The Specter Key by Kaleb Nation Read Free Book Online Page A

something, that his mother had cursed before her death, could they be reaching out to him as a last resort?
    The confusion nearly made him wish he had left the box with Adi. He ran his fingers along its intricate metal ornaments at the corners. He was at a loss for what to do next, so he finally set it back and just stared at it for a long while, presently pulling out the piece of note paper that had been taped to the top.
    The words Nigel Ten stared back at him: this mystery man that nobody had heard of. Perhaps he had the key—or at least knew about the box? But how to find him, Bran did not know.
    ***
    The next morning he decided to go to Highland’s Books, where he knew Astara would be helping Mr. Cringan get ready for Fridd’s Day. Luckily, Mabel needed a new quart of echinacea, and the nearest herb shop was on that side of town, so he was easily able to use that as his excuse. It was a sunny day that smelled of freshly cut grass, since everyone was eagerly getting their houses ready for Fridd’s Day parties.
    There was a small group of people around the bookstore making up what remained of the repair crew. The outside had been completely rebuilt, with rows of shiny new windows on the front and red bricks all around. Already there were displays in the windows, waiting for the store to open, and some of the repair crew were doing bits of cleanup work outside. Over the door was a brand new sign with a banner pasted in front.
    Highland’s Books
    Grand Reopening – Fridd’s Day Eve
    Bran smiled when he saw it, for he knew that once the store was open, the last bit of remaining damage from what had happened to him months before would be gone. He parked his bike in the front and went inside.
    “Hello, Astara, anyone home?” he called. The workers inside ignored him as they went about, finishing up the hardwood flooring in a corner. Everything was brand-new, with rows of books already on some shelves.
    “Over here, in the back.” Bran heard Astara, and he started down the steps toward the door marked Employees Only —not that it had stopped him before. The back was more like a warehouse with towers made up of boxes of books, as well as files of public records which Cringan kept stored in the back. It was much emptier than it had been, mostly because it was where the fire had started and done the most damage.
    “I’m over here,” Astara said, and Bran spotted her at a long table with boxes of books surrounding her. There was music playing from a radio on the desk beside her, and as he made his way over, she lifted another box and ripped it open.
    “Cleaning out?” Bran asked, sliding to the other side.
    “Sorting it, mostly,” she replied, looking at a book and then tossing it into a large pile on the floor. “Most of these have been here for ages and won’t get sold. We’re getting rid of what we can and putting out the rest for sale.”
    “You sure you’ll be ready to open up by Fridd’s Day Eve?” Bran said.
    “Of course.” She nodded. “There’s not much left. We’ve already got most of it out. We’re just waiting on the flooring to finish up. And I have to watch the—”
    She jerked her head toward the wall nearby, behind which Bran knew was a hidden room containing illegal books on magic. Astara nodded at him gravely: she was there to make sure none of the workers accidentally stumbled upon it, as Bran himself had done before.
    “Are you going to move back in to live here, then?” Bran asked.
    “Not sure yet,” Astara said. “Most of my things are all right. Just a corner got burned, but half of it is ruined from the fire department. It’s going to take some cleanup, and Adi said I could stay at her house if I wanted.”
    “Do that then,” Bran said.
    “It’ll be really different,” she said, twisting her face. “I liked it here. I won’t get to hear cars rumbling by all day.”
    “Your commute to work will certainly get longer,” Bran said, grinning, and she pushed the box at