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“Aw, is she afraid of the dark?” Ez asked with a sly smile.

“What is that thing?”

“A little extra protection.” Ez snapped her fingers in rapid succession.

The darkness retreated from the room. The outlines of objects revealed themselves. Wall sconces on the stone facade flared to life. The room wasn’t as tall as the rest of the library. The floor and walls were covered in stone. Bookshelves lined the walls. Other items were scattered throughout the room as well. A desk. Multiple trunks. Draped cloths hid objects placed on pedestals. Hutches filled with crystal balls and other objects. Four sets of knightly plate armor—not made fully of steel, but incorporated hardened crystal-like scales—stood guard in the corners of the room.

“Welcome to the inner sanctum,” Ez said as she invited Alice inside. “This is where I keep my prized items, including the most dangerous books I want to keep away from curious eyes. Follow me.”

Alice followed Ez to a bookshelf in the back. Unlike the other bookcases, these books were kept behind glass doors. Similar arcane marks were carved into their wooden doors. Ez pulled out another brass key from her pocket.

“Are you that paranoid?” Alice asked.

Ez pointed the key at Alice. “You can never be too careful.”

She placed the key into the glass door and, with a click, she opened it to reveal the books inside. “These are the books of five. The five most dangerous books ever created. It’s taken my wholelife to collect them. Very few remain, yet I was able to scrounge a copy or two for myself. Don’t ask how I got them.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

“Good.” Ez glanced back with a smile and a wink.

She turned her attention back to the books. She pointed to a book bound in yellow leather with starbursts etched into the cover. “First is the book of light. The power of the cosmos at your fingertips.”

Ez then pointed to a green bound book with creatures and plants etched into it. “The book of life.”

She pointed to the next two, one brown covered in swirls and the other orange with a carving of a man. “The book of elements and the book of the mind.”

Ez held her finger over the last one. It was black. The cover smooth and untouched. A metal latch sealed the cover shut. “This is the one you seek,” Ez said as she picked up the book.

She paused for a moment, bouncing the book in midair.

“This is The Book of the Dead,” Ez said as she handed it to Alice.

Alice held it with both hands, turning it over and over to examine the cover. Her thumb drifted across the supple leather to flip open the latch.

“Don’t!” Ez shouted. “Not here. Only open the book when you’re well protected. Make sure you have enough protection spells and sage. When opened, it summons the many spirit realms. As I stated, you never know what could answer. Remember our deal. Three times. And if he doesn’t want to come back, he doesn’t come back.”

Alice nodded. “Three times. If he doesn’t want to come back, he doesn’t come back. Got it. Thank you. This means a lot to me. I can never repay you for this.”

“Don’t worry about it, kiddo.”

Alice nodded. “Thank you.”

Ez took a breath and gave a half smile. “I’m certain wherever Hugo is, he’s . . . he’s in a better place.”

Chapter 3

Unrestful Peace

“Well, Mr. Dodds,” Thaddeus said. “You are dead.”

Hugo Dodds backed further into the corner. He bumped against the bookcase lining the side wall of the living room. He raised the statue he clutched in his hand above his head. He bared his vampire fangs in a display of aggression like a wild animal.

“Back away or so help me . . .” his words trailed off.

The four ghoulish figures approached. Their faces sunken. Their skin shriveled and faces painted white with black circles around their eyes to give the appearance of wearing a skeleton mask. Slack-jawed and emotionless. They crept closer to Hugo. They reminded him of the vision he had in Antonio’s Italian Ristorante. The vision of Elizabeth’s ghoulish image lurching toward him.

“Stand back,” Hugo shouted. He stuck out his left arm to keep them at bay. He repositioned the statue in his hand, drawing it closer to his body, ready to strike at the first one to touch him.