Page 28 of Death Card

“So, do you have to run off right now, or could you stay and ‘supervise’ me?” There’s a playful shimmer in her eyes as she leans back to sit on the floor.

As much as I want to get as far away from her as possible, Gramps did task me with investigating her. I can’t do that if I don’t actually talk to her. If this doesn’t work, then I’ll read her mind like he wants.

I plop down cross-legged on the other side of the box and watch as she begins to place candles on the bottom shelf.

“Since this is a family business, I’ve got to ask: Does your entire family practice voodoo?”

“None of us do,” I answer. “We have a healthy appreciation for voodoo, but we’re not practitioners.”

Her face falls. “Oh, I just thought—”

“Common misconception.”

My gaze drifts back to the triple-moon symbol dangling from her neck. “You didn’t tell me you practice witchcraft yourself.” The statement comes out harsher than I intended.

She stills and looks up sharply. “What—”

“Your necklace.”

Her hand flies up to her neck. “Oh, well, I wouldn’t say that I practice.”

“Then, how would you describe it?”

Joelle’s eyes widen. “Whoa, what’s with the interrogation?” She looks down at the necklace and laughs. “I guess I should’ve known that you would find out one way or another. You are clairvoyant, after all.”

My muscles stiffen. It can’t be this easy. I haven’t even had touse a truth potion, but it sounds like she’s about to reveal whatreallybrought her here.

“Go on,” I prod.

The candles are swiftly forgotten as Joelle rests her chin in her hands. “I’ve always wanted to be a witch.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

Her brown cheeks turn a shade of ruddy red. “It’s embarrassing to say out loud, but yeah. I was a witch every year for Halloween. I’ve watched every piece of witchy media I can get my hands on.Charmed,Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, theCovenseason ofAmerican Horror Story. All of it.” Her eyes glaze over as she stares at a spot past my head. “And then I grew up and realized magic wasn’t real. So, I decided to devote my life to studying the people who still believe.”

If only she knew how close she was to the real deal.

“So…you study witches?”

“Yeah, kind of.” She covers her face and lets out a shaky laugh. “That’s why I chose Tulane.” An indentation forms between her eyebrows as a shadow passes over her face. “I could’ve stayed closer to home and studied the witch trials or done a deep dive into Wicca, but I realized I’m more drawn to studying Black history and culture in general. So, now I’m here.”

When you’re in the business of reading people, you pick up on the clues they drop along the way. There’s a deeper story behind leaving home, but it isn’t a tale for today. I tuck it away to ask about later. “You’re in the right place,” I murmur.

“Yeah, I think so.” She scrambles to grab her phone. “I was on a ghost tour last night! They took us to visit Marie Laveau’stombandher house! Do you want to see? Although, I guess it’s less exciting if you live here…”

As she searches through her photo album, a thought worms its way into my head. Maybe she’s a littletoointerested in witchcraft? Could this be the reason why I meet my end? She wouldn’t be the first mortal to kill a witch over jealousy and power.

“I didn’t know majoring in witchcraft was an option,” I quip. “If so, I’d probably be enrolled somewhere right now.”

She looks up from her phone. “It’s not, unfortunately. I’m majoring in anthropology with a minor in Africana studies andmaybea second minor in religious studies.”

I can’t help but bristle. Joelle is the academic that everyone expects me to be. She knows what she wants, and she’s drawing a brush over the canvas that is her life. I’m struck by the sudden ache of longing in my chest. I want what she has. I’d give anything for an uncomplicated life where I can go to college and study something that’ll make me happy.

But I have bigger fish to fry right now, and I made my decision about college. I can’t change the past.

And anyway, I’m not sure they allow convicted murderers to finish their degrees.

Her voice draws me away from my thoughts.