Vittoria had done more than dabble in the dark arts. I couldn’t open the diary using force, so I tried a spell of un-making, burned herbs that helped with clarity, lit candles and prayed to every goddess I could think of, but the stubborn diary gave none of its secrets away.

I tossed the book on the floor and cursed. Vittoria had used a spell I’d never encountered. Which meant she’d probably figured out I’d snooped in her diary a few weeks ago. She really didn’t want me to know her secret. And that made me even more determined to find out why.

I paced around our little room, watching the sun slowly rise. I needed a plan. Now. Aside from a forbidden truth spell here and there, I knew little of dark magic and how it actually worked. Nonna said the dark arts demanded payment since they took from something instead of using what already was. I’d happily sacrifice whatever I needed to in order to get what I wanted. I had one large clue and no way to access it. Except . . . I smiled as an idea struck. I couldn’t break the spell, but I knew someone who might be able to: Carolina Grimaldi.

Carolina was Claudia’s aunt and had taken Claudia in when her parents left for America a year or two apart. She was well versed in the dark arts, and was slowly teaching Claudia everything she knew. I didn’t want to involve my friend, so I decided to go directly to the source of her knowledge. Carolina had a stall in the busy marketplace and, if I hurried, I might catch her before she opened her booth.

I grabbed a satchel and stuffed the grimoire sheets and diary inside, then ran for the door.

Nonna stepped into my path, frowning. “Is the devil chasing you?”

I hoped not, but that was up for debate. “Not that I know of.”

“Good. Then you can sit a minute and tell me where you’re running off to at this hour.”

“I—” I almost confessed everything, but thought about my sister. Vittoria kept her secrets close, and was willing to die with them. There had to be a good reason why. “I wanted to stop by the marketplace for some spices before we start prepping for dinner service. I have an idea for a new sauce.”

Nonna stared at me hard, trying to see through my lies. Her expression was a cross between disappointment and suspicion. I hadn’t shown much interest in food or creativity since Vittoria’s death. Just when I convinced myself she’d send me back upstairs with a list of charmwork, she stepped aside. “Don’t be late. There’s much to do.”

“Signora Grimaldi!” I hiked up my skirts and charged through the streets. Luck was finally on my side. I caught Carolina right before she crossed the road into the marketplace.