Minerva felt someone’s heavy gaze on her, although this time she could not say where it was coming from. It’s here, she thought. She couldn’t see anything strange, but the house seemed to have grown darker. Something stirred the shadows and made the CD that was playing skip. The light in the hallway behind her grew dim. Her eyes were watering and her throat felt constricted, as if she’d come in contact with a toxic substance. It was terribly warm inside. She stuck her hand into her purse, clutching the talisman, and hurried out of the party.
