Wait, the tall walls hadn’t been there a moment ago. We’d been approaching from the bridge, and it hadn’t been visible until we were right next to it. Which meant only one thing. It was magically hidden from humans.
“Here.” Dracian stared up at the spire that lifted high into the air, a confused frown on his face. “Why do I feel like I know this place?”
“Have you been here?”
Shaking his head, he pursed his lips. “I don’t recall coming here. And yet, it’s familiar.”
“You’ve probably got Déjà vu.”
A whistle drew our attention to a small café nestled beside the building. A couple of tables were set back from the pavement, full of morning commuters desperate to down several coffees before they started their busy work day.
“There’s the professor.”
Without waiting for me, Dracian marched across to one of the tables. The professor, Mrs Hinley, Devon and Helissa waited for us, trying to blend in with human society. They were doing a fairly good job, except Devon, whose black leathers and kickass boots made her look like a rebel family member in a well to do home.
“What’s the plan?” Dracian asked the team as soon as we arrived at the table.
Several pairs of eyes watched us as we both squeezed onto one seat, their glares evident in the bustling street. We had taken up a precious table destined for those who actually had jobs in the city. It was an unwritten rule.
The professor sipped his coffee, blowing into it and creating a mist that swirled up and covered us all. At least our words would be muffled from the prying public around us. Plus, if any magical beings lurked nearby, on their way to the huge paranormal building next to us, they wouldn’t detect us before we had the chance to check the place out.
“We don’t know this building,” Devon said, taking the lead. “But, I can feel a tremendous amount of magic within its walls. I’m assuming it’s the institute’s headquarters. I made Dracian place the tracking spell on a map so I could check that everything was safe, but the building didn’t show up until I arrived here. I’ve had my team do an in depth search on all records, but according to our findings, there’s no gothic style building sitting right near Tower Bridge. Just normal medieval town buildings.”
“Shit, so this probably is the institute,” I muttered, my head dropping back on Dracian’s shoulder to gaze at the high spire.
“Obviously, we have no way of getting inside. If they’re hiding the place from the world, the only reason we can see it now is because of Dracian’s locator spell. The man is in the building, and yet, we’re not supposed to be able to see it.” Devon took out a dagger and sliced it across her palm.
I sucked in a breath as she held her arm over the small table. A drop of blood dropped to the glass, distorting the clear surface. Leaning forward, I squinted when a faint map appeared etched into the glass, showing where we sat. The drop of blood moved to the right, landing on an empty space. It traced back and forth before becoming still.
“He’s inside,” Devon muttered, tapping her dainty nail beside it. “How do we get in?”
“I have an idea.”
All eyes turned to me. Everyone had been listening to Devon, the expert, but now frowns marred their expressions. Why didn’t they trust me? Okay, so I was an amateur, and a little bit of a loose cannon, who had no magic of my own, but still… my idea was incredible.
“Frankie and I can get in.”
Again, the frowns of doubt graced every person who sat around the table, even Devon, who had said that I would be an amazing agent one day. I think, if my brain remembered rightly.
Sighing, I leant forward. “My foster parents knew the institute. It’s not guaranteed that they could get inside, but I’m wondering if we cast an illusion to look like them, we could pretend that we have information in order to gain access.”
“Bloody genius,” Dracian said, patting my thigh. “That could very well work!”
The professor looked suitably impressed, his slow nod an indication that he was on board. “I suppose that might be our best chance of entry.”
“We do need stealth,” Devon said, taking a sip of her coffee. “Do you think you’ll be able to hold the illusion for long enough?”
Frankie glanced at me, his eyebrows pulled low. “I know Alishia will have the power to do it, but I’m not so sure about myself.”
Drumming the table with her hands, Devon bit her lip. “I do have a way to help you with that. It might enable me to access the building once you’re inside.”
“You do?” Frankie’s eyes lit up. “How?”
Devon looked around at the intense gazes that rested on her. A smile lit her lips before she stopped the drumming and sat back with a thud. “My partner would tell me off for gloating, but my link to the ley line would keep your magic flowing.” She moved forward and gripped Frankie’s hand when he went to surge from his seat. “Don’t worry, it won’t kill you.”
His wide eyes swung to me as he settled. “Is that how you do it?”
Not daring to reach into my pocket, I shook my head. “No, I’ll show you my way another time.”
I still hadn’t fully explained to Frankie how my magic worked. Part of me had been too afraid to risk it, especially now the institute wanted me. It wasn’t because of my good looks that they were prepared to kill people to get to me, that much I knew.
“Once the spell connects me to you,” Devon interrupted. “You’ll be able to hold the illusion for as long as you need it. I’ll be able to follow the link into the building with a transportation spell, bringing the others with me.”
“We’ll need to place a listening spell on you,” the professor said. “So we know when it’s safe to join you inside. If we need to, of course. There might not be any reason for us to help.”
Inclining my head, I raised my eyebrows at Frankie, challenging him to push past his comfort zone. My inducer would give me as much magic as I needed to keep the illusion going. Devon’s offer to connect Frankie to the ley line was a generous one, although I understood why Frankie was hesitant. Would I be happy having an endless supply of magic, even for a moment? When I knew that once reality sunk in, I would be back to having none of my own?
“If you do this,” I said, wishing the others weren’t there, “and you promise to believe me, I’ll show you how you can be free.”
His gaze dropped to the table before he slowly nodded, his head lifting so his neck was straight and he looked in my eyes. “I believe you already.”
“Okay.” Mrs Hinley clapped her hands. “You’ll try to gain access with the illusion. Once inside, if you’re lucky enough to get in, you’ll ask to see the top dog with some valuable information about Alishia Jones.”
Swallowing, I half listened as Mrs Hinley set out the plan.
Dracian’s hand rested on my hip, his fingers gently brushing the skin under my shirt. He wouldn’t be by my side, but knowing that he was ready to come and help made the butterflies in my stomach compose.
“Everyone okay with the plan?” Seaton asked, checking in with the group.
I blinked in an attempt to clear my mind of fear and anxiety. Yes, I was walking into the witches’ den, and yet, I knew that it was our only chance. Plus, Frankie would be beside me with the added bonus of Devon’s magic. It wasn’t like we would hang around for long, we would get out as soon as we could.
“Ready,” I muttered when everyone else did.
Surging from our seats, we moved away from the café. I glanced over my shoulder at the humans who watched us leave, their scowls slowly fading as other commuter vultures fought to commandeer the table we’d just vacated. Were they happy with their mundane lives, watching the world go by before they headed to a job most of them hated? Part of me envied them.
As we walked towards the building, Professor Seaton touched my shoulder, leaving me with a listening spell on my skin. I reached into my pocket as Devon chatted with Frankie, patting him on the back three times and chanting a spell
. Both of us jerked as our own form of magic slipped into us, filling us both up.
“Be careful,” Seaton whispered before breaking off and disappearing into the crowd.
Taking Frankie’s hand as Devon slipped away, I imagined us both as my foster parents, our features set in the same shape and disapproving expression. When I glanced over at Frankie, I did a double take, my heart thumping hard in my chest. The realism was so stark, I almost thought it was my foster father.
“You look… crazy,” Frankie stuttered as he peered down at his hands, which were plump and starting to wrinkle.
I tried to resist the urge to look down at myself, but my gaze was drawn to the long flowery dress covered by a thick pick cardigan. My body was fuller, the dress billowing around my frame. Gosh, our power was unique, I really had to admit it.
“Are you okay?” Frankie asked as we approached the doors to the building.
Humming an affirmative as I tried not to throw up, I kept my gaze on the wooden and glass revolving door. A couple of paranormals went through the spinning entrance, ignoring the humans on the pavement. Holding my head high, I clutched a pink bag to my chest, and marched up to the door, Frankie in tow.
“Good luck!” His whispered words made me shudder as we stepped into the gap that spun us into the foyer.
A rush of magic brushed over me as we stopped for a moment, staring up at the grand staircase. A metal lift the size of a small car stood to the side of the steps, zooming up and down in super quick time.
“There,” Frankie said, pointing at a reception desk. “We better play it cool.”
Striding over before I could think, Frankie approached the male receptionist. I trotted along after him, only just catching up before he spoke.
“We’re here with important information about our previous foster witch,” Frankie said, taking care to keep his accent soft and lazy.
Frowning, the receptionist gazed at us, his bright blue eyes intent on our faces. “Why didn’t you call your point of contact?”
Clearing his throat, Frankie leant forward on the desk. “My stupid Mrs lost the phone number. She’s just been diagnosed with dementia. Do you lot get that? Lucky bastards if you don’t, I must say. Have you ever known anyone with dementia?”
“I can’t say I have.” The man’s mouth gaped slightly as he looked at me. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Oh, ignore him,” I said, slapping Frankie on the arm lightly. “He’s just got back from the war and thinks that everything is my fault. I told him that the phone call from Alishia’s aunt was nothing to worry about, but he insisted that we come here to-”
“Please,” the receptionist interrupted, shushing me. “Go to floor thirteen and tell the receptionist there that you have information about that certain witch. She’ll help you with your enquiry.”
Mumbling, I frowned as Frankie gripped my arm and led me away. “How rude, I was only telling him our information. Do we have to go up there? I’d much rather go home, Barry.”
My sneaky glance over the shoulder told me that I had been convincing. The receptionist was on the phone, his eyes following me as we headed to the lift. When we got there, it was full. Witches, warlocks and vampires pushed us out of the way to get into it every time it returned. We had to be careful not to get too close, especially since we were meant to be human. The people in this building had tons of magic, and we were meant to have none.
“The stairs,” Frankie said, steering me away from the lift.
Allowing him to guide me, I started up them, huffing under the extra weight of my foster mum. Thirteen flights of stairs, he had to be kidding? Couldn’t we just zap ourselves to the thirteenth floor?
As soon as we reached the top of the first case, we followed the signs to the next set of stairs. They led us up to a second floor full of corridors. The maze made my stomach drop, many doors stretching out in front of us.
“This is strange,” I muttered as Frankie marched off in search of the next flight. “Why is it not laid out like a normal building?”
A scream in a nearby room made me rush over to a door. My blood pulsed in my ears as I peered through the small glass window. Two men stood over a woman who was spread out on a table, her mouth stretched wide in pain.
Biting my lip, I clenched my hands at my side, knowing full well that I couldn’t interrupt. If they saw me, they would instantly investigate who we were.
“You know that you’re capable of more,” one of the men said loudly. “Now, heal yourself!”
Pressing hard on her arm, the man cringed when a crack announced the snap of her bone, followed by another scream. Thrusting him off her, she gritted her teeth and sat up, cradling her broken arm to her.
“I can do it, but why do you keep pushing me!”
Stretching her arm out, she huffed and grunted as the bent limb suddenly clicked back into place, straightening perfectly. My stomach rolled, almost jumping out of my throat when a hand landed on my shoulder.
“We need to go,” Frankie said under his breath.
Tripping back from the door, I followed him, trying hard to calm my erratic heartbeat. In the next room, someone shouted at another witch, telling them to change. I couldn’t resist the urge to look through the window as Frankie pointed at the next lot of stairs.
“I can’t do it anymore,” a man cried, tears running down his face. “Why did you do this to me?”
“Your ability to read people’s minds made you the prime candidate to become a werewolf hybrid.”
A what? A gasp left my lips, drawing the attention of the wolfman, whose head started to turn towards the door. I ducked and hurried away, my footsteps silent on the lino floor. Shit, that had been close. Frankie was right, we had to get out of here. If anyone saw us, they would instantly kill us on the spot. Our illusions would hold fast, showing only humans. Humans who should never have seen their monstrous experiments.
“What were they doing?” Frankie asked when we were in the safety of the stairwell.
Shaking my head, I tried to make sense of it. My hands shook as I gripped the railing and ran up the steps, desperately trying to push out the images of pain on those paranormals’ faces.
“They’re forcing them to become something they’re not. One woman obviously had a talent for healing, so they were breaking her bones. Another man was a witch, but he’d been changed into a werewolf, too.”
“A werewolf? How?” Frankie frowned, his creased forehead dropping low as he puffed.
My foster father’s body had more weight on it than my own. Slowing down, I allowed him to catch up to me. The stairs were now one whole case, spiralling up, higher and higher.
“We should call the others,” I said, halting on one of the landings as I tried to catch my breath.
Bending over, Frankie murmured an affirmative as he huffed loudly, the air whizzing in and out of his lungs.
I closed my eyes, unable to watch the image of the man I had despised in my teenage years. He had been hateful to me, constantly ridiculing my lack of magic.
A buzz in the air made my eyes snap open. The professor landed beside me, holding hands with Mrs Hinley and Devon. Dracian and Helissa appeared next, their gaze instantly searching our surroundings. Isabel and James had stayed at the academy with the detective, in order to send backup if needed.
“It sounds like they’re trying to mess with paranormal breeding,” Devon said. “Which is something I’ve experienced before.” Lifting her eyebrows, she smiled sadly at Professor Seaton.
He acknowledged her meaning with a slight tilt of the head. I had no idea what she was talking about, but if she’d had experience, maybe she would know what to do.
“You’d better get to the office. I’m sure the receptionist has probably warned them that you’re coming.” Mrs Hinley tapped my arm, nudging me towards the next flight of stairs.
Shaking his head, Frankie rubbed the sweat off his neck. “I don’t think I can.”
My gaze lifted to take in the nex
t ten flights of stairs. Yeah, I couldn’t do it either. We would have to find the lift on the next landing.
“We’ll investigate down here. Call us if you need backup.” Devon turned to jog down the flight of stairs, heading towards the rooms where they carried out the experiments.
The pit of my stomach almost dropped out of my feet as Frankie and I started up the next flight. We didn’t have much time. Not only that, what would we find on the thirteenth floor?
Dracian winked at me when I glanced over my shoulder. I gave him a small smile before concentrating on the task at hand.
“Come on, Frankie,” I urged my friend. “Just two more steps to go.”
Reaching the next floor, we shoved through the exit and into an open foyer. A woman sat behind a desk in front of an office, the stained glass casting a yellow glow over her.
“Can I help you?” she asked, her eyebrows raised.
Her witch energy was powerful; I could feel it across the room. Laughing, I stumbled over to her, dragging Frankie with me.
“I do apologise. We thought we’d be smart and try the stairs because the lift was so rammed, but we’re regretting it.” Spotting the elevator, I laughed again, making the sound as high pitched as I could. “Ah, there it is. Come along, dear.”
Her gaze followed us as we hurried across the foyer and almost dove through the open doors. The flow of people was slightly less than the ground floor, but several paranormals had their heads bent over their phones.
Frankie was still huffing, trying hard to breathe evenly. I clasped my hands in front of me, making sure to face the glass doors and not make eye contact with anyone. Luckily, they were all so engrossed in their technology, they didn’t even raise their gaze when they got off at their floor.
As the door opened at each stop, more people filtered out. We stayed put, shuffling only when people left. The silence in the elevator made my stomach roll. What would we find on the top floor?
“Here we are,” I announced, even though there was only one person left. “Let’s go, dear.”
When the doors pinged open, we both tentatively stepped into the reception area. Several couches were spaced across the expanse of lush green carpet. A gold chandelier hung above our heads, the candles lit with real flames.
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