Page 78 of A Time of Witches

The past was more vivid than before, though still blurred against the stark clarity of the present. The muted veil of tapestries on the wall was now bolder with vibrant blues and reds and golds. She breathed in, drawing in the yeasty, homey scent of baking bread. Underfoot, the rushes were fresh and sweet, but also slippery against the soles of her shoes. A fire flickered in the hearth between the two Grecian figures, its warmth evident on Lilith’s skin.

As if the house was awakening from a long hibernation.

Dragon stepped into the room and sniffed around. Lilith glanced at the pouch clutched in her palm.

Rosemary to draw the potency of the earth to your senses.

The world had been extraordinarily alive on the walk over. Was that from the rosemary?

Heads of a snakeroot plant to amplify your need.

Laurel leaves to increase success.

Was this why the room appeared so much crisper?

Were the partial ingredients for the charm already taking effect?

Had they actually worked?

A woman entered the room, more visible than ever before, her shape crisper. Her fingers twisted at the maid’s apron over a plain brown dress. Lilith approached her. “Can you hear me?”

The woman continued on, oblivious, nearly walking through Lilith.

So far, only Jacinda had been able to hear and speak to her.

Which meant Lilith had to find her again.

A quick search indicated she was not anywhere Lilith had been before. She approached a set of stairs leading up to the third floor. Where she was not supposed to go.

Before she could back away, Dragon darted up the stairs in a streak of black.

Well, now, she truly had no choice but to follow.

“Sorry, Asher,” she muttered as she made her way toward the forbidden area.

The rooms were smaller on the third floor, possibly servant’s quarters given the echo of the past reflecting simple beds and nightstands. One room was painted pale blue with a wobbly painting of a giant blue dog on one wall.

Was that Blue’s Clues?

Toys were neatly tucked into a shelf against the wall with Lego castles and Transformers arranged artfully. From the top of the shelf, the tongue of a Hot Wheels ramp drooped downward, ending at a mini garage full of metal cars.

This was a child’s room from only a couple decades ago.

Was it…Asher’s?

Had he lived in the house?

From somewhere downstairs, a pan clattered to the floor. Lilith strained to listen, ready for the shatter of glass that followed. The shatter came at the same time she glanced at her watch and confirmed it was 12:03.

Lilith finished her search of the third floor without finding Jacinda, though the remainder of the rooms were filled with moldering pieces of furniture, a rabbit-eared TV with a crack in the corner, and boxes laden with dust.

The attic stairs loomed before her.

“Go big or go home,” she said softly to herself and put her foot on the first step.

Whispers of the past revealed a place where herbs had dried, the bunches swaying like specters overhead. But she scarcely noticed them for all the canvases. A series of them were braced against the right wall, as if to dry thoroughly.

Each one looked exactly the same, an image of Brackenmere Manor.