Page 42 of A Time of Witches

Jacinda.

The voice came from another room, too distant for Lilith to identify.

The young woman leaned her head back in exasperation and looked toward the door. Her gaze caught Lilith’s, and she stiffened.

So did Lilith.

None of the other figures in the house appeared to see her. Certainly, Sybil hadn’t before she’d walked through her.

“You’re Jacinda?” Lilith asked, her voice hesitant.

The teen’s hazel eyes narrowed, then wandered down Lilith’s body, taking in her T-shirt, jeans and messy bun. “Yes.”

The word was soft, a whisper of the past filtering into the present.

Heat radiated from Lilith’s birthmark through her entire being. “You were in my dream.”

Jacinda’s brows clenched and she shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“I think I need to help Sybil.”

“Help her?” Jacinda frowned. “With what?”

“I don’t know,” Lilith admitted. “I think maybe keep her from being burned alive.”

Was she really having a conversation with a ghost right now?

Jacinda paled. “I don’t understand.” She shook her head. “Is something going to happen to Sybil?”

Lilith recalled Mama’s ancestry notes.

Sybil Brantham—burned as a witch.

“I believe so,” Lilith replied slowly.

Jacinda took a step back, as if Lilith brought ill fortune, then glanced at the bookshelf. “I think…I think Sybil’s been hiding something from me.” She gestured to the bookshelves. “Mayhap something here? Can you look for it?”

“What do you think I’ll find?” Lilith asked.

Jacinda worried her lower lip with her teeth. “A secret Sybil doesn’t want me to know about.”

“I brought peppermint tea.” The voice was so loud behind Lilith that she nearly leaped out of her skin.

Aunt Jacqueline appeared in the doorway, the knees of her white slacks stained with dirt. Her feet were bare and muddy, and at her side was the skunk.

“Are you okay?” Lilith gasped. “Are you supposed to have the skunk in here?”

“Tea.” Aunt Jacqueline panted, clearly exerted by her efforts even as she extended a mug toward Lilith. “To open your eyes. The house has been waiting so long.”

Before Lilith could ask what she meant, the mug tumbled from Aunt Jacqueline’s hand, liquid spilling, darkening the floor to its original stained color beneath the dust. The wet scent of steeped peppermint tea filled the room.

Lilith lunged forward, catching the frail woman before she landed in the growing puddle.

She had to get Aunt Jacqueline back to the manor immediately. Questions for whatever just happened could come later. So, too, would searching the library.

Aunt Jacqueline came first.

Lilith glanced over her shoulder to seek out the young woman before leading Aunt Jacqueline from the room, but Jacinda was gone.