Page 92

Goody looked from one of us to the other.

"Indeed, he does. Now, tell me—just what have you two been up to?"

I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling rather uncomfortable.

"Well, you see…"

"We tried the spell!" Celeste blurted out.

Goody's eyes widened behind her spectacles.

"You did? Already?"

"Yes!" Celeste exclaimed. "And it worked. Well…sort of."

"Sort of?" Goody repeated. "What do you mean?"

"Well, the first version didn't work at all," Celeste explained. "I mean, Garrik's body twitched a little when I kissed it, but nothing really happened. So we waited until the full moon came out and read the Moon Script."

"Ah!" Goody nodded wisely. "And what did it say?"

Celeste's cheeks turned bright pink.

"Well…it turns out that the instructions for a Veil Witch are a little different."

"Different in what way?"

Celeste looked at me helplessly and I cleared my throat.

"Perhaps we needn't go into all the particulars," I suggested.

"Oh, but I’m sure Goody Albright would very much like to hear them!" Bartleby interjected cheerfully. "Especially since I believe the alternative instructions were considerably more enjoyable for both parties."

"Will you be quiet, you infernal beast!" I roared.

Goody raised her eyebrows delicately.

"Oh, my. So it was that kind of spell,” she murmured.

Celeste covered her face with one hand.

"Great. Thanks, Bartleby,” she muttered.

"You're welcome," he replied, smirking in that feline way of his.

"Well, whatever the spell required, I assume you were able to perform it?" Goody asked, looking rather amused.

"Yes," Celeste admitted. "And afterward, something amazing happened!"

She went on to explain how my body began breathing and how my heart started beating again. Then she told Goody about the strange pulling sensation I felt towards my physical form and how I'd even managed to hold a silver chalice for a moment without using magic.

As she spoke, Goody's expression grew increasingly astonished.

"Good heavens!" she exclaimed when Celeste finally finished. "My dear girl, do you realize what you've accomplished?"

"Well, not really," Celeste admitted. "That's why we called you."

"You've done something extraordinary!" Goody told her. "Something that countless powerful witches have attempted and failed to accomplish over the past century!"