She tucked the paper in her pocket. This was exactly the information she needed. Proof that Maybe Ms. Malo wasn’t a maybe after all. She was a real person with a real name. With a reputation and international fame. Who could be traced by the police and arrested. Not that Maren was planning to go to the police. This was just leverage. She would threaten to expose Obscura if she didn’t stop demanding nightmares, and the evil woman would have to give up.

Maren stoppered a vial of milkweed fluff and stuck it inside the drawer of an old card catalogue. “Do you need me to do anything else?”

“I don’t think so.” Tucking her apron up, Lishta stepped onto the ladder. Henri fluttered to her shoulder and began whistling a sea shanty as she climbed. “I’m going to take inventory of the nightmares before I put them in the safe.”

Maren’s thieving fingers went tingly as Lishta pulled out a slate box—one of the containers she had stolen from the previous night—and lifted its lid.

“Then I’m heading over to the hospital,” continued Lishta. “Would you like a ride?”

Maren threw her backpack over her shoulder. “No! I mean, no thanks. I have some other stuff to do later, so I need to go now.”

The whistling paused—“VOLEUSE!”—and began again.

“Goodbye, dear,” called Lishta as Maren escaped the shop.

Fifteen

Obscura Gray stood waiting in the usual spot beside the hospital. The deep purple moth on her handbag matched the shade of her lips, which curled into a greedy smile as Maren hurried toward her.

“Did you give nightmares to Edna Frye?” said Maren. “And tell her to leave town?”

The tall woman shrugged. “Perhaps.”

“Perhaps?” said Maren, unfolding the sheet of paper from the dream shop and holding it up. “Perhaps I should go to the police and the Rockpool Bay News and tell them you’re illegally using magic and blackmailing an underage kid, Obscura Gray.”

Obscura let out a shrill laugh and knocked the paper out of Maren’s hand. “You think knowing my name changes anything? Go ahead and try calling the newspaper and the police. I’ll disappear faster than you can blink—I’ve done it before.” She stretched out a sharp-tipped black shoe and flexed and pointed her foot. “And don’t forget I can still send anonymous emails and videos while I’m missing.”

Maren wiped chilly sweat off her upper lip. “When will this be over?”

“Once the nightmares have served their purpose.” Obscura’s flat tone raised goose bumps on Maren’s skin. There were so many dreadful possibilities in that single sentence.

“I can’t give you any more.” Maren opened her empty hands at her sides.