Page 109 of Magical Mischief

The candle flame jumped, flared, then narrowed.

And that’s when it happened.

The smoke shivered and pulled away from the bowl. It folded backward, drawing itself into a shape. I didn’t recognize itright away. It wasn’t a person, not exactly. Not a creature either. It was more like thesuggestionof a shape, barely there, outlined in the shifting edges of the smoke itself.

It stood between us. Tall, but not towering. Too slender to be solid, too heavy to be air. The shape leaned forward, head tilted, as if listening or smelling.

My heart slammed against my ribs. I didn’t dare move.

Nova’s voice cut off.

The shape turned, just slightly, and I felt it.

Itnoticedme.

A feeling bloomed in my chest of pressure and hush, like a dozen leaves falling at once. Like something brushing past in a forgotten hallway. Not evil. Not kind either. Just aware.

The lights flashed around us, and I felt a warmth slither over me.

I could feel the weight of it, ancient and curious and… alive.

Then Nova gasped, sharp and sudden.

Her head tilted back slightly, and her eyes flashed wide, silvery in the flickering light.

“I can’t believe it,” she whispered.

And the candle blew out.

The room fell into shadow.

And she didn’t say another word.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

The knock didn’t come gently.

It pounded through the door like someone trying to wake the dead or confirm the living still answered.

Nova and I both jumped.

She blinked, shook her head once, and snapped her fingers.

A candle appeared in the far corner, sending a buttery glow over the wood floor. Shadows jumped like startled birds. My heart was still trying to decide whether it should beat faster or stop altogether.

Another knock. It was not quite a bang, but it was too loud for this time of night.

Nova made a sound low in her throat and moved out of the room. Her steps were slow and short, her long sweater dragging slightly, like the whole moment stretched out purposefully.

The candlelight wobbled as I stood. My legs didn’t feel like mine just yet. The energy from the reading hadn’t quiteleft. It clung to the air, a whisper pressed into the walls and floorboards.

Another knock, sharper this time.

Nova reached the door and laid her palm flat against it. I knew what she was doing. Listening. Feeling. Not for the person on the other side, she already knew who it was, but for whatever might’ve followed them. Or followedus.

She opened it.

Stella stood with red lipstick askew, and next to her was my mother.