Maude tossed Sydney two boxes of hair dye in “Burnished Chestnut.” “One for each of you,” she said. “You can do it after we leave. The less we have to change with magic, the better.”

Eddie took one of the boxes and raised an eyebrow. He made no complaint, however. Some guys would’ve thrown a fit about having to dye their hair, but not Eddie. I supposed when you vanquished evil undead creatures as part of your normal life, a little salon treatment in no way threatened your masculinity.

The rest of the bag contained what I recognized as standard spell components: herbs, crystals, powders. Maude and Inez began building a spell circle on the table, and I realized I was watching another complicated act of magic that had required multiple people and parts. Sydney realized it too.

“So much,” she murmured to me. “They’re helping so much.”

“Take it,” I replied, squeezing her hand. “You’re worth it. Jill’s worth it.”

When their materials were ready, Inez set two silver rings in the middle of it all. She glanced at Maude. “Are you ready?”

Maude nodded and walked over to Sydney, wielding a wand. Reluctantly I stepped away from her, remarking, “How come you never wave a wand?”

Sydney smiled back. “Despite the clichés, witches rarely use wands. They’re necessary for detailed work or if part of the wand contains an element that can focus or amplify the magic.” She eyed the crystals on the wand Maude held up to her face. “I’m guessing focus here.”

“Correct,” said Maude. “Now hold still and close your eyes.” She recited a Greek verse, and a faint glow lit the wand. A moment later, she touched the tip of Sydney’s nose with it. Slowly, carefully, Maude moved the wand around, going on to Sydney’s eyelids, then her cheekbones and chin. Each place the wand touched, it was like Maude was airbrushing a picture, changing each of Sydney’s features. Her cheekbones rounded a little, her face grew narrower. They were small, subtle changes, but taken all together, the results wholly altered her. Even with her normal hair color, I doubted anyone would’ve recognized her. Soon even Sydney’s tattoo disappeared. The biggest shock of all was when Maude stepped back and told Sydney to open her eyes. What had once been brown were now as vivid a blue as Marcus’s.

I couldn’t help a gasp, and Sydney turned to me with a sheepish smile. “Still recognize me?”

“I’d know you anywhere,” I said gallantly.

“I wouldn’t,” said Eddie.

Immediately, Maude directed her attention to him. “Your turn. Close your eyes.”

He did, and she repeated the spell. I watched in wonder as his face changed appearance every place the wand passed. When she was finished, he no longer looked like the Eddie I knew, but he certainly looked like he could be related to the new Sydney.