Page 49 of The Book of Unwritten Stories

‘That damn bird is a liability,’ said Lenny.

‘That bird must have a reason though. Think on the positive side, at least he can show us where to find her. We can go speak to her, ask her nicely to give the book back. You two can destroy it like you should have hundreds of years ago and maybe, just maybe, nobody else has to get hurt.’ Dora was smiling at them both. ‘But before you destroy it, I’d really like to take a look at it, read it. You know, it’s a part of my history that I should be fully aware of, don’t you think?’

‘No, Dora, that book should be destroyed.’ replied Lenny.

Lenny stared out of the kitchen window. ‘That book was never meant to see the light of day, it was the darkness that poured out of Lucine’s soul the second time we lived, she filled it with bitterness, but even she knew enough not to finish the spells inside of it. They could only be finished by a bloodline English or Hadden. So, how did it get into the bookstore? I’m speaking hypothetically here, no need to answer.’ Lenny paused. ‘I can only think that Corwin had it, he took it from her that second time he found us and he kept it safe all this time, knowing that it was of no use to him, but one day it might be useful for a descendant. Dora, you left the bookstore open, you thought someone was watching you. I think he followed you and found the bookstore, I also think he realised there was a chance that he had met his match with you, Dora, and maybe he hid it in there hoping for someone to find it. Someone who would use dark magic, someone not afraid of the consequences that using dark magic brings. Someone who might use it to set him free if you did manage to defeat him. It was his backup plan, whoever found the book didn’t realise the power it held and somehow, it’s ended up in this Morana’s possession.’

‘How did she get hold of the book? And how is this Morana making them work?’ replied Sephy.

‘Morana was distraught about her friend, maybe she didn’t mean for this to happen,’ said Dora.

‘Delusional, just like Lucine,’ growled Lenny.

‘And there you both go again, talking about me as if I’m not here. It’s really annoying.’

‘Shut up, Dora.’ Lenny was glaring at her. ‘We’re thinking, that’s all, stop being such a self-absorbed fool.’

Sephy walked over and wrapped her arms around her niece. ‘We are trying to figure things out. Sorry, it’s not personal. The stress makes Lenny even grouchier than she usually is.’

Lenny shrugged. ‘We’re going to have to take this to Clara. I can’t see any other way out of it.’

‘I told you, dear, it makes sense the council should deal with it.’ Sephy winked at Dora who looked bereft and she couldn’t blame her.

FORTY

Morana’s mouth gaped open. How did she know? The woman’s grey eyes looked iridescent in the sunlight, drawing her in so much that Morana nodded and took her up to her apartment without saying another word.

‘Excuse me,’ Morana gushed at the woman and tried to walk around her, but she reached out and clasped her arm.

‘I’ve been searching for you.’

Morana looked at her. ‘Why? I don’t know you.’

‘You have something that belongs to me and I would like it back.’

‘I don’t think so, I’ve never seen you before, lady.’

‘Clara. Please don’t address me as lady, it’s very uncouth.’

‘Well then, Clara, I still don’t know you.’

Clara tilted her head. ‘Let’s go inside and take this off the street. I don’t want to discuss your body count in public.’

Once they were inside the apartment, Morana switched on every light as it was so dark inside. Clara wrinkled her nose, and her gaze fell to the coffee table where The Book of Black Magic sat as if it belonged there. Morana noticed how the woman’s eyes narrowed as she stared at it.

‘It’s not my fault, my friend just died and I didn’t know that was going to happen. Why is it happening?’

Clara sat down in the seat nearest to the book, and reaching out a hand, she trailed her fingers across the spine then snapped her hand back as tiny bolts of fire shot out of it.

‘My, you are powerful,’ she almost purred to the book, then she looked up at Morana. ‘How did you get this?’

‘A woman brought it to the shop where I work. She said it had my name in it, and I was the rightful owner.’

Clara nodded. ‘Name?’

‘I don’t know. I didn’t ask her.’

‘Did she say where she procured the book?’