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Chapter 9
Chapter 8 Cornelius knocked on the door. It was a conversation that needed to be had, for Dante to understand what the ritual was, and with Titus busy the task fell to Cornelius. He was the one who knew most about the ritual, but certain elements would need to be kept secret. Dante could see Cornelius through the door. Not answering was the logical thing to do, because it wasn’t a conversation he was ready for, but he still let Cornelius in. It was a necessary evil. Cornelius might not be working with Titus. They stepped silently into the kitchen. Sitting at the table, eyes on Cornelius, Dante waited. “The…
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Chapter 6
Chapter 5 Natalie stepped into the hallway, eyes on Cornelius. From the way he was going to the basement it seemed likely his conversation with Anne hadn’t changed anything. “Why bring Anne into this, Natalie?” He didn’t look at her, but he did stop walking. “She’s worried enough as it is. Asking her to talk me out of what needs to be done… I should have known that would be how you’d deal with this.” “She cares, Cornelius, the same way I do.” “Nothing will change my mind. This is what needs to be done, whatever you might believe. Someone has to stop Titus.” “You’re probably right about that, but that doesn’t mean…
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Chapter 1
“Anne…” Cornelius’s voice was a whisper in her ear, as he wrapped his arms around her, their meetings carefully planned. Either early or late, when most people still slept, because all it took was one mistake, and Anne didn’t want anyone to know – especially not Titus. His lips pressed to her cheek. If everything worked out the way she planned they wouldn’t still be sneaking around so close to the ritual, literal days away from his death, but becoming pregnant simply hadn’t happened. Anne knew it could take time, but not as long as it had. Cornelius’ lips moved from her cheek to her neck. Anne’s silence wasn’t unusual,…
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Chapter 5
Chapter 4 “Cornelius…” “There’s nothing for you to worry about, Dante. I know Titus, and he’s a good person.” Something about the house felt wrong, and it wasn’t possible to understand what. He knew too little about magic. Dante studied Cornelius’ back. Was he making the right choice? It was the path he was meant to be on, whether it was the right choice or not. Magic changed his life, and there was no going back, the thought tempting. At least Jessica was safe, with no knowledge of Glimmerbrook. However things worked out she’d be free to live her life. Cornelius knocked on the door, and then they waited. If…
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Chapter 5
Chapter 4 Cornelius stood with his back to the door, mind on what needed to be done, but he still heard it when it opened, someone walking toward him. From the sound of their footsteps it wasn’t Natalie, which might have been a relief, had it not been for the fact they were most likely Anne’s. She wasn’t any happier with him. Anne looked down for a moment, working through how best to word things. There was nothing simple about the conversation they needed to have, and from the way Cornelius’s back tensed he was already prepared for an argument. He knew it was her, or at least suspected, which…
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Chapter 3
Chapter 2 “Titus, are you in?” Cornelius knocked on the door, mind still on Dante, and how lucky it was he’d appeared right when they needed someone. “I need to talk to you.” When there was no answer, Titus might have been in the basement or out in the garden, Cornelius knocked harder. “You almost never leave the house. If you’ve done the unthinkable today I don’t know if I’m going to be able to forgive you. Answer the door.” When there was still nothing, Cornelius knocked harder still. He should have at least been able to hear someone moving around. Titus looked at the door, Cornelius still on the…
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Chapter 2
Chapter 1 The power drew him, the way Dante knew it would, to someone who might be able to help. Ever since he woke one morning, his life changed by magic, he’d known he needed to find someone to teach him, otherwise he’d end up losing his sanity. Like his father. He’d hidden it well. Luck had Dante out that day, with his younger sister. By the time they returned… it was impossible to forget, no matter how much he tried. At least he’d been able to keep Jessica from seeing too much. She’d kept the memories of their family as they once were. The power coming off the stranger…
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Chapter 2
Chapter 1 Cornelius looked down at the map he’d started to work on, the sound of footsteps a sign he was to be interrupted once more. At least it was Leonora. She’d be an easier problem to deal with, unless she was there on Anne’s behalf, and then… he sighed. Anne cared. It kept coming back to that. She wanted him to be safe. “You aren’t going to change my mind.” Leonora laughed. “I didn’t think for a moment I could, after what Anne said. You’re certain this is the only way you can help her. She thinks it’s going to lead to your death, so I’m here to try to…
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Chapter 1
“Why was Titus here?” Cornelius had his back to her, focused on whatever he was reading on the desk, and Natalie waited, even though there was a chance he might not answer. With how things were it was more likely than him answering. “For the ritual.” Cornelius sighed, turning. “It’s all he cares about.” Of course Natalie was there, asking questions about Titus, because she ‘needed’ to know. Cornelius crossed his arms, eyes on his wife. How different would their lives have been if Jonathan was born with magic? There was no way of knowing. “Nothing else?” “You’re worried.” “It’s not as though you haven’t made it obvious who you…