CHAPTER 37

The name Goodwin isn’t in any of the Fogg Lake ancestry files, and it doesn’t appear in the Foundation records that Victor and Lucas have at headquarters,” Harmony said. “But I contacted a relative of mine—a distant cousin—who has access to the ancestry files of the Arcane Society.”

Olivia looked at her across the workbench. “Harlan mentioned Arcane. He told me it’s an organization that is much older than the Foundation. Apparently it has a long history of paranormal research. Very secretive.”

Harmony gave her an amused smile. “He’s right. An alchemist named Sylvester Jones founded the Society back in the seventeenth century. The story is long and complicated and much of it has been lost, but suffice it to say the ancestry records are interesting.”

She and Harmony were in the basement of the library. Agnes the cat had joined them and was now observing from the far end of the long workbench. The table was littered with yellowed file folders, notebooks and leather-bound volumes.

“Does my grandmother’s family name appear in the Arcane records?” Harmony asked.

“There are several Goodwin families in the files but one in particular looks promising,” Harmony said. “My cousin told me there is a long line of Goodwin women who appear to have had various versions of a talent that made it possible for them to resonate with crystals. Several were also artists who worked in a wide variety of mediums.”

Olivia leaned forward. “Were any of them oracles?”

“Doesn’t look like it,” Harmony said, “at least not as we usually define the talent.”

“Hah.” Olivia sat back. “I knew it.”

“The thing is, the oracle talent takes several different forms. Crystals are frequently involved.”

“I’ve never had a thing for crystals.”

“But you can work the camera. It’s crystal-based technology.”

“I really don’t want to be an oracle, Harmony.”

“Neither did I. Shit happens.”

“What were you before you got stuck with the talent?”

“A librarian. I was also a fairly strong dream reader. I’m good at interpreting dreams.”

“Harlan says he thinks the oracle talent is linked to the dreamstate.”

“He’s probably right,” Harmony said.

“So what was the shit that happened that made you realize you were also an oracle?”

“Someone tried to kill me.”

“What happened?”

“He’s dead. I’m alive and stuck with the oracle gig. For now.”

“You mean it might not last indefinitely?”

“It’s a weird talent, Olivia. It can vanish as suddenly as it appears.”

CHAPTER 38

We’re dead,” Trev muttered. He huddled on the floor of the cheap motel room, arms wrapped around his knees. trying to stop the shivering. “We screwed up. We lost Ash and now the Piper is going to let us die.”