Betwixt the woods of dark and light
A mirror flat reveals the sky
But turn it ‘round to know the why
Zero begets the next, the One
Innocence lost, magick undone
Beware the rise when darkness falls
For magick corrupts, and blood trumps all.
“The first part—between the space where black meets white, betwixt the woods of dark and light? She’s talking about the pages—literally, paper made from wood—and reading between the lines. The Book of Shadow and Mists—she mentioned it to me in a dream. Remember I said it’s written a lot like the Journey book? Like half missing? Well, when I put her grimoire next to the other book and touch the pages, I can see the other verses.”
He stares at me, astonished. “Remarkable,” he whispers.
“The mirror part? She’s talking about her own grimoire. Turn it round to know the why.” I tip the grimoire onto its side again, forming a right angle to the other book. The pages illuminate with new spells.
“I don’t see anything,” he says.
“No, it’s like that with all her notebooks. Only I can see them. But now I can start translating!”
“That won’t be necessary, Stevie.” Professor Phaines smiles, but suddenly his energy shifts. Gone is the grandfatherly warmth, sneaker of Snickers bars. Now, his energy is cold and prickly and dark, a wave of pure evil washing over me.
Carly’s warning echoes.Stevie, listen. I’m fucking serious. You need to get out of there right now…
My heart sinks to the the floor, my hands trembling all over again.
He’s a fucking traitor.
I whip out my phone, try to get a text out to Kirin, but the phone flies out of my hands.
“Young people these days have no respect,” Professor Phaines says, the phone levitating before him. “Always with the texting, the chat-snapping. You never learn.”
He closes his fist, and the phone bursts into flames, melting into a twisted mass of metal before dropping on the ground. Then, just to make sure he finishes the job, he stomps on it.
“Let’s go, Miss Milan. Bring your books.”
I grab the books and back up against the wall. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“That’s enough.” He holds out his hand and whispers a single phrase, and just like that, I’m boneless.
That’s how it feels.
I drop to the floor like a bag of water, unable to coordinate my limbs, to move my mouth, to scream. It’s a wonder my heart still beats, my lungs still breathe. I can’t even blink or move my eyes.
I’ve got one view now—a boot.
The dusty black boot of the kindly old professor I once trusted, stomping down on my face.
Fifty-One
STEVIE
“Spells of Iron, Spells of Bone. Grant me her power to claim the one.”
Phaines repeats the chant, lifting the chalice to his lips, gulping it down like it’s the best wine he’s ever had.
