“It’s believed the Cruor is in the control of a vampire family in Europe,” I explained. “I don’t know which vampire family, or if it even matters, but that’s one of the few books that’s well known.”
“What other books were mentioned?” Zoe queried.
I couldn’t help being surprised that she would fixate so readily on the books but I was happy to talk about them, especially if it sparked an idea for how we could fix this mess. “There was another book for shifters, although I don’t know if it had a name. I just remember reading that it was for the mutans.”
“Like Wolverine and Rogue in X-Men?” Zoe queried.
I laughed, as she’d most likely intended. “No, it’s a Latin word. It basically just means a creature capable of changing its appearance.”
“Oh, that makes sense.” Zoe popped her lips, considering. “The first book was for vampires. The second for shifters. Does that mean each paranormal branch has their own book?”
I hadn’t considered it, but on the face of it, it did make sense. “I don’t know. There was another book called The Divine Book of Shadows. The name was relatively recent if I recall, but it was for witches.”
“And where is that book?” Zoe queried.
“I don’t know.” I held out my hands. “I spent a good two weeks researching these books because I was fascinated but there weren’t always names to go with the explanations. I believe there was a book for elementals, although there wasn’t even a hint of a name for that one. There was also one for the dead, for people who conjure zombies and stuff.”
Zoe made a face. “That sounds lovely.”
“Oh, and there was one for mages, which I guess you would be interested in.” I searched my memory for a name. “It was called The Archimage.”
I didn’t miss the look Paris and Zoe exchanged. It was fleeting, but it was definitely there. “Are you familiar with The Archimage?”
“We’ve heard of it,” Zoe replied. “The book has caused trouble throughout the years. People want it because they believe it can make them more powerful.”
“Does that mean you know where the book is?” I was absurdly excited for some reason. “Maybe if we look in that book we can figure out something to do with the revenants.”
“I don’t think that will work,” Zoe replied.
“But we won’t know unless we look. I mean ... I don’t want to take it from you. That’s not my intention. I just want to see it. I’m desperate for any information I can find.”
“I’m not worried about you taking it,” Zoe reassured me. “That’s simply not possible.”
Suspicion niggled at the back of my brain. “And why is that?”
“Because the book was destroyed years ago.”
All the oxygen whooshed out of my lungs. “Destroyed? How could you destroy a book that was a part of history?”
Zoe shrugged. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” She flicked her eyes to the door, where a dark-haired woman had appeared, and instantly straightened in her chair. “Who is that?”
“Claire,” I replied. I’d sensed her approach seconds before she popped inside the cafeteria. “Don’t worry about her. She works here, over in the conservatory. She takes care of the flowers.”
“She’s also married to Collin,” Paris volunteered. “They hate each other, though.”
As if on cue, Collin made a hissing noise as he returned from the kitchen and caught sight of his wife. He sounded like a spitting cat. “What are you doing here?”
“Entertaining the thought of magical castration,” Claire shot back, her eyes narrow slits. “Don’t you worry about what I’m doing here.”
“You’re evil,” Collin muttered. “I have to sleep with one eye open as it is. All I do is worry about what you’re going to do.”
Rather than be offended, or even worried, Zoe let loose a low chuckle. “Are they about to beat the snot out of each other?”
“Usually they just hurl insults,” I replied. “Let’s go back to The Archimage. Are you absolutely sure it was destroyed?”
“Yes.”
Zoe’s succinct answer killed the last remnants of my hope. “Well, that sucks.”
She shot me an apologetic smile. “The book has been gone for fifteen years. It’s not a recent development.”
“And you destroyed it, right?”
“I ... used it.”
“I don’t understand what that means.”
“Let’s just say that the book didn’t die in vain, and leave it at that for now,” she suggested. “I’m more interested in this revenant book. You said it was covered in revenant skin.”
“That’s what they said.”
“How would a man who just happened to stumble across a book in a closet know what type of skin was used to make it?”
“I ... huh.” I worked my jaw, considering. “I didn’t even think about that. You’re right, though. How did he know about the book?”
“Nothing in that man’s story makes sense,” Zoe said, her attention drifting back to Collin and Claire, who looked to be trying to set one another on fire with their eyeballs. “They are delightful. I love them.”
I shook my head. “It’s funny at first,” I agreed, “but it gets old fast. I mean ... really fast. They do horrible things to one another.”
“And what are they?” Zoe’s gaze was intense. “They’re not human and yet they’re not monsters. They’re something else entirely.”
“Merrow,” Paris volunteered. “They’re sea folk.”
Zoe brightened considerably. “Like ... mermaids.”
Paris nodded as she plucked the specials menu from the center of the table. “We should order and give Collin a reason to disappear into the kitchen.”
“That’s a good idea.” I leaned closer to her so I could read the menu. “I think I’m getting the Reuben today.”
Zoe’s gaze remained fixated on Collin and Claire. “Do they have tails?”
“You’ll have to ask them,” I replied. “I don’t like getting involved in their personal business.”
“Mostly because they don’t tell us anything personal,” Paris added.
I nodded in agreement. “There is that.”
“Sami is going to have to come back out here,” Zoe mused. “She’s been obsessed with mermaids since we showed her Splash
