Page 25

Corey

AFTER TWO HOURS OF VERY AWKWARD SILENCE, THE COZY MYSTERY Book Club arrives at Second World Emporium.

Corey is desperate to get out of the car, but when he remembers where they are, he cranes his neck to look around first. The occult shop is in a strip mall in the middle of Bloomington. SECOND WORLD EMPORIUM hangs over the storefronts. The S in the sign is crooked, and birds have nested in the U and one of the O s. The windows are completely blacked out, and the door isn’t glass; it’s all dark wood, and it wouldn’t be out of place in a dungeon or a Renaissance fair.

Above the door there’s a small window, and in it, a sign flashes neon green: OPEN .

“Why aren’t there other cars in the parking lot?” Corey asks. His voice sounds like a scream in the quiet AC.

Alonso points to a rusty Toyota Corolla on the other end. “There’s one.”

Somehow, that doesn’t make Corey feel better.

He gets out of the car, but Alonso stays put in the back seat. Corey knocks on the window, but there’s a whirr as the car doors lock.

I’m not coming , Alonso mouths.

“We thought it would be better if you and I went inside first,” Penny says. “Since Alonso’s family doesn’t have the best reputation.”

“Right,” Corey mutters. “I should’ve expected Alonso to let us fend for ourselves with a coven we don’t even know.”

Penny glances at Alonso. “They might take his magic away, Corey. If this conversation doesn’t go well, we need to leave as fast as possible. If they find out about Alonso, we won’t be able to do the curse-breaker.”

“Oh.” Corey should’ve thought of that.

They walk together, staying close. Penny moves to open the door, but Corey steps in front of her.

“Stay behind me,” he says, glancing at her over his shoulder.

Penny smiles. “I’m fine, you know.”

“Then do it for me. I’ll feel better.” He pushes the door open.

The first thing Corey notices is the incense, which is so intense it almost knocks him over. But as soon as the interior of the shop comes into view, he forgets all about the smell. Corey was picturing something straight out of a fantasy movie, complete with jars of body parts, animal skulls, and plants that might eat you if you get too close. But inside Second World Emporium, there’s nothing at all. Apart from a counter with a cash register, it’s empty.

A breeze moves through the store with their arrival, rustling the dark purple velvet that hangs from every wall. It muffles all sound from outside, and it’s as if they’ve stepped through a portal to another dimension.

Penny walks up to the cash register, her footfalls soundless on the thick carpet. Corey follows her, his eyes darting all around as if someone might appear out of thin air. There’s a service bell, and a piece of paper propped up next to it with Ring me scribbled in messy handwriting. Penny hesitates before she taps the bell. The sound is piercing at first, but it’s quickly lost in the velvet hangings.

A rustle comes from somewhere in the back of the store. A disembodied hand appears between two of the curtains, and then the velvet sweeps aside to reveal a tall, skinny guy in his twenties. His locs hang in his eyes, and he’s wearing a magnetic name tag on his IU basketball jersey that reads MILTON P .

“Hey, guys,” Milton says, sliding onto a stool. “How can I help you?”

Penny takes the lead. “Hi. Um, sorry, are you moving?”

“No, why?”

“Because…” She gestures at the empty store.

“We keep our stuff in the back. Way too many valuables that would do bad things in the wrong hands, you know?”

That makes Corey feel sick to his stomach.

“Right,” Penny says, the terror barely hidden on her face. “Um, we’re looking for the Pierre coven.”

“You got us. Or one of us.”

So this guy is a witch. It takes all Corey’s self-control to stand still when every instinct is telling him to run out of the shop. He’s spent his entire life avoiding magic and witches because a coven ruined his life before he was even born. But unlike Alonso, this guy seems normal. You’d never know he was a witch if he hadn’t admitted to it.

Corey swallows his fear. “I’m Corey, and this is Penny.”

“How’s it going?”

“Fine!” Penny says, a little too eager.

Milton quirks a smile. “Mortals don’t come here when things are fine.”

Corey glances at Penny, who looks as nervous as he feels. “You can tell we’re mortals?”

“Sure. It’s an energy thing.”

Corey nods, even though he has no idea what that means. “And you don’t care that we’re here?”

Milton shrugs. “People aren’t as quick to believe in magic as you think. But if you blab to too many people, we have our ways of doing damage control.”

Now he’s threatening them. Corey glances at Penny, hoping this fits her definition of a conversation that “doesn’t go well.” But Penny hasn’t looked away from Milton, and her jaw is set with determination.

“We’re not going to tell anyone,” she says, her voice a little unsteady. “We came here to show you something.” She slides her phone across the counter. On it is a picture of the burn on Alonso’s hand.

Milton grabs the phone, holding it a few inches from his face. He looks from the picture to Penny, his expression wary. “What did you say your names were?”

Corey sighs, because he knows what Milton is really asking. “Last name is Barrion.”

Before Milton can say a word, the floor vibrates. Like, actually vibrates. Milton’s full attention is suddenly on the front door. Corey instinctively steps in front of Penny again in case someone—or something—comes charging through.

“What was that?” Penny says.

“Someone tripped the alarm,” Milton says.

Corey doesn’t need three guesses who that might be.

Milton is already walking to the door, and Penny tries to stop him. “Wait!”

But Milton doesn’t wait. He swings the door open and stops short. “The hell is this?”

Alonso is face down on the pavement. His arms are splayed like he fell from a few stories up instead of out an open car door—and he’s not moving.

Corey grimaces. “Alonso? You good?”

The witch doesn’t move.

“What happened?” Penny asks Milton.

“He’s fine,” Milton says. “Until I decide that he isn’t.”

Alonso doesn’t get up. Slowly, with what looks like a lot of effort, he turns his head just enough that they can see his face.

“Well, look at that,” Milton says. “I wasn’t expecting a De Luca to show up on my doorstep today.”

“Happy birthday,” Alonso mutters.

“My birthday’s in April.” Milton crouches so he can look Alonso in the eyes. “Been a while since somebody triggered the alarm spell. I thought maybe it needed a re-up, but I guess it’s working fine.”

“This is a security spell?” Penny asks.

“Sure is. Works on a whole long list of folks, from human fanboys to petty criminals to every exiled witch in existence. Keeps them in place so we can ask them questions.”

Corey narrows his eyes at Milton. “Do you know each other?”

“Every coven knows the De Lucas,” Milton says. “That curse they made was a big deal in our world.”

“Lemme up,” Alonso says through clenched teeth.

“Nope. This is where you belong.”

Penny moves between Alonso and Milton. “Please hear us out before you assume that Alonso came here for some nefarious reason.” She holds up her phone again. “Your family made a ward for the Barrions, right?”

Milton glares at her. “We didn’t mess with no curse. We made a standard dark magic ward, and the Barrions are using it however they want.”

Something about the nonchalance in Milton’s tone makes Corey bristle, and he says, “If it’s so standard, why did you only make one? And why did you agree to do it in the first place?”

Milton ignores him and looks at Penny. “How are you connected to all of this?”

“My mom was in a relationship with Corey’s aunt,” Penny says.

“Ah. She’s dead?”

Corey shakes his head. “Not yet.”

Milton sighs and holds out a hand. “Heavy as air, light as earth.”

Alonso shoots to his feet. His hair is askew, and there are tiny pieces of gravel embedded in his cheek.

“I’m giving you ten seconds to tell me why you’re on Pierre land,” Milton says. “One—”

Corey opens his mouth, but Penny beats him to it, speaking fast. “We want to know why your family helped the Barrions when no other witches would because we want to break the curse and we thought you could tell us more about other covens in Idlewood and also maybe agree to help us with the curse-breaker because Alonso said no coven is as powerful as yours and—”

“Okay, okay, stop. Don’t pass out.” Milton looks between Corey and Alonso. “Y’all really came here together?”

Corey sighs. “We’re trying to… I don’t know what we’re trying to do. Anything we can.”

“Interesting.” Milton’s jaw ticks to the side as he considers them. He seems to come to a decision about something, because his face softens and he says, “My great-grandma made that ward. It was supposed to help victims of the Barrion curse.”

“I thought your family didn’t mess with the curse,” Corey says.

“Do you want to know the story or not?”

Corey crosses his arms and waits.

“The De Lucas and my family used to work closely together, since we both made our way to Indiana at the same time,” Milton says. “The De Lucas had a long history in Italy; lots of power in the blood. Y’all were on track to get a seat on the Council. And then Giovanni came along.” He shakes his head. “Everyone had a real bad feeling about him, but my great-grandma let his bad behavior slide.”

“Why?” Corey says.

“I guess she was too optimistic. She and Giovanni’s mom were close. She didn’t want to believe he could hurt anyone.”

“Except she was wrong,” Corey says.

Milton narrows his eyes. “The curse wasn’t her fault. But yeah, she could’ve reined him in, punished him, something .” He nods at Corey. “And when your dad came looking for a ward, she felt like it was the least she could do.”

It’s almost impossible to imagine his dad coming here, desperate enough to find a way to protect Corey’s mom that he begged a coven for help. James Barrion doesn’t show affection. He barely shows attention. Corey hates thinking he has anything in common with his dad, but here he is, standing where James did all those years ago.

“If the ward is working, there’s nothing else I can do for y’all,” Milton says. “My great-grandma spent a year making that ward, and she was the greatest witch of her generation. Any additional protection spells would take too long in the oven.”

“Wait!” Alonso says as Milton turns to go back inside. “If this ward is supposed to protect people from the curse, then why did it burn me ?”

Milton blinks at him. “Like I said, it repels evil. By our definition, that includes all the De Lucas.”

Alonso takes a step closer to Milton, but he doesn’t get too close. Corey almost smiles. Alonso might actually be afraid of this guy.

“I’m impressed your families have gotten past the bad blood, but the witch who cursed you is dead, and y’all can’t do shit.” Milton deliberately doesn’t look at Corey or Penny as he speaks. “I wish we could help you. But we gotta protect our own.”

They all fall silent. Corey looks to Penny for some sort of cue, but she’s staring at the pavement, chewing on her lip.

After a moment, Alonso steps forward. “You’ve heard the story about Park HaeJung?”

Milton’s brow furrows. “There are a lot of stories.”

“The one where she broke the curse placed on a family by her ancestor.”

“That’s a legend, man. Nobody knows if it’s true.”

“Last I checked, people have managed to replicate dozens of her spells. Witches used to say those were legends, too.”

Milton barks out a laugh. “If someone is going to prove it’s possible for a descendant to break a curse, it’s not going to be you. You ain’t got magic, remember?”

Alonso considers him, and Corey knows the look on his face. He’s deciding whether to back down or to fight—and Alonso never backs down.

As they all watch, he raises a hand toward the sky, and his voice takes on a strange monotone. “Gather here, neglect not the earth. Circle round, let loose the clouds.”

There’s a clap of thunder from above. The clouds begin to circle overhead, and Corey’s heart rate goes through the roof. He grabs Penny’s arm. “We need to get inside.”

But when Penny looks up at the sky, there’s no fear in her eyes. They’re shining with something else.

Astonishment.

Corey is ready to drag Penny inside when thunder claps again, and the rush of rain gets closer and closer until—

Nothing. It never falls.

At least, not on Corey or Penny or Milton. The rain falls in a perfect circle around Alonso.

Milton watches with wide eyes, his mouth hanging open. Finally, he lifts his own hand and whispers a few words Corey can’t hear. The rain stops immediately.

A dangerous silence falls over them. Milton’s expression is dark.

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t call the Council,” Milton says.

Alonso blinks the water out of his eyes. “Because we could get rid of this curse. No, we could discover a new way to get rid of a curse. How about that for your legacy? And you’re not even a Council member yet.”

“I don’t care about my legacy,” Milton says. “I care about keeping witches and mortals safe.”

“You’d be doing that, too,” Alonso says, nodding toward Penny and Corey. “His mom died years ago. Hers is gonna be next. That’s why I’m here.”

Milton ignores him. “Who unsealed your magic? Because they broke a big rule, and they’re heading for exile just like your entire family.”

“Nobody,” Alonso says.

Milton mutters something under his breath. “Come on, man—”

“I did it myself,” Alonso says. “I don’t know how. I saw something bad, and I wanted to fix it, and then I was using magic.”

Milton considers Alonso. “Then who taught you that spell?”

“One of the books in my basement.”

“You don’t even have a teacher? You know that sounds impossible, right?”

“Sure. Doesn’t change the facts.”

Milton glances at Penny and Corey, and he looks like he wants to tell them something. Instead, Milton turns back to Alonso. “The only reason I’m inclined to believe you is because we know where you live.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“But I’m not making the same mistake my great-grandma did,” Milton says. “If you want my help, you gotta prove your intentions are good. I’ll need you to create a blood oath. And you’re gonna let me dictate the terms.”

Next to him, Penny gasps. “What’s wrong?” Corey asks.

“A blood oath could kill him,” Penny says.

“Only if he’s lying,” Milton says.

Corey looks to Alonso, whose face has lost all color. He wants to say something, but what? That this is crazy? They should give up and go home? Corey can’t form the words.

“Fine,” Alonso says. “I’ll do it.”

“You don’t have to,” Corey says.

“Don’t I?” Alonso growls, and Corey shuts up. Because he’s right. They came here to get help from the Pierres, and if this is the only way to do it, then fine.

Milton goes inside, and Alonso follows, his eyes on the ground. Penny gives Corey one long look that says a million things he can’t understand, and one thing he can: She thinks this is a bad idea.

“At least we’ll know he’s telling the truth,” Corey says.

“Honestly? This sounds like the kind of spell that will hurt him even if he doesn’t lie.” Penny follows Alonso and Milton inside, leaving Corey alone in the parking lot.

Corey doesn’t want to watch whatever is about to happen to Alonso. Proximity to magic always sounds like a bad idea, but that’s especially true of spells that have names like “blood oath.” But Penny is already in the shop, and her absence makes Corey feel restless. If something happens to her, and Corey isn’t there to help…

“Dammit,” Corey mutters, and he grudgingly walks into Second World Emporium.