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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 8
Chapter 7 Being out of the house was easier. Titus was focused on the ritual, attempting to draw Anne into the process, as though it would have an effect. He wanted her to be who she was, when the reality was she’d never truly been who he wanted her to be. Pretending was easy. Magic changed their lives. Anne saw her parents once more, as they were during their first lives, the memories stronger than they once were. Her birth, after so many losses, was the reason they’d had Titus promise to protect her, and then after their deaths he’d made another. Titus cared about her, and no one else.…
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Chapter 6
Chapter 5 Another family likely lost to Titus’s curses. Unless Anne found a way to convince him not to blame every Ember for Leonora’s decision to shun the ritual. How likely was that? It wasn’t as though he listened when she argued with him. She barely ever tried. There was no reason to. Anne knew Titus. When he made the decision there was no changing his mind, and he’d never liked the Embers. From the beginning he didn’t think they deserved the power they were gifted – they just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Had it not been for the Lockwoods they wouldn’t have…
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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 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 7
Chapter 6 It had to be a dream, nothing more. Why else would Zachary Lockwood be standing there waving? He must know he wasn’t welcome, especially as there was no doubt he knew what Thaddeus was planning. Dante looked down at the ground for a moment, hoping to wake up, but maybe it was real. Zachary was there for a reason, and Dante breathed in deeply. “Why are you here?” “I was hoping we could talk.” “Thaddeus sent you, right? He thought you were the one who could talk me into coming to the ritual.” “You were already coming. I don’t need to say anything.” “I was, was I?” “Dante,…
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Chapter 4
Chapter 3 Talking Victor out of going to the ritual wouldn’t be easy, but it had to be done. Dante watched as his father walked toward him. Before the move things were so simple. One decision, the belief he needed to learn from someone else, and life became more difficult. “Father.” “Dante.” Neither said anything more for a few seconds, Victor staring into the distance. “I know we aren’t going to see this the same way.” “Thaddeus is dangerous.” “How?” “If we go to the ritual we’re all going to die.” Or worse, but that was harder to talk about. “You say this, but you have no evidence.” “I need…
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Chapter 1
The arrival of Thaddeus wasn’t expected, but Victor took him to the back porch, a conversation not something he was entirely against. First impressions weren’t everything. Yet he still wasn’t comfortable. He was new magic, so different to Thaddeus’ old magic. “The first thing I know I need to do is apologise, Victor. What I said before was uncalled for. Magic is magic.” Thaddeus sighed. “It’s unusual to have new arrivals.” Easy to say. “Thaddeus, neither you or your brother have been welcoming. I believe in second chances, but…” A short distance away, able to hear every word, stood Dante. Of course Father would give second chances to the man…
