Page 54 of The Book of Unwritten Stories

‘I must continue my quest, but I will be back. I believe that you are correct about the villagers who now seem to have taken a dislike to me since they saw us with each other in the woods. Better to let things quiet for a little while before I come back.’

Lucine’s knees were quivering at the thought of this man who had taken her heart and her innocence leaving her all alone. ‘Yes, you must do what is best.’ She would not cry over him and begged her eyes not to betray her with the hot, salty tears that she could feel pooling in the corners.

He cupped her chin in his hands. ‘’Tis not what is best for me, ’tis what is best for you, Lucine. I will not be the cause of any trouble at your door. Just know that you have my heart, forever and always.’

He turned and pulled out a package from a saddle bag. It was heavy. He passed it to her. It felt like a book.

‘What is this?’

‘Two very special books. You asked for a book of unwritten stories if I was to gift you anything else. One is a book of magic spells and the other is a partially written book of spells that only you or I can finish. They were given to me by a fortune teller at a travelling show who swore that they are magical. One book is full of complete spells that can be used for good magic, to make things better, and she swore they were written by her grandmother. They are very powerful. The second much smaller book is much darker and far more powerful, but only once they have been completed by the rightful owner and I know you are she, Lucine. She told me to use it wisely, for if used unwisely it would bring trouble to my door.’

‘I do not think you understand, John. I cannot accept these. If the villagers discovered that I owned such books, they would call me a witch and hang me.’

‘Then make sure thou tell no one about them. The talk I heard in the village tavern last night filled me with a great fear. The village men are hunting for trouble. You may be able to use the spells inside of the book to keep you all safe.’

Lucine unwrapped the paper around the books. There was a large, thick leatherbound book, and a much smaller one both beautifully inscribed on the front and as she traced her fingers around the pattern on the biggest of them, she felt a small jolt of electricity shoot up her fingertip. It shocked her so greatly she threw the book to the floor. John laughed.

‘That old woman told me when the books were in the hands of the rightful owner their power would come to life. She was right, these books were always meant to be with you, Lucine. Take care of them and keep them safe so they can in turn keep you safe.’

‘I do not want any books that give me burning fingertips, that could get me called a witch and hanged for having it. Take them away with you.’

He shook his head. ‘I cannot, Lucine. I have been looking for the rightful owner and perhaps it was not a mistake that my horse led me to you. Perhaps this was meant to be.’

The crow was watching the pair of them with great interest from the branch of a nearby tree. Lucine’s gut was in turmoil. John was leaving her and with not just one, but two books that were dangerous.

She thrust them towards him. ‘I do not want either.’

He shook his head. ‘I mean this with good faith, please, Lucine, take them inside and hide them well. I must leave, and when I return, I will take you and the books to a safe place, but until that moment arrives, I need you to take care of them.’

Angry male voices in the distance made her straighten with fear and she clutched the books to her chest.

‘Lucine, I must leave. That brute Corwin has found a band of men to assist him in making me get out of Salem. I will do so, but only for a short time. Tell them you have not seen me and have no desire to. Tell them what you must to keep thyself safe. I promise I will be back; I will never leave thy side ever again.’

Lucine had not realised she was crying until John’s thumb gently wiped away the wetness on her cheek. ‘I love thee, Lucine English, and we will be together. Pray go inside now and let me deal with these mortal fools. I could not bear it if thou were in danger from them.’

Clutching the books to her chest, she nodded. She turned around and forced her feet to walk towards the door of the cabin, where slipping inside, she closed it and heard the gentle breathing of her sisters who were both still sleeping. She took the books and searched for a safe place to store them. Did he not understand the danger he had put her in by insisting she take them? There was a loose floorboard next to the open fire, and she prised it open with her fingertips, taking a sharp intake of breath as a splinter of wood pierced the skin on her forefinger, blood dripping down onto the cover of the smallest book. Her heart full of fear, she pushed them both under the floorboard and quickly put it back down. Sucking her finger to bite out the splinter, she spat it into the flames of the fire she had stoked before going outside. Afraid for John and for her herself she went to her mattress in the corner and curled up into a ball, drawing the rough blanket around her. She closed her eyes and prayed harder than she ever had for God to keep John and her sisters safe.

FORTY-THREE

SALEM, PRESENT DAY

Dora had no choice but to head back to Sephy’s, unless she went to the Hawthorne to see if her aunts were there. She could, but surely the council of witches only met once a month and didn’t hang out there all the time. Clara must live somewhere in Salem. Lenny was already fuming with her, so she headed back to wait for them. They were already in the kitchen when she got there, both drinking tall glasses of the black magic cocktail. Sephy jumped up when Dora slammed the front door a little too loud, managing to knock the black cherry vodka-infused drink all over the table.

‘I am such a klutz,’ she muttered.

Dora looked from one aunt to the other.

‘What’s the rush, why was it imperative I left Morana’s apartment? Did you find Clara?’

‘So many questions with so few answers. We didn’t find Clara and we didn’t want you putting yourself at risk from that woman. She is clearly spiralling out of her own witchy control. It’s dangerous to be around her with all this untapped energy she is putting out into the world. Why did you not tell us that’s where you were heading?’ Lenny’s tone was accusatory.

‘I didn’t know I’d find her; it was just a hunch. She hasn’t got the book anyway. I told you, Clara has it.’

Sephy, who had been mopping up her spillage, looked up at her. ‘Clara has the book, how so?’

‘She found Morana and asked her for it and said it was too dangerous for her, so it seems she’s well ahead of us and on top of her job. We can forget about it now huh?’

Lenny shook her head. ‘It’s not that simple.’