I don't think we can help," Isla says. "None of us have the kind of experience with dark magic that Elspeth does, and we don't have practicing dark magic witches in our bloodline. We have no idea how to rid her of these side effects."

"Then what do we do? We can't just give up on her."

"No, of course not," Sybil says to my relief. "But you're going to need to seek help from someone else. I only know of one place you can turn to. There is a very old priest who is rumored to be an immortal. He works at Trinity Church on Clarendon Street. He might have some knowledge that can help."

"I haven't been inside a church before," I admit. "At least not one stillactingas a functional place of worship. Churches aren't known for receiving supernaturals with open arms."

But since I have no other option, I go there anyway.

When I get to the church, I hesitate to step inside. There are all sorts of stories about this guy—some say he's part demon, others say he's part angel, and still other people say he is something else entirely. Whatever he is, the stories surrounding his immortal presence inside this church precede him. I find it rather amusing that the humans haven't noticed that this old man never dies.

I straighten my back and remember that I'm here to try and help Elspeth, and then I walk inside.

The priest is standing in the aisle, smiling at me. As he walks toward me, I can't help but notice that although he mightlookhuman, he acts like something else.

"Are you the immortal priest?" I ask, not sure how else to address him.

He nods and I think I catch a quick glimpse of a forked tongue when he speaks.

"I am," he says quickly. "And you are here to see me because you want me to give you an answer about your witch friend."

"How did you know that?"

"I know a great many things."

That's not at all creepy or ominous.

"The dark magic consuming her is more powerful than you think, and much more powerful than even the witches can control," he says. Each of his eyes seem to move in their own direction as he speaks. "The only way to keep her from being lost to it completely is to bring out her green witch side so her nature rebalances."

That actually sounds possible. At first, I thought he was going to describe some sort of insane ritual I would need to do. Bringing out Elspeth's green witchcraft sounds much more doable.

"How do I do that?" I ask.

"There is only one way to bring her powers back into balance," he says with a smirk that nearly disconnects his jaw from his face.

I have a sick curiosity to ask him what exactly heis—what kind of supernatural being, or creature, or entity. But I stay on topic instead and focus on the matter at hand—helping Elspeth.

"There is a fabled remedy that lies in the bottom of the lake inside the Boston Public Garden. You will need to retrieve it and administer it to the witch."

"You want me to jump into the lake?"

"Unless you know of some other way to get down to the bottom and find the fabled flower that grows there."

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