But to her surprise, Roman brought it up first.
"I don't know what you overheard between me and your aunt in there—" Roman trailed off when Irene interrupted.
"I guess it's only fair, right? I got the third degree from Ava, and you got it from my Aunt Ashley."
Roman smiled and said with a serious gaze fixed on Irene, "I just want you to know… it's all true. And no matter what Ava said, I know you're not with me because of my money. Just like I hope you know that I'm not with you because of your memory loss."
"I understand," Irene said as she walked him to his car.
At the door, both of them naturally moved into a hug. Irene couldn't help but sigh in his arms. 'There's still so much else I wish I could tell you about what I'm going through,' she mused, pulling away from the hug while Roman put a tender hand on her cheek.
"Take care, okay?" he said, and Irene nodded at him as she flashed him a wide smile.
She waited in the yard until his car rounded the corner and disappeared from sight. Then, she found the spellbook in the garden. She held it close to her chest, hardly daring to believe that she had managed to get it tonight.
Back inside, Irene made some excuse to Ashley about being tired and rushed up with Dax to her bedroom.
"Wait, Irene. Until Ashley goes to sleep," Dax said when Irene was about to open the book, and she nodded as they waited in the dark until they heard Ashley shuffle off to her bedroom.
Irene turned to Dax. "Now?" she asked, and Dax just nodded.
Irene couldn't make out his expression, but she didn't care. It was time to get answers! She opened the book to the first page.
At first, she thought nothing had happened. Then she felt a slight breeze that she thought was coming from her window. But as soon as her fingertips touched the first page, the book suddenly jerked from her hands, floating in front of her.
The page flipped rapidly, the strange text within just a blur to her eyes.
"Dax, what's happening?"
"I—I don't know," Dax answered, while Irene jumped as the book fell to the floor, glowing slightly.
A strange presence filled the room. It felt very different from the strange, harrowing cold she had felt the other night in the graveyard—otherworldly, but oddly comforting and familiar.
Irene's heart pounded as a spirit materialized before her. The faraway look in her eyes grew warm as her gaze settled on Irene. "Irene, look at you. How you've grown."
"You're her, aren't you? My mother?" Irene asked in a trembling voice.
Her mother smiled, a sad smile. "You're clever. But I can tell you don't recognize me. How I wish that weren't the case."
"How do I fix this? So I can remember you and Dad. And everything else about my life. There are so many things I want to say to you. Who killed you?"
"Sweetheart… you can't think about that now. Focusing on that is how you lost your memory in the first place. There are more pressing issues. All will be revealed eventually. I don't have much time. My grip on this world is weak. I need to tell you the most important things first. The rest is up to you."
"The rest?" Irene repeated.
"I see you've finally found the family spellbook. I'm so sorry it didn't make it into your hands earlier, sweetheart."
"The family spellbook? What do you mean?" Irene questioned.
"You're special, Irene. And I'm not just saying that because you're my daughter. You have been given a gift. The daughter of our family passes it down from generation to generation. You are a witch from Blackwood."
"A witch?" Irene exclaimed, her green eyes flickering between surprise and confusion.
"Precisely! Magic is innate to you, but it's something that must be diligently practiced if you're to protect Blackwood from dark magic and the forces of evil."
"That can't be possible! Dark magic? The forces of evil? These things can't exist," Irene said, shaking her head.
"I remember when I thought like you did—only believing what I could see with my own eyes. But think about all that you've seen so far, all that you've done. How could there not be more to the world that others don't understand? I can't hold on much longer, Irene."
"How am I supposed to do this without you here to guide me?"
"You must never doubt yourself or your abilities, no matter what happens! No matter who is with you or who isn't. You're the only hope Blackwood has left. Saving it is, and always has been, your destiny. You need to find someone who can teach you." Her figure faded suddenly, flickering back with a look of panic on her face. "I'm out of time, darling. I'm sorry. Dax, you'll have to take care of her from here."
"I will," Dax promised.
"No. Mom, don't go."
"Remember what I've told you. Learn and grow, save Blackwood. And the most important thing to remember: your father and I love you." As the words left her lips, she vanished, while Irene's mind went blank.
It was all too much for her, and before she knew it, she felt tears spill down her face as she fell back on her bed. Irene didn't know how long she cried until at last she fell asleep with Dax, the only friend from her life before, curled up against her.