“Thank you for giving up so much of your time to help me research. I’m so sorry none of the myths have meshed with what I saw so far.”

“Can you describe the being to me again?” he asks.

“Sure, but it’s been months since the vision kidnapped my brain outside your house. Every time I dream about the monster, the image becomes more blurred.” I flip through a few more pages.

“Tell me what you can remember. We’ll go from there.”

The aroma of decaying pulp and leather in the library triggers the image to return. “He had to be over seven feet tall. Under the moonlight, his skin moved like gray leather. Scars all over. An eye black as obsidian, and the other permanently shut, as if an enemy marred him in a fight. Dark hair that hit his shoulders. Gargantuan boots. And he stank. Or it was fungi in the soil. I don’t know. The thing that’s imprinted on my retina the most is the image of him staring directly at me with that bulging eyeball.” I shudder.

Seamus chuckles. “Sounds horrifying.”

“Are you making fun of me?” I ask, tilting my head.

“No. I’m laughing at your description and attempting to keep the mood light. Did you feel threatened by the gray-skinned being?”

“My witch’s intuition says no. But I’ve only known about my witch ancestry for a couple of years. Like the visions, I need to work on that skill. Right now, it’s fermenting in my gut.”

I push up from my chair and the feet scrape the floor, prompting the students at the next table to scowl at me. I mouth, “Sorry.”

“Where are you going, Gwynedd?”

“I’m gonna return this book to the shelf.”

The professor stands and reaches for the reference. “Please, allow me. You continue to scour the next text.”

“OK. Thank you, Seamus.”

While he returns the book, my former classmates and witch friends Spence Huxley and Skye McGowen pass by. Skye’s summer tan has faded, but Spence is as pale as always. They’re both dressed in DUB polo shirts and dark jeans. Spence’s jet-black hair is combed neatly, and the shirt hangs loosely on his lanky body. Skye has gathered her fire-red locks into a ponytail. A coiffed look for the new doctoral students and teaching assistants. Usually, you’d be lucky to catch Spence doing anything more than shaking his head to settle his tresses. I motion to them to come to the table.

“Hey, sis,” Spence says loudly. “What’s the tea?”

“Shhh,” Skye whispers in her husky voice. “There are undergrads studying for exams.”

He waves his hands about. “Like they don’t talk at the top of their lungs?”

The students at the table turn toward Spence. “Shhh.”

He smirks at them and whispers, “I can’t help it. It’s who I am.”

I laugh and gesture at their polo shirts. “I love the formal DUB clothing. Who convinced you to wear them?”

Skye snickers. “Dr. Hughes told him he wears it or no teaching assistantship.”

“It’s extortion,” Spence says, frowning. “I should be permitted to express myself by wearing whatever floats my boat.”

“Someone once said to dress for the job you want,” Seamus replies, returning to his chair. “Would you prefer to teach in higher academia or to change the oil on my sedan? Both are noble occupations, I should note.”

“With how little Dr. Lewis is getting paid as an instructor, I might be better off as an auto mechanic.”

Skye laughs. “Hi, Dr. Duffy.”

“A good afternoon to you, Ms. McGowen. Did you receive my email with the attachment of notes?”

“Yes. Thank you,” she replies. “They will improve the quality of my lecture.”

I address Spence. “Who are you TAing for? Archie?”

“One class, but mostly for Dr. Lewis. She needs my help way more than Dr. Cockburn. I mean, she’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met, but her lectures are all over the place. I think Dr. Hughes assigned her too many classes. It doesn’t make sense to overload the youngest instructors over experienced professors.” He grimaces at Seamus. “Sorry, Dr. Duffy. But it’s true.”

“No offense taken,” the professor replies. “I agree. Unfortunately, as they say, it’s above my pay grade. Now that Dr. Hughes has had to return as chair, she can’t take on more than a couple of classes either. The department can barely function under the financial squeeze of the college.”

“I’m so glad they approved the teaching assistantships,” I whisper. “Considering they wouldn’t replace the full professor position. You’re both needed badly.”

Skye glances at her cell phone. “Spence, we need to go. We have to meet with Dr. Hughes before she leaves.”

“You’d think she could have waited until Monday,” he replies. “Tanner will beat me home tonight.”

“Tell him I said hi,” I say.

“I sure will. Dinner will be late!”

Tanner Jones, Spence’s partner, works as a financial advisor and often has long hours. The two of them bought my old house a few blocks from the Delaware University, Bearsden campus. We all call it DUB for short.

“Bye, Dr. Duffy,” Skye says. “Gwyn, see you at the Fellowship meeting.”

“May it be productive,” Seamus replies.

“Tell Dr. Hughes I will cook dinner for us tonight,” I say. “She doesn’t have to rush your discussion.”

Spence and Skye dart toward the stairs. The Fellowship of Associated Pagans, the cover name for our town coven, meets on Thursday, and the Elder helps run the meetings. The least I can do is cook dinner for her occasionally.

Seamus and I return to scouring the reference books for any description that fits the being I saw in my vision. I catch him staring at me several times. It could mean nothing. He’s socially awkward at best. When my cell phone displays 5:00 p.m., I close the book.

“I better get going. Thank you for giving up your time again to help me sift through these references. With the overload in the Celtic Studies department, I’m sure this is on the bottom of your list of priorities.” I gather the textbooks in a pile on the table.

“Nonsense,” he says, smiling. “You are much higher on that list than you think. I’ll return the books to their proper places. I have some research to complete before I head home.”

He put off his own academic work to help me. “I wish you wouldn’t do that.”

“I have no one waiting for me there, Gwynedd, so I don’t mind accommodating your schedule. Before you go, I want to make an offer. Cat sith witches possess an enhanced intuition. I’d be more than happy to help you improve your skills. You could come by for tea tomorrow?”

I slip on my fleece jacket and grab my belongings. “Thank you, but I’ve got so much work to do before Samhain. Some other time.”

He nods. “Have a pleasant evening.”

“You, too, Seamus.”

When I arrive at the stairs, I turn back. The professor waves. Is Archie right?