Nora straightened up to her full height and arched an eyebrow. “I also found out the diner does not use freshly ground coffee beans to make their brew despite what they might have you believe.”

“Oh, well,” Izzy said. “I guess it was worth flouting the rules of magic to find out that little nugget.”

Thunder rumbled overhead.

“Calm yourself, Sister. And again, what would you have me do? Nothing? I’ve studied enough history to know our kind does not do well in situations like these. I believe you’ve heard the term witch hunt?”

“Nora, you’re being paranoid. Evenfall is our home.”

“Um, she may not be entirely wrong.” I filled my aunts in about the looks I had received in town.

“There you have it,” Nora said, waving a hand in my direction.

“That doesn’t excuse your reckless behavior!”

“What other options did I have? You’re too afraid to cast any spell beyond your sweet dream sugar cookies, and—”

“You said you liked my sweet dream sugar cookies,” Izzy said, looking hurt.

“Of course I do. Everyone does. They’re sugar cookies that give you sweet dreams,” Nora said. “But that kind of spell is hardly going to get us out of this mess. The truth is, you’ve never been willing to do what needs to be done in serious situations. And then there’s Brynn. My loving niece, who won’t even try to use the talent she was born with to help me.”

“I tried.”

Nora raged on, not hearing me. “I mean, if ever a situation called for a witch of the dead, this would be it.”

“I tried.”

“But no, apparently that’s too much to ask.” Suddenly Nora jerked up and looked over at me. “What did you say?”

I took a long, deep breath. “I tried. I tried to contact Constance’s ghost.”

My aunts fell silent. Even the grasshopper that had been creaking ceaselessly in the corner had gone still.

Izzy took a step toward me. “When?”

“Last night,” I said, meeting her eyes. “I went up to the Rosewater Room, and I tried.”

“Well?” Nora asked, also moving toward me.

“Nothing. Well, not entirely nothing. Constance knocked a few books around, which led me to find a yellow rose petal on the floor.”

“A yellow rose petal?” Nora gasped, putting a hand to her chest. “How horrifying.”

I gave her a look but pressed on. “That was all though. I couldn’t see or talk to her.”

“Oh, darling,” Izzy said. “It was very brave of you to try.”

“Brave of her to try? What’s next? Shall we start giving merit badges for getting out of bed in the morning?” Nora asked. “Let’s pull this all back a little. It was good of you to try, Brynn, but just because you didn’t succeed, that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story.”

“I think it is.”

“Don’t be silly. You must try again.”

“No. No. I need you to listen to me.”

“No, I need you to listen to me. I’ve been doing some reading and there are spells we can still try.”