In the Owens Library mirror, Jet sees a vision that she’ll die in seven days. A deathwatch beetle starts to call: another sign of death. Jet thinks about how one of her ancestors, Maria Owens, cursed the family. The beloved of every Owens witch will die. They practice the Nameless Art, which is healing, green magic, and are bloodline witches. Jet decides to use her final days to break the curse. She walks home with Sally, her niece and the director of the library. The other librarian is Sarah Hardwick.

Sally has been widowed twice and has two daughters: Kylie and Antonia. She doesn’t practice the Nameless Art, despite being a powerful witch. She never told her daughters about it or the curse. Antonia, a lesbian, became pregnant with the help of one of her gay friends, Scott. Scott, his partner (Joel), and Antonia plan to raise the baby together. Sally turns off the porch light that, when on, signals to their community that Jet or her sister Franny will offer magical help. Sally, being closed off to magic and love, is unable to see the color red. She has always been closer to Franny than Jet.