Helen opened a drawer and pulled out a cloth, handing it to her wordlessly.
Tabitha closed her eyes for a moment and let her thoughts wrap around the box in an effort to know it better.
It was from the early 19th century, someplace in Europe. It had traveled far to come here, seen things Tabitha couldn’t imagine.
It had been beloved.
She reached for it with her mind, trying to see through time.
Tabitha had a knack for restoring historic items. When people remarked on it, she generally said she was interested and had studied up on restoration techniques for many objects, all of which was true.
But it was also true that at times, it felt as if she weren’t using her training at all.
At times, it felt like the object was speaking to her, sharing its memories and helping her know what was necessary to give it fresh life.
Now was one of those times.
She opened her eyes again, but saw a haze around the box, the sun lowered and rose over it again and again. Older hands held it from time to time, growing steadily younger, until it passed into older hands again. Then younger hands held it once more.
She could just see the surface of the desk, photographs disappearing and being replaced with older ones that eventually turned to black and white.
It was like the box was shuffling backwards through time, showing her its rich history.
The strobing effect of nights and days slowed and at last she saw a small set of chubby hands on the box.
An infinitesimal shred of paper was rolled into a tiny scroll and shoved into the dome opening and the dome was pressed down firmly.
It tried to pop open again and the little hands crammed it back down.
Tabitha could feel the pain of the overfull dome, the agony of the paper jammed in the delicate interior hinge.
She closed her eyes again and felt the present slam down on her consciousness.
When she opened her eyes, the box was before her, same as before.
She moved the cloth over it gently, sliding it with her fingernail across the exact spot in the dome where she had seen the paper.
Sure enough, she could just feel the spot where the dome was very slightly lifted.
“Do you have a small paperclip?” she asked Helen.
Helen slid one out of the dish beside her pens and handed it over. “Careful,” she whispered.
Of course Tabitha would be careful. But it was a tribute to the confidence she inspired when she was in the zone that Helen would allow her to fiddle with her treasure at all.
She bent the metal clip outward and delicately eased the tip of it against the place where she knew the little scroll had to be.
She thought about the scrap of paper, the love in those tiny hands as they concealed their secret - not knowing it was breaking the pretty little box.
The paperclip slid along metal and then hit the rougher texture of paper.
Tabitha pulled with her fingers and her mind.
The edge of the now-flattened scroll appeared.
“What in the world?” Helen breathed.
Tabitha put down the paperclip and eased her fingernail against the tiny bit of paper.
It slid out immediately.
Tabitha handed the paper to Helen, who held it reverently.
“Want to press the button and see?” Tabitha offered.
Helen reached out her hand and touched the little switch.
The dome popped open and a tiny barn owl, carved so intricately you could see the individual feathers, popped up and hooted mournfully several times before the dome clicked back in place.
“Tabitha Barnes,” Helen breathed.
“I love old things,” Tabitha said. “I have a bit of a knack for fixing them.”
“You and I both know that was more than just a knack,” Helen said, cradling the box to her chest with tears in her eyes. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me.”
“It was my pleasure,” Tabitha told her sincerely.
“I would like to do something for you,” Helen said, dabbing at the corners of her eyes. “I’m going to throw a party.”
“A party?” Tabitha echoed.
“Yes, the party to save the castle,” Helen said crisply. “I’ll take care of everything - the guest list, the menu, the drinks, the decor. We’ll do it here, in my home. You just prepare a little presentation to help everyone understand why it needs to be saved, and what we need to do to make it happen.”
“Really?” Tabitha asked.
“Really,” Helen said, nodding. “I’ll call my nephew, Hector. He and Mei will help me organize everything. Do you know Hector?”
“Of course,” Tabitha said. “He’s an attorney, right?”
“Yes, but he does a lot of pro bono work,” Helen said proudly. “And his wife, Mei, is a crackerjack party planner. You three just gather your evidence and get ready to plead your case. I’ll throw you a party this community will never forget.”
Tabitha shared a smile with Sara.
Was it possible this might actually work?
7
Tabitha
Tabitha stood outside Helen Thayer’s house with her friends a few minutes later.
“That was amazing,” Sara said.
“I got lucky,” Tabitha told her. “But I’m really glad it might help us.”
Sara gave her a look like she wanted to say more, but didn’t push the issue.
It was getting late. The sun had set while they were meeting with Helen.
“What now?” Dorian asked.
“I guess we sleep,” Sara said. “Except…”
“What?” Tabitha asked.
“Well, I don’t really have a guest room,” Sara said. “Tristan, we have a sofa in the living room that should do for tonight. Tomorrow we can try to get a bed down there for you.”
It was true. Sara’s house was tiny. Her second bedroom was hardly big enough for a desk.
And Tabitha had spent many a movie night on that couch. It was more like a love seat, and nowhere big enough for a man like Tristan to stretch out on.
“Don’t be silly,” Tabitha said. “He can stay at my place.”
“Are you sure?” Sara asked, looking like she was trying hard not to smile.
Tabitha didn’t blame her. Sara was hooking up with that hunky King of Darkness - of course she wanted her house to herself.
“It’s no problem,” Tabitha said. “I’ve got plenty of space. Come on, Tristan.”
He didn’t look thrilled, but to his credit, the light king didn’t complain.
“Dorian and I will study the shards tonight,” Sara said. “If we see anything recognizable, we’ll connect with you. We’ve been checking, but the creatures seem to have been holed up all day.”
“Sounds good,” Tabitha said.
Sara and Dorian got into Sara’s little Saab and headed off.
“Ready?” Tabitha asked, turning to Tristan.
But he was already getting into her car, so her question was answered.
She took a deep breath and got in, too.
Hopefully, whatever strange connection they shared wouldn’t make tonight too awkward.
“How long have you known?” he asked, as soon as she was seated.
“Known what?” she asked, starting the car.
“Known about your magic,” he said simply.