by LJ Swallow
The room is shrouded by the evening with faint moonlight shining through the window, and the brass metal lamp glints in the light. I automatically take my place on the sofa and wish one of the guys were with me.
"Did you discover anything useful on your visit?" she asks the moment she closes the door.
I moisten my lips. "Somebody is renovating the house."
Her mouth parts a little. "A witch?"
"We don’t think so. A local businessman who wants to create holiday accommodation."
“His name?”
“His business card read Steve Darlington.”
Theodora purses her lips. "I don’t know that name. How curious. Did you find any items of interest?"
"Not at the house, but at a museum. The woman who worked there also mentioned a local historian—Cyrus James—have you heard of him?" I study her expression carefully and reach out mentally for any flicker of recognition. Nothing.
"I do not. Human historians are of no consequence unless they're linked to hunters."
My stomach flips over at a possibility I hadn’t considered. "Maybe he is?"
Theodora sits opposite me. "Hunters are not my concern right now, Maeve."
I sigh. Because nothing concerns her apart from the academy.
"I'd love if hunters found the Blackwoods," I say softly.
"Dear girl, I hope they do not. As much as I dislike the hunters, unexplained deaths at the hands of witches would cause issues for us all." She smoothes her skirts. "Besides, a human could not take down a Blackwood."
I fidget and watch the seconds tick by on Theodora's tall grandfather clock in the corner of her room. But a Winterfall can, if she manages to learn her magic.
"And were the museum items of interest?" she asks. "Anything that attracted you?"
I nod and hook my fingers through the leather strap around my neck to pull the necklace over my head. Theodora's eyes light up as she cups the dangling stone in her palm.
"A seventh rune. Perfect. May I look closer?"
Hesitantly, I release my grip and Theodora turns the pendant in her hand as if handling eggshells. "Why ‘perfect’?" I ask.
"Because the more Winterfall artefacts we find, the better." She hands the pendant back. "I'm surprised the Confederacy doesn't possess all Winterfall magical items, especially a pendant on display at a museum."
"This wasn’t on display. I found the necklace in a box with no key. I... opened it. Jamie called it a Hermes Box."
She smiles. "Magic seals are powerful, especially those that are connected to the strongest families. This reinforces the importance of your find, does it not?"
"I think so." I'm torn whether to tell Theodora about my vision, but if she can assist us in entering the tunnels, I need to. Tobias trusts her and I'm guided by him, but Garrett's comments about her state of mind concern me. "I had a vision, Theodora. I saw myself with the runes, beneath the academy."
"Yes." I blink. She isn't surprised? "Winterfall magic is surely connected if you are the only person who can hear the heartbeat. The runes must help seal the gateway."
"How do you know there’s a gateway?" I ask, gripping the stone in my hand.
"Figure of speech." She waves her fingers dismissively. "I believe we've found our missing piece. Blackwood and Winterfall magic are in opposition and now we need to discover how. I believe this opposition keeps the tunnel sealed and that the Blackwoods will attempt to break the Winterfall magic. You can stop this, somehow."
"You were with me in the tunnels," I say quietly. "In my vision."
Theodora's lips part slightly. "Me?"
"You asked if I remembered what to do, as if you'd taught me something."
"How very strange." She tips her head to the side. "What happened?"
"My vision blackened before I could perform any magic or ritual. Do you know something about the runes?"
She shakes her head. "No. Perhaps at a later date you discover something and speak to me about this?"
"Right." But her response doesn't quite add up to me.
"Will you allow myself and the guys into the tunnels?" I ask. “I can take all the items with me. Something might happen to trigger the magic we need.”
"I may, but the Confederacy may not."
My optimism drifts away. "You must have some authority over what happens inside the academy."
"Not as much as I once did." Her lips press together. "But I'd like you to go down, especially as your vision shows a definite connection."
“All of us?”
She taps her lips. "Andrei Tepes must remain away. The hemia behaviour that led to Kimberly’s injuries could be due to this... presence. I don't want Andrei any closer, for his own sake."
Injuries? “You think Kimberly was attacked?”
“I believe a hemia perhaps became… carried away.” I look at her blankly. “Sometimes witch and vampire blood-play gets out of hand.”
My mouth dries at her directness. She’s finally admitted there’s something odd about student behaviour, but still refuses to accept an attack within her academy. I’m not happy. “I’m not sure Kimberly dated a vampire.”
“Well, the girl is safe, so all is well.”
My eyes widen. “And April?”
“April?” she asks in surprise. “Why, she’s at home, Maeve.”
What the hell? I drop the subject at her warning look. "And you think Andrei would lose control just by going into a tunnel?"
"Dear girl, he has a history, however much you choose to ignore this. Let’s not expose him."
I grit my teeth. I hate when Theodora calls me this—one moment she's enthusing about my power, and the next, patronising me.
"Alright. Andrei stays away."
Her serene smile returns. "Thank you. Now, I don't need to remind you that this information remains between myself and the five of you. The truth about your true status can't be public knowledge yet, in case word gets to the Dominion."
"They've suspected and wanted me before I arrived at the academy—look what happened the night I earned my house colours. I don't believe they'd miss my visit to the Winterfall estate either. There's little doubt left who I am."
"Amongst the Dominion, yes, but the Confederacy don't know."
But how can they not? They watch as closely as Dominion.
Somebody knows and brought Tobias and I together to the academy.
Was her surprise at mine and Tobias’s history faked?
Chapter Forty-Seven
MAEVE
Theodora selects Jamie and Tobias to accompany us to the tunnels, even though they weren’t in my vision. She's enthusiastic as we hurry across campus and her constant comments that my magic is the answer weighs me down. What if this doesn't work? Jamie stays quiet, as does Tobias. They’re worrying about something different—will we gain access?
I’m concerned the Confederacy hold authority over who enters the tunnels and how Theodora could bypass security. If Sofia and other professors are banned, how could she persuade the Confederacy guards to allow us inside?
Once again, I forget how powerful Theodora is. Her dominance over the students and academy extends to those who enter her territory. The guards, nervous at first, are polite but firm that she can’t enter the tunnels without Rupert’s consent.
I've not heard his name mentioned in connection with this investigation and I'm terrified by the news he's back on campus. Is he secretly here to investigate April? Or is Andrei his target like last time? Theodora may cover up what happened to April, but can she really hide the death from those outside the academy? If her parents know, they won’t accept she’s missing forever. If she hasn’t told them, that’s sickening.
The guards pass on their instructions: nobody enters the tunnels without Rupert’s knowledge or permission, including Theodora.
Unfortunately, the guards are dealing with a centuries-old lamia vampire whose mental magic powers match her looks and charisma. Within a minute, she's silenced their protests and t
hey forget Rupert.
"Professor Whitlock," Theodora says as she turns from the enthralled guard to where we hang back. "I do believe we are able to re-enter the tunnel."
"And may I take these students with me?" he asks and steps up to meet her shoulder to shoulder.
The male witch guard with the brown ponytail blinks at him. "Theodora can enter as she’s head of the academy. I don't think anybody else should."
"Their presence isn’t a problem," she says. "You may check with Rupert Briary tomorrow."
I stare at my shoes. If Rupert discovers us, could Theodora do what me and Tobias failed to—influence Rupert's mind?
The confused witch looks at the white-haired guard beside him, who narrows his eyes. "I'm not sure either."
Theodora sighs and steps forward to meet the white-haired witch's eyes. She speaks softly and touches his shoulder. As the pony-tailed guard opens his mouth, Tobias steps forward and distracts him.
Curling my hand around the pouch of runes in my pocket, I watch the pair work their magic before darting a look around our surroundings, in case anybody else approaches who I'd need to deal with.
My heart beats overtime as we climb into the tunnel. Theodora needs no assistance, her graceful entrance the opposite to my clumsy half-fall where Tobias catches me. I'm tempted to hold onto him and snatch the chance at closeness, but he gently places me on the ground beside Jamie, who jumped down behind me.
Theodora hands me a torch and I shine the beam ahead, but my legs won't move. Last time I came down here, I didn't know what I'd see, but I'd already seen something awful in a vision. The heart—or whatever pounds in my head—lives at the end of this tunnel, and if the magic within is as strong as we think, Theodora and Tobias wouldn't be enough to stop disaster.
Plus, what if my magic unleashes more than it stops?
"Are you confident enough for this, Maeve?" asks Tobias.
"Of course, she is. Come along, Maeve." Theodora strides ahead and into the dark, no torch needed.
"Don't you think Theodora is a little blasé about all this?" Jamie asks Tobias.
"I think she sees Maeve as the solution to her problems," he says softly.
"But whatever I do, the presence won't leave," I whisper. “It will still be behind the wall.”
"Which is why I think she's grasping at straws," says Jamie.
I shine the torch at his face, and he squints. "I didn't realise you had such big doubts, Jamie."
"Hurry!" echoes Theodora's voice from ahead.
The damp and earthy smell fills the cool tunnels and that chill grows as I stand here.
“Anastasia and Gabriella will still come to the academy, whatever we do. That's the future you need to change, otherwise why would you see her destroy the place?"
"Tobias." I swallow. "Don't be negative."
He takes my arm and turns me to face him. "I’m being realistic. My curse is more than protecting you while performing a spell in a non-dangerous situation. I’m hardly likely to die when you cast a spell with runes." I reach out to touch his face, but he catches my hand. "No sympathy, please. Or arguing."
I’m on the verge of calling him Professor Whitlock when I remember his annoyance last time. Straightening my shoulders, I flash the torch forward and follow the beam. If he's correct, I'm not in danger now.
"But today could help," says Jamie as he strides beside me. “If you strengthen the barrier, they’ll struggle.”
Tobias catches up to me and his soft footsteps match mine as we continue in silence. I pause at the place the tunnel splits. "This part is below the witches' sanctum, correct?" I ask.
"Yes."
"Where I had visions of you and blue fire. Maybe I need to do something in the sanctum too."
He purses his lips. "Perhaps, but if you envisioned a fire that would engulf the whole school, focusing on one room seems limited."
"Again, with the optimism," I say with a sigh.
We continue the last few metres in silence and I try to push away the heartbeat in my ears that I know isn't mine. Recently, the sound became a background noise, but, like breathing, if I take notice of the noise, it grows louder. Down here, that volume grows, and not only because I'm thinking about what could be ahead of us.
I reach the solid stone barrier and shove my hands in my pockets to hide my trembling. In my vision, I matched runes, but this time I don't see anything to match when I move the torch beam up and down the tunnel wall.
"What do I do?" I ask.
"Perhaps what April did with the Blackwood runes," suggests Theodora.
I look to Tobias, who nods.
"Although I'm mystified why the girl had those runes or why she'd use them," Theodora continues as I kneel down.
"Do you think she’s the academy spy?" I look up, shocked, pouch in my hand. "Did we miss something? Is she the threat?"
Was.
"April didn't know about the tunnels until she saw the plans," says Jamie. "Which she gave to us."
Tobias side-glances Theodora. "Agreed. April led us to the place and is... missing. I don't think she’s Dominion-connected."
Theodora blinks away our conversation. "Please. Try the runes."
Moistening my dry lips, I tip the six onto the rough floor and spread them in a circle. Then I unhook the necklace and place the final rune in the centre.
Nothing.
What did I expect? The entry magically opening? A crash of magic from above?
I sigh and sit back on my haunches. "And now?"
Theodora's face hardens as she stares down. "Try the stones in a different order in the circle."
"In my vision, I matched the Blackwood runes that appeared on the wall," I say and point. "But there aren't any."
Tobias crouches beside me. "What if you focus on the heartbeat?"
My stomach lurches. "What?"
"The time you came to Petrescu, you saw runes, and that night the heartbeat was focal."
I look to Jamie, who touches my shoulder, connecting our energy. "I'm here. You'll be okay."
My stomach spins over. I don't want to tune into whatever lies behind there, but I've no choice.
"Do look closer," says Theodora.
Jamie stands and takes my hand before pulling me to my feet. He reaches out to touch my cheek. "I’m here, Maeve. I won’t let anything happen to you."
Nodding, I step forward and press my ear and one palm against the stone barrier, closing my eyes to block out everybody, but Tobias’s voice breaks through.
I'm here too.
The slow, steady thud sounds like an echo but I don't know if this is in my head or behind the wall. I press my cheek harder and my heart beats in unison with the noise. Jamie places his hand on my back and in my mind, he's holding my hand as I step into darkness.
I see nothing in the pitch around me, but my head begins to ache.
She wants your blood.
These aren’t Tobias’s words, and they’re as clear as if somebody stands beside me.
Who?
A laugh I recognise echoes—Gabriella's.
My mouth begins to fill with saliva, and I swallow, but the metallic taste gags me. Blood again. I'm too scared to open my eyes in case I'm not in a vision and she's here with us all.
But the blood. Why the blood?
I stumble backwards from the wall and continue to gag, wiping at my mouth and tongue with my hands as I force my eyes open.
"Maeve?"
Tobias steps forward and I shrink back as I stare at my fingers. "I’m bleeding! That wasn't in my vision!"
Jamie takes my hand. "You're not bleeding, Maeve."
The heartbeat grows louder, relentless, and I turn back and slam my palms on the wall. "I need to get inside!"
"Maeve." Tobias's distant voice tries to push in, but I ignore him and hit my hands harder against the barrier. "Maeve!"
Bloodied handprints appear on the stone in front of me and I step back. "Look. My blood."
Jamie takes my shoulders an
d squeezes. "There’s nothing, Maeve."
"It wants my blood!" I choke out and stagger back. "A voice told me: she wants your blood. The thing; it's female."
Tobias's stoic expression fills with shock and he snatches my arm, pulling me away from Jamie. "Now?"
"I need to go inside, Tobias."
"You just said you're in danger!" he snaps and takes my shoulders. He looks to Theodora. "She needs to break out of this."
"Maeve is safe. There's no way through," says Theodora. "Look. No change to the rock."
Apart from my bloodied handprints, which faintly glow. I wrench myself away from Tobias's grip and take a shuddery breath. Theodora is correct; nothing else about the barrier changes.
But the heartbeat’s louder pounding nauseates me.
Falling to my knees, I wrap my arms around my head, wanting to block out the noise, and I knock the runes from their circle as I land. They spin across the floor and hit the bottom of the barrier. Immediately, a shape appears above one of my handprints—runic. Scrabbling around, I try to find a Winterfall rune to match but none do.
Blackwood?
Desperately, I place each stone onto the image, one by one, until the scratched rune illuminates in white. As I do, more runes appear, forming a circle one by one.
"Look!" I exclaim.
"At what?" asks Theodora.
"Runes on the wall." Silence. I look over my shoulder. "Can't you see them?"
Nobody responds and as the noise fills my head, I desperately try to match the runes. I don't know which matches which and try stone after stone. How much time do I have, because the sound now pounds as if pushing at my skull?
The first one snaps into place and I drop my hand in surprise as the stone melds with the rock barrier. Suddenly everything becomes clearer in my mind, and the next rune I try is instantly absorbed too. My breath comes faster and I fade into a trancelike state, now easily matching which Winterfall rune cancels the Blackwood.
"Protect from that which should be held." I say and moisten my lips as words form in my mind. "Return. Remain. Refrain."
Each runestone glows brighter until the entire circle lights up and the Blackwood runes beneath become invisible. I stagger away, suddenly aware that the heartbeat drops in volume, slowing and fading. Gasping for breath, I grab onto Jamie beside me.