The Ex Hex

In the storage room, Vivi and Gwyn explain everything to Aunt Elaine. Gwyn objects to Rhys’s blameless attitude and accuses him of shattering Vivi’s heart. Vivi denies it, as she is “desperate to save some kind of face here” (104). Elaine theorizes that Rhys’s hex spread into the ley lines and has now corrupted all the magic in Graves Glen. Elaine dreads breaking the news to Simon Penhallow, and they collectively hope the situation is not as bad as it seems. Vivi makes a plan: Rhys will contact Simon, Elaine will research removing the curse, and Gwyn will assure the nonmagical population that the murderous skulls were just a Founder’s Day prank. Rhys resolves to stay in Graves Glen until the curse is lifted.

In the morning, Sir Purrcival, the family’s cat, wakes Vivi. He says aloud, in English, “Treats.” Vivi initially thinks she is still dreaming, but as Sir Purrcival repeats “Treats” to Gwyn, they realize their cat is truly talking. As she dresses for the day, Vivi thinks about Rhys’s surprised reaction to hearing he broke her heart. She is sad to think their relationship meant less to him than it did to her, and she decides not to fall for him again. Vivi heads downstairs and finds Rhys sitting with Elaine in the kitchen. They have already started researching curse removal, without much success. One thing they did determine is that by the law of transmutation, when Rhys charged the ley lines, most of the curse passed from him into the lines. Although he is still cursed, it is diluted now. Vivi heads to campus for her morning class, and Rhys comes with her. As an alumnus, he can check the library’s Special Collections for more curse-breaking books.

Rhys and Vivi talk in her office. Rhys looks at the photos in the room, checking for other men in Vivi’s life but finding none. He asks why she chose “regular” history over “witchy” history; Vivi explains that she spent most of her life as a “regular” person, so she feels more comfortable in that realm. She also enjoys teaching first-year students because she likes introducing them to something she really loves. Rhys admires her passion for her work and wants to know more about “Adult Vivienne.” Vivi leads Rhys to the library, which is close to the four buildings that comprise the “witchy” departments. Rhys recalls that the classrooms used to be fully integrated with regular human classrooms, but Vivi explains that one student tried to record acts of magic on their cell phone, so all magical classrooms and offices were relocated and shielded. Rhys is surprised Vivi does not socialize with faculty witches and jokingly calls her a snob.

The library is comparatively darker and more foreboding than other buildings on campus. The library is colder than usual, and Rhys quickly realizes the chill is unnatural. Vivi gets Rhys set up with Dr. Fulke, the librarian, and then leaves for her class. Rhys fees the hum of “old, deep” magic throughout the building. Rhys calls his brother Llewellyn, who tells him to come home immediately. Rhys refuses, and Llewellyn agrees not to involve their father; instead, he will discreetly ask around about the curse himself. Vivi returns from teaching an hour later, by which point Rhys’s eyes are strained from translating the tiny print in his books. Vivi tries to help, and in her exasperation she dismisses the significance of their past relationship. Her words make Rhys annoyed, then angry, and he asserts that their relationship did mean something. Vivi says, “It was a three-month fling that I barely remember” (137). Rhys tests her, asking if she remembers their first kiss and whether it would refresh her memory if he were to kiss her again now. Instead of hitting him, as he expects her to, Vivi steps closer and tells him to go for it.