Erin headed back to the Octagon House in order to study the grimoire with a newly found vigor. After speaking with the girls she felt a new found sense with the desire to join their coven and to be their sister. After finding out the stories of Flora, Lena, and Myrtle she wanted to be with them and fight what ever this great evil was. It also didn't hurt that Erin really didn't have a choice in the matter. Even if she wanted to leave Elisabet had taken the choice from her, as Erin had no place to go. She still avoided Elisabet, preferring not to see the demon's face.
The coven's grimoires was a treasure trove of information and secrets. Each page was so condensed with knowledge that it had taken Erin quite a while to get through. Some of the information was convoluted and it took time for Erin to sift through and understand. For an hour or so every day Hattie would come in to the library and provide guidance and answer any questions that Erin had about the grimoire, the information, or the coven itself.
Hattie was explaining a protection spell to the human girl when Elisabet popped her head around the corner. "Hattie, I shall be going into town. I need to feed. Do you need anything?"
Hattie looked up and smiled at her dear friend and sister. "No, Elisabet. Please be careful it is dangerous times we find ourself in."
Elisabet nodded and glanced quickly at the human before moving her line of sight back to Hattie. "I'll probably be late. Don't send a search party until after midnight." Elisabet let out a chuckle and departed the library.
Hattie shook her head, everything was a joke to Elisabet or at least that is what the woman wanted everyone to believe. Hattie knew better though.
Hattie turned her attention back to the human girl, who was still scowling at the place where Elisabet had just been and then she turned to Hattie.
"Hattie, what does she mean by feed?" Erin asked, her voice stiff and angry.
Hattie thought about it for a second. "Why didn't you ask her yourself? If you have questions about her and what it means to be a succubus she is the best one to answer them."
Erin blinked, "maybe, but can you tell me what she feeds off of? We have tons of food here."
"Well, being a succubus she feeds off of men's sexual energy."
Erin's eyes went wide, "she kills them?"
Hattie coughed, "no, no. Well, she could, but she hasn't done that in hundreds of years. When she has carnal relations with men, she leaves them weak and dazed, but ultimately satisfied. The men will regain their lost sexual energy and mostly forget the sexual encounter had even happened. But, really, you should ask her Erin."
Erin let out a sigh of relief. "I know, but-" unsure of how to voice her thoughts.
"You don't trust her?"
"No, I don't. I just can't bring myself to converse with her."
Hattie reached out and held the girl's shoulder. "I trust her with my life."
Erin looked over surprised at what the woman had said, her life? She trusted a demon with her life? Erin wanted to ask her more. She wanted to find out about Hattie's life, but...she couldn't. Erin didn't know exactly what was stopping her from asking. Maybe because the 'right' opportunity hadn't provided itself yet? There were still five other histories that she wanted to know about. Maybe after she joined the coven? Maybe then...
As Erin was thinking about the coven and their stories she was simultaneously and absentmindedly flipping through the grimoire. Something had caught her eye. She stopped the mindless flipping and tried to find the drawing that stuck out to her. Erin found the page with the drawing and as she stared at the drawing she thought no, it couldn't be, could it? That wasn't possible...right?
Hattie noticed the girl's strange look and her examining the drawing that had been done hundreds of years ago. "What is the matter?" Hattie asked the stunned looking human girl.
The girl looked up from the page and met Hattie's gaze. "This shouldn't be possible, but a lot of things shouldn't be real or possible." Erin spoke more to herself than to Hattie.
Hattie tapped the girl's shoulder to bring her back to the here and now. "You are blubbering dear girl, what is it?"
"I know him. Well, this drawing looks like somebody I know. I mean the facial hair is different, but I swear its him."
"This was made hundreds of years ago? Are you sure?" Hattie cautioned. However, she could feel her hopes rising.
"Yes, I'm almost sure. This is Matthew. Or at least that is the name that he gave me?"
Hattie smiled, it couldn't be true, could it? "Matthew and Emmeline were in this house together?"
Erin nodded.
So, that must have been what 'woke up' Emmeline the first time. However, if they were still together...she wouldn't have disappeared again. So, Emmeline was 'lost' again and they needed to find this Matthew to find her?