Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63289 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 316(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)
“I think it is the clock.”
“Have you ever touched it before?”
“Many times and for many years.”
“Then, why now. . .for repeating time?”
“Perhaps because this last moment was the first time I died. I touched the clock and then died.”
Shit.
I looked at him. “You think the dying part was important to triggering the time loop?”
He stopped us in front of the door. “Long ago, the library had tons of Aria’s old grimoires. In my search of magic and power as a kid, I spent much too much time browsing through them.”
I widened my eyes.
“Half of the stuff, I never really understood. There were things like. . .binding spells, blood contracts, time shifting, and even blood summoning.”
“Oh my God.”
“Spells like those always required the witch’s blood or someone else’s, and other spells. . .”
“What?”
“They required the death of someone.”
A cold shiver ran through me.
Ethan continued, “This death just had to be near the magic user—in the same room.”
“So. . .maybe the clock has some sort of spell and someone had to die to use it.”
“Legend claims that the witch somehow controlled time, but I never knew how. Perhaps, she had that in place.”
Scared, I stepped closer to him. “Okay. . .so, if I am her and I know people are freaked out by my magic, then maybe I would have an emergency plan in place where if anyone ever kills me in my room, then I can rewind time.”
He nodded. “That is a good theory indeed.”
“So while she was alive, your library was her lab?”
“Yes.”
“So, then what was your office to her?”
“I believe it was her bedroom.”
“And your bedroom now?”
“Do you know what she used that for?”
“I believe it was a nursery for her triplets.”
“She had kids?”
His frown deepened. “Yes. She did.”
I let out a long breath. “I keep thinking that Aria is connected to all of this somehow.”
“If she is not the reason for this time loop, then she could be the solution.”
“I hope so.”
“Until then, it’s time to figure out our potential suspects.” He grabbed the knob, turned it, and opened the door.
A massive space greeted my eyes.
The security room hummed with the sound of monitors. The line of screens showed the inside and outside of the house in different views. Six men and one woman sat at desks, wearing headsets. Each monitored five cameras on their desk.
One man spotted Ethan and immediately rose. “How can I help you, sir?”
“Christopher, I need all footage on the costume room pulled and full monitoring of it.”
“No problem.” Christopher quirked his brows. “Anything we should be looking for, sir?”
“I want to make sure no person besides my employees go inside. Additionally, I want images of anyone that has been in and out of there today.”
Christopher blinked. “Done, sir. However. . .I personally watched that camera and today alone, over seventy people have gone in and out of there.”
Ethan scowled. “What?”
“The party planner has six assistants. Many of the decorators carried the boxes of masks and capes in there. This morning.”
“How many?”
“Close to twenty.”
My heart sank.
The man continued, “Several maids have entered along with security to simply do their daily rounds. Your assistant, Jackson. All thirty waiters.”
Fuck. Thirty waiters?
Christopher shrugged. “I believe you even entered as a final assessment.”
“I did.” Ethan nodded. “What about party guests?”
“No, sir. If a guest entered, it would have been noted as odd behavior and security would have been notified.”
I stepped forward. “So, if a guest snuck into the room and took a mask and cape—”
“Guards would be following that person around to figure out what sort of mischief they could they be up to.” Christopher gestured to people wildly dancing on one monitor. “Some guests get pretty drunk at these masquerades and we are here to make sure nothing too. . .extravagant occurs.”
“Still, be on the look out for a guest sneaking into the room. I want the person stopped by several guards, and me contacted immediately.” Ethan let go of my hand and touched his chin. “What else can we look for?
I swallowed. “My friends. . .”
Ethan turned to me. “Your friends?”
“I’m nervous. . .that. . .” I let out a long breath. “It could be one of my friends. I don’t know why one of them would want to kill me, but it makes the most sense.”
“Why?”
“Because, none of your employees know of me?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Ethan crossed his arms over his shoulder. “For several months, I’ve raved about you to many that worked with me. Surely, most were exhausted with my discussions of your plotlines. One night I stood in the kitchen talking to my chef for hours about your books. She reads you too.”
I blinked. “Really?”
“Yes. I would say that I have bought your books for all the females on my staff.”
Hope rose within me. “Then, maybe one of them are trying to kill me?”