The memories this city stirred; I knew that I should probably be more afraid of some of the things that I’d told myself for years were just my childhood imaginations. I knew any normal, rational woman would be terrified or feel like she was losing her mind. But I couldn’t seem to get enough of this shadow world, soaking in the words, taking my own notes in a simple lined notebook I’d found in the closet.

Part of me was looking for a way to help out with Himself and the sale of the house. The more I thought about it, the more certain I was that he’d had some sort of magical help to make my signature be on papers I would never have signed. But did he know? Did he know that there was someone helping him knowingly? “Son of a bitch, did you actually use magic after making me give it up? After letting me think I was crazy?” A whole new level of anger surged through me at that thought that he’d gaslit me all those years.

I couldn’t help it, I sent him a text.

You ducking bastard! Magic isn’t real, huh? That’s why you got someone to magic up that paperwork? Duck you and your ducking friends who helped you screw me over!

I hit send, and then turned my phone off. If he could play dirty, so could I, and I was going to find something to help me in Gran’s book, I had to.

But so far, though, the best spell I could find was one that made the recipient’s breath smell like death warmed over. Gran’s words, not mine.

Morning of the eighth day, I was up and making breakfast by two in the afternoon. Bacon and eggs with some wilted Swiss chard. Corb strolled out. “Smells good.”

“Thanks, there’s extra if you want it.” I pointed at the half-full frying pan. He picked up the pan and ate straight out of it.

I eyed him up. “You look nothing like Himself.”

Corb paused and a grin washed over his face. “Thanks. It’s a compliment to hear that I don’t look like my balding, overweight cousin who is a complete moron.”

I snorted. “Not so dumb. He got me good.”

“Yeah, he did.” Corb took another bite. “Something else is going on with you. I get that you want to start fresh, and I get that you want your gran’s house back, but shouldn’t you be able to hire a lawyer?”