Chapter 34

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Witches began to arrive just before midnight. No pointed hats or warty noses; they looked like the customers Jamey had helped at Larkin’s, except for the robes some were wearing. One or two Jamey had actually seen before: the waiter who had looked after them at the Mexican place, a guy he was sure was on the ground crew at VCU. Another guy, and two women he hadwaited on at Larkin’s. Each witch greeted the Keeper and the two boys and then went down the stairs, guided by blue fire they ignited in their hands. Jamey stopped counting after the twenty-first witch arrived. He was surprised at how ordinary they all looked. Dr. Melloy was the next to last to arrive; the man with her, Jamey guessed, was Ronan, who looked decidedly grumpy.

“Henry, Jamey,” she said when she saw them and hugged both of them at the same time. “Alive and in one piece and no visible scars from last night, eh? Ronan, here they are, the two I was telling you about.”