Page 13 of Casting Butterflies

“Well, the bathroom could technically use a scrub.”

“It’s like you want me to eviscerate you,” he snapped.

“Calm down. I don’t know why you’re in such a hurry to play with that damned thing.”

“And I don’t understand your extreme reluctance.”

Neither did I.

I grabbed the box with the necklace and slammed it onto the counter with slightly too much force. The box collapsed. I stared at it in horror, whereas Cedric snickered.

“Better hope you can glue it,” he taunted.

“Fuck you,” I snapped.

“You going to grab the necklace or show off your vast and eloquent vocabulary a bit more?”

I nudged the broken lid aside and, once more, would have sworn a ghostly butterfly rose from the pendant. Since I couldn’t bring myself to touch it directly, I grabbed some tongs from a kitchen jar and, grimacing the entire time, plucked the necklace from the debris of the box and hung it on the banana hook on the kitchen counter. It swung slightly, seeming innocuous, if ugly, and yet no denying my aversion. Inexplicable, and yet I couldn’t shake my conviction there was something severely wrong with the gaudy piece of jewelry.

Cedric had no such qualms and put his nose right up against it. “Interesting. There is a cloaking spell minimizing the magic within the quartz.”

“Why do that?”

“To render it less visible. To disguise the fact it contains something of importance.”

“Maybe it’s hiding the fact this is really a gorgeous and expensive piece of jewelry?” I asked somewhat hopefully.

“Doubtful. The seers wouldn’t waste their time directing us to valuable jewelry with no purpose.”

“Could be they wanted to make us rich. You know, maybe the fates, or whatever rules the universe, felt bad at taking my best friend and thought it might make a nice consolation prize. Just think, if I were rich, I wouldn’t have to go to work to pay the bills and could spend more time helping you find a cure.” What I wouldn’t give to quit, because I enjoyed my job as a receptionist for a car dealership so much. NOT! Ever dealt with an angry driver who was peeved their ten-year-old car with a quarter-million kilometers that had the check-engine-soon light on for the last six months died and couldn’t have its engine revived?

“The seers would not be concerned about your lack of wealth.” Cedric paced around the necklace.

“Says you.”

“Yes, says me.”

“What else can you discern?” I asked, arms crossed over my chest, standing well away from the necklace.

“Very little. The cloak on it was very cleverly woven.”

“Maybe we should give the seers a buzz via the mirror and ask them for another clue.”

“It is more likely we’d end up with another riddle.” Because, apparently, you couldn’t simply ask them a question and expect a straight answer. “We must figure out the necklace on our own.”

We because Cedric saw me as part of his team. Cool except for the fact I didn’t actually contribute much. However, what I lacked in magic, I made up for in common sense. “The way I see it, there’s only a few options, with my favorite being smash the ugly thing with a hammer.” Maybe then I’d stop getting the heebie-jeebies. I couldn’t even look at the thing without shuddering.

“We are not destroying it. Yet,” Cedric added after a short pause.

“In that case, what do you suggest? Douse it with holy water? Soak it in cola?” It worked with my rings when they got grimy. “I guess melting it is out of the question?” I’d be willing to sacrifice a cooking pot if Cedric agreed.

“Place it around my neck,” Cedric demanded, craning his head.

“Is that wise? What if you end up doubly cursed?”

“It’s a chance I’m willing to take. Now, if you don’t mind.” He tilted his chin.

“Why me?” I really—really—didn’t want to touch it. “Can’t you like just stick your head through the chain or rub against it.”