It feeds upon music, but I think it also feeds upon emotions. I don’t think it eats memories, because we wouldn’t get our memories back if it could feed upon them. And mostly we get our memories back.

We all know there are black witches here now—but we don’t remember them.

Sometimes some of us remember that it plans on killing us when it’s done playing. We can’t prevent that, but we need to prepare. We, Sign Maker and I, killed all of the animals last night because once we are dead, they will suffer. The coven lay wards around the bodies and we mourned. I don’t think there was anyone there who did not wish to trade places with those animals.

I don’t think we will meet again in this life, my daughter. I wish you joy and happiness. I am so proud to call you my daughter. So proud of the man my son is, too. Please let him know in case I don’t get a chance to write to him tomorrow.

With love,

Dr. Connors the Elder, aka Dad

“It would have been nice if he’d spelled everything out,” Charles murmured.

“At least we know what happened to the pets,” Tag replied.

“Has Mercy called you back?” Anna asked.

“She says she’ll try, but Coyote doesn’t carry a cell phone and is usually disinclined to be useful.”

“So no help there,” translated Tag.

“Not yet,” Charles said as he read the letter a second time, looking for anything that might be of use. “Mercy will figure out how to get in touch with him. After that, it’s up to Coyote.”

He folded the pieces of paper, and, as Anna had, he put them in his back pocket. “We should get back to work here.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Anna asked.

Charles shook his head. “Carrie is pretty good at hiding her magic. I don’t think you’d be able to find anything unless you changed to wolf.”

“I can’t open boxes or move them easily in wolf form,” Anna said regretfully. “There’s a pizza place down the block. How about I get some food for us?”

Tag staggered over—a huge old cauldron over his shoulder—and dropped to his knees in front of Anna. “Food?” he said in a quavery voice. “Food for us, mistress?”

He never played the fool around Charles unless Anna was present. Charles couldn’t decide if it was because Tag only played like this in front of Anna or if it was because he figured Charles was less dangerous if Anna was in the vicinity.

She laughed at him. “Two large pizzas, loaded,” she said. She rose on her tiptoes to kiss Charles and climbed back into the Suburban.