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She turned and marched across the living room, past the fireplace, and through the entryway. Alice charged up the stairs. Her boots slammed into the wood with every step. She arrived at the top and went to open the spare bedroom door.

She paused, giving thought to the other occupant of the house. Alice needed to have a discussion with herself first.

Alice passed through the bedroom and into the bathroom. She flicked on the switch. “We need to talk,” Alice said.

“I already know,” Alice’s reflection said. Her head hung low. “I’m sorry.”

Alice nodded. “Thank you, and I’m sorry for you too.”

Alice’s reflection lifted her head and nodded with a slight smile. “So, what are you going to do?”

“What I must,” Alice replied. She hung her head low, not wanting to look her reflection in the face. “You do know what that could mean, right?”

“Yeah, I know,” her reflection said. “Promise me one thing. Promise me no matter what happens, you’ll stab that bitch in the heart.”

Alice locked eyes with her reflection. “I promise you this ends before sunrise, one way or another.” Alice turned to leave.

“Wait, let me see it,” Alice’s reflection said.

Alice lifted her ring in front of the mirror.

Her reflection smiled. “I love it. He showed it to us a few weeks ago. I gave him my approval.” She lifted her hand to reveal her ring.

Alice smiled. “You’ve been keeping this from me the whole time?”

“There’s a lot you don’t know. Somehow, I inherited him as a client for his own personal therapy sessions too. He wanted to make sure it was perfect. I told him anything he did would have been perfect, but this . . . this is special.” She glanced at her ring. “Now, go get her.”

“Thanks,” Alice said. She pointed to the light switch. “On or off?”

“Leave it on,” her reflection said. “In case you don’t come back.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“Telling it like it is.”

Alice left the bathroom and went back into the hallway. She entered the spare bedroom with its various boxes of hers and Hugo’s stuff. She made her way to the closet and opened the door. She removed a few boxes and took out the hat box her grandmother gave her years ago.

She opened the lid and removed the black witch’s hat. She plunged her hand inside, finding the hidden pocket. She removedThe Lovers’ Kissscroll and laid it next to her. She packed up the hat and returned it to its rightful place in the closet. She picked up the scroll and left the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

Alice jogged down the stairs and back into the living room. Guinevere floated in the same place. Alice picked up the wooden stake off the floor and added it to her budding collection of items in her hand. She strode over to the memory shelf and grasped Galahad resting on top. She removed it from the display stand.

“Gally, I need one final favor from you. For Hugo. I need more stakes. I hope you’ll forgive me,” Alice said to the inert broomstick.

She pulled on the string holding the broomcorn together. The red, purple, and mostly black bristles rained down to the floor, leaving only the brown hickory handle. Alice took all her gathered items and left the living room, heading for the basement.

Chapter 27

The Second Vampire-Witch War

Alice parked her black SUV on a side street, about a block from The Heart and Rose. She turned off the ignition and waited, surveying the street. It was silent. Calm. Blissfully unaware of the battle to unfold.

She gathered herself. No more fear. No more hiding. No more running. It was almost sunrise. By the time the sun rose, she would either free herself from the tyranny of Sylvia or else she would see Hugo once again. There was no other way. This would end here.

Alice turned in her seat to face Guinevere floating behind her across the back seat. “If I don’t come back, I need you to fly to Ez. Find her. Take it to her, do you understand?”

The broomstick bobbed up and down in agreement.

“I’m counting on you. If I don’t come back or someone tries to get you, deliver it to Ez. You’re a good broomstick.” Alice patted the broom handle.