Alaric may've been an arsehole about me joining the rescue mission, but at least he isn't delaying. Within half an hour, we're on our way back to the estate's edge. Izzy accompanies us in a smaller car. Don't they trust us? We've figured out this is an operation centre of sorts, but they're being careful what they tell us. Can—and will—Amelia she tell us more?
I step out of the car too and glimpse the Blackwood mansion through gaps in the trees. Clouds obscure the moon and stars this evening—a blessing and a curse because this gives us cover, but the witches and shifters will rely on witch light. My vision is fine. Jamie appears beside me with a rucksack over his shoulder. He refuses to hand over the grimoire to anybody, and my suspicion why grows. I voiced my concern to Alaric, who nodded and said he'd keep an eye on him if we came across any Blackwoods.
I bloody hope we don't.
I haven't stopped feeling sick since I saw the bloodied photo of Maeve. My imagination runs wild, picturing what they might do to her. I know more about the Blackwoods, thanks to my mother. I never witnessed anything, but I heard discussions about things they'd done or planned to.
Sick discussions.
Ash strides past to the edge of the trees and rests against a thick tree trunk, silently staring ahead. The images stuck with him too.
In my heart and soul, I don't believe they've injured Maeve badly. How could they train her if she's weak?
We're close to where the spell landed us and I'm still queasy from that experience. At least it didn't backfire, and I have all my limbs. There's cover from the tall trees that obscure us, the ground covered in sticks and grassy weeds. I can sense the night drawing to a close even though the dawn skies haven't appeared yet.
Izzy sits cross-legged on the ground with a small ceramic bowl in front of her. She's between the car and the place Alaric senses the barrier is, but still hidden. Her long hair is pressed against her face by the beanie, her delicate fingers working deftly to add torn paper to bowl. She pulls a vial from her pocket and opens it with her teeth, then sprinkles the powder into her bowl. A scrying spell by a witch who doesn't have spirit energy. Alaric holds witch light in the palm of his hand allowing Izzy enough light for her spell, his figure hidden by his dark clothes and the shadow from the tree canopies.
"Are we—" I begin, and Alaric flashes me a look.
"Shush," he says.
"Yeah, shut the hell up," mutters Izzy.
Spotting my indignant look, Alaric guides me away from Izzy. "She's contacting Anton. Izzy needs to stay focused on the spell."
"Are they bonded?" asks Jamie as he joins us.
Alaric nods. "We use bonded witches in situations where we need to infiltrate. The ones who can communicate, anyway."
Jamie gapes. "You use them?"
He scowls. "No, they want to help. We don't strong-arm people into helping us. Be grateful—Anton met Maeve and told Izzy she's safe but threatened."
"And Tobias?" I ask.
"Anton isn't clear on Tobias. He hasn't seen the pair together."
"Shit," mutters Jamie.
"He'll help her," I say firmly. "He's a good man."
"How much do you know about Tobias, Andrei?" asks Alaric.
Not this again. "Enough. Yeah, I know he killed witches."
"And was under Dominion influence. There are powerful magical blocks in his head, but he's now around people who may attempt to remove them."
I drag a hand through my hair and look at a severe-faced Jamie. Tobias wouldn't fall.
Ash ambles over. "What's happening? What's the plan?"
"We're waiting for more information from Anton inside." Alaric jerks his head to the witch. "Izzy is speaking to him."
Izzy now has her eyes closed and a small blue flame flickers in the bowl.
"We need to leave the grimoire somewhere, Jamie," says Alaric. "The book might be detected like your pendant was."
"No," he says sharply and clutches the rucksack strap. "Someone else could take it."
"I say we burn the bloody thing," says Ash.
"Flames won't destroy the Blackwood grimoire," says Alaric.
I blow air into my cheeks and stare back at the house. We have some knowledge to help and I hope this is enough. The place is protected by a magic barrier, which means they've the confidence to leave using patrols. Anton already gave the group information, via Izzy, on the grounds layout, which is why Alaric selected the woods close to the barrier between here and the lake.
From here, I can see the banks but not the water. Behind, a lawn slopes upwards and disappears into the dark towards the house.
"Why a lake?" I ask Alaric. "Isn't that one more obstacle for Maeve and Tobias?"
"Izzy and Anton are elemental witches."
"Water is easy for us to manipulate, if we need to." Izzy stands and joins us.
Alaric straightens and his heavy-set jaw tenses. "Did you contact Anton?"
"Yeah. Things aren't looking good."
"Why?" Ash steps towards her. "What's happened?"
"Dude, back off," she snaps as Ash grabs his arm. "Do you want our help or not?"
Muttering an apology, Ash steps away and walks back to his vantage point by the tree.
Earlier, I suspiciously asked why the group were keen on helping free Maeve from the house and was treated with scorn. A potent witch taken by the Blackwoods? Not a good situation. I considered this as Ash grilled them about Vince, and Jamie sat quietly in his own thoughts. Even so, these people and their mysterious organisation must have a motive.
If Amelia weren't involved with the group, I would've backed away from them.
But Alaric and friends are our only chance.
Izzy rests against her car bonnet and scratches an eyebrow. "Anton met Maeve at a gathering with Gabriella. Nikolai took a special interest in her."
My stomach lurches at my mother's name but the other comment chills me. "What special interest?"
She looks at me and her expression answers my question.
"Has he done something?" I ask breathlessly. "What? Is she hurt?"
"No. Anton followed Maeve when she left the gathering with Nikolai, in case she needed help." She nods at Alaric. "There's no doubt that Tobias is on our side. He killed Nikolai."
Alaric drops his well-practiced composure. "What the actual fuck?"
"Anton doesn't know why. He only saw Tobias drag the body away to hide before taking Maeve somewhere."
"Tobias killed a Blackwood?" asks Jamie hoarsely. "How?"
"Like I said, Anton doesn't know." Izzy rubs a hand across her mouth, frowning in frustration. "Nobody but Anton has found Nikolai yet, but we don't have much time."
"Ash!" calls Jamie. "Come here!"
He rejoins us as Izzy continues. "Anton is in the process of checking if this plan is still the best way off the estate, considering the place is teeming with Dominion. Then he'll go to Maeve and Tobias."
"And then?" asks Ash.
She looks to Alaric.
"And then we hope you're as strong a team as you say."