Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99700 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Arcane Emporium.
“Well, I guess maybe we can take that as a sign that it is one of those legit places, right?” Pandora asked.
“We should go. Tomorrow,” Lucy said. “We’re both off. You can sneak out by saying you are going to Victor’s place. Where is Victor’s flat?”
“I have no idea,” Pandora said. “But maybe that’s a good thing. If I don’t know, chances are no one else does either.”
“True. OK. So tomorrow, sunset.”
Sunset came in what felt like the blink of an eye, despite no fewer than a dozen run-ins with the many members of Pandora’s family staying at the house. Including her great-great-grandmother, who always seemed to be watching her a bit too closely.
Paranoid, Pandora watched Ambrosia back when she wasn’t looking, wanting to know if she was maybe in cahoots with Bellatrix, the two of them trying to figure her out.
But from what she could tell, Ambrosia seemed more interested in spending time with the older members of the family – Ravenna and Henrietta, along with Lucian – and didn’t seem to spare Bellatrix, Dante, or Jasper much mind.
“Whoa,” Pandora said, when Dante nearly plowed into her as she started to head out.
He looked awful.
Those smudges under his eyes seemed to be getting darker with each passing day, despite his spending most nights up in his room, presumably sleeping.
If she hadn’t been on her way out, she would have followed him, demanded some answers. But, for the moment, Victor was more at risk as far as she could tell, so she had to handle that first.
After that, though, she was going to figure out what her little brother was up to.
Dante barely even seemed to register her existence anyway as he lumbered inside, leaving Pandora watching after him.
Which was how one of Henrietta’s dogs slipped out the door into the night.
“Pepper! Pepper, get back here!” Pandora chased after the little fluff ball as he tore off into the front garden, excited for some freedom. “Pepper!” Her shouts became more frantic as she lost sight of him.
It was just then she heard a snarl that had the hairs on her arms raising. Not two seconds later, Pepper came running back, tail tucked, letting out little cries.
“What was that?” Pandora asked, scooping him up.
“Sorry, that was me,” Lucy said, stepping out of the shadows. “It was a little nastier than normal because his little fluffy butt was about to run into the street.”
“That’s … a handy skill,” Pandora said, scooting the dog back into the house and closing the door behind him.
“You ready?” Lucy asked, producing two insulated mugs in her gloved hand. “Coffee for me. Circulation sippy for you,” she said, making Pandora let out a little laugh. “I know it’s been hard for you to get to the shops to even get the blood, let alone any privacy to drink it. I passed by it on the way here.”
“You’re the best,” Pandora said, looking around, then taking a sip, feeling like she was coming alive again immediately.
Lucy, now completely fascinated with Pandora’s crazy family, asked for endless updates as they took the Tube across town, before setting out on foot toward the little back street that wasn’t well lit and, therefore, not much of a stop for tourists nor locals.
The Arcane Emporium was tucked into an unassuming corner storefront down the cobblestone street. It was painted a deep-forest-green color and its front window was half obscured by dried plants and flowers hanging down by their stems.
As they approached, the heavy wooden door began to shimmer, catching the light to reveal some sort of sigil that seemed to dance in and out of sight. Like it was recognizing them, or maybe revealing them to the proprietor within.
Lucy shared a look with Pandora before she reached for the brass door handle and pushed. It opened with a groan as the women stepped inside.
The air within was thick, heavy with scents of old parchment, herbs, metals, and incense.
Dim light flickered from the many wrought-iron wall sconces and candelabras, casting part of the shop in shadows thanks to the labyrinth created by towering shelves that weaved through the interior.
Pandora had a fleeting thought that whispered that if she walked into one of those rows, that she might never emerge again. There was almost something vaguely threatening about the aura in the building. But, she reminded herself, that was likely simply wards created to keep wrongdoers out. She was probably feeling it so strongly because she was, by nature, evil, so the wards were pressing on her a bit, even if they were allowing her to move inside.
Closer inspection revealed that many of the shelves were stuffed and bowing with heavy leather-bound tomes, jars of various substances – dried petals, glowing liquids, bones of different sizes and origins – and ancient-looking scrolls, complete with unbroken wax insignias.