Page 26 of The Book of Unwritten Stories

Stephanie laughed. ‘Oh, I know that. I didn’t mean to offend you, Sephy. I just meant that it’s exciting to finally see you truly embrace your royal witchiness and I’m honoured to help you do that.’

‘No offence taken, dear.’

‘And I should stop talking huh?’

Dora laughed as Sephy arched one eyebrow in Stephanie’s direction.

‘So, what are you guys thinking?’

‘Well, I think we should have something celestial, pretty for Sephy, more Gothic for me and fiery for Lenny.’

‘Good choices, let me see what I can do. If you pop back tomorrow afternoon, I should be finished by then.’

Sephy wrapped her arms around Stephanie and held her close. ‘Thank you, darling. If Lenny happens to turn up at some point, please don’t tell her, it’s our secret.’ She winked at Stephanie, who winked back.

* * *

They left the shop and headed down the side of the Peabody Essex Museum. Dora knew it was to avoid crowds – they were everywhere.

‘You don’t want Lenny to know because she will be annoyed?’

‘Exactly, she’s too much of a sour puss and will spoil our fun. Some things are best kept secret. Although I can’t guarantee she will agree to wear a hat, but we can only try.’

As they strolled down Charter Street it was busy with tour groups learning the history of Salem, but not uncomfortably so, and they walked down to Front Street, where Dora paused outside Nocturne, the beautiful vintage emporium. It stirred something deep inside of her. It looked so inviting but there was a line outside. She didn’t know why it seemed to be calling to her. She would come here one day when the crowds had dissipated and take a look inside the beautiful store.

Dora smiled to herself. She knew all too well just how good her aunts were at keeping secrets and she wondered if there were any other secrets they had kept from her. She hadn’t even known she had a life, well many lifetimes, of living in Salem until a couple of weeks ago and that still sat heavy inside of her chest whenever she thought about it. The fact that she had lived so many varied, different lives was still hard to comprehend, but despite all of that she was desperate to begin working the magic that had always been inside of her. The time to embrace her true self had finally come around and that made her heart full and her soul very happy.

TWENTY

When Dora and Sephy turned onto beautiful, historical Chestnut Street, Sephy stopped walking. Her face scrunched up, her hands on her hips she looked around.

‘It’s too quiet, have you noticed that?’

A bell dinged behind them signalling the arrival of the Salem Trolley, turning into the street. It was full of tourists being shown the historical places of importance around the city. Dora waved at them and they all waved back, some of them snapping pictures with their phones, making her feel as if she’d just been snapped by the paparazzi.

‘Where is he?’

Dora turned to Sephy. ‘Where is who?’ A sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach made her want to throw up. Surely, she didn’t mean Corwin?

‘Hades, that bird is up to no good. He keeps going missing without a trace. No clue where to, it’s all very strange. Especially when he’s so excited to have you home.’

‘Can you ask him where he’s been?’

‘I can and I will, but I feel as if something is amiss. I’m not sure what. I can’t put my finger on it exactly.’

‘Should we be worried?’

Sephy put an arm around Dora’s shoulder. ‘No, dear, I’m sure he’s fine, we’re fine. It’s just a little unsettling so soon after Lucine.’

Dora hooked her arm through her aunt’s and led her to the candy pink and white gingerbread trim house. It literally was the house out of all the fairytales she’d read as a kid. Standing on the doorstep, one hand on her hip, the other clutching the note summoning them to the council of witches meeting, was Lenny and she waved it at Sephy.

‘You went without me. Didn’t you tell Clara I was busy and she should rearrange?’

‘Welcome back, Lenny, I’m glad you’re here.’

Lenny arched an eyebrow at her. ‘Clara?’

‘I told Clara politely to go sit on her broomstick and fly. I can handle her. I didn’t know you were coming back so soon. If you’d see fit occasionally to keep me informed of your travel plans, we could actually get our act together.’