Demonspawn Academy: Trial Three

by Annabel Chase

  “I know of a brownie there that takes in unwanted supernaturals and finds them good homes.”

  “The child is not unwanted, Belethea,” my mother said in a gentle tone.

  “Forgive me, Your Highness.” The handmaiden dropped her gaze. “I’ll bring the babe there myself. No one will find him.”

  “Her,” my mother corrected the handmaiden.

  “How can you be so sure?” the handmaiden asked, mildly amused.

  She smiled. “There are some things a mother just knows.” Her smile faded. “But I do not wish to know what becomes of her afterward. Wherever she ends up. Promise me that.”

  Belethea appeared stricken. “Not even for an occasional glimpse to know the child is safe and thriving?”

  My mother shook her head. “I cannot risk it. There are those with unchecked ambition in Dominion. My daughter would be too tempting for them.”

  “The prophecy is pure bunk if you ask me,” the handmaiden said.

  My mother laughed. “I’m aware of your thoughts on the matter.”

  A knock on the door jolted them both. The door swung open and my mother smiled. “Dearest cousin. You’ve come early.”

  The seraph wore a circlet that matched my mother’s. She was followed by her handmaiden. Although they both had blond hair and slender figures, the handmaiden’s beauty far exceeded that of her mistress. Her almond-shaped eyes seemed to sparkle in the firelight.

  My mother kissed her cousin’s cheek in greeting. “You look splendid, Jewel.”

  “As do you,” Jewel said.

  “Ana, you’re looking well,” my mother said.

  The pretty handmaiden bowed her head and offered a mumble of thanks.

  “You’re practically glowing, cousin,” Jewel said. “Who tends to your hair and makeup?”

  “I credit Moira,” my mother said. “You should pay her a visit while you’re here.”

  Jewel waved a hand. “She won’t want to bother with a royal from the third throne, not if your mother has anything to say about it. Only first throne is good enough here, I expect.” She winked at my mother. They seemed to have a warm relationship. For whatever reason, it made me happy to know that my mother had close relations.

  “Never mind my mother,” she said. “Her opinions are her own.”

  “I can’t imagine where you get your stubborn streak,” Jewel said, and they both laughed.

  The vision dissolved and I found myself amongst the bubbles once more. I didn’t hesitate this time. I popped another one, eager to see more.

  I stood on a rooftop and immediately recognized my surroundings. Below was the burial ground in the city where Rafe and I were attacked by amon demons. A breeze urged me to turn away and I saw a dove perched at the corner of the roof, gazing at the street below. Her light gray feathers rippled in the cool air. I followed her gaze to the street below and was startled to see Elder Sam and Mariska with a young cambion huddled between them. She looked about eight years old. Mariska held her hand, clearly doting on her. The cambion’s most striking feature was her stark white hair.

  I remembered this outing. It was the first time I’d tried a soft pretzel dipped in mustard and I’d insisted we bring a bag back for all the Elders. I wasn’t sure whose memory this was until Elder Sam released my hand and fell back. Mariska and I kept walking, deep in conversation. I watched from the rooftop as he ducked into a store and emerged a few minutes later with a doll tucked under his arm.

  “Lucy!” I couldn’t believe it. The doll with the braided hair was currently in a box in Spire 10. He’d given it to me for my ninth birthday and Elder Alastor had made a fuss because Lucy was a human toy. The other Elders had persuaded him that if I was to live in the mortal realm someday, I should have human experiences like a regular doll. A common refrain in the main spire.

  Tears stung my eyes as the scene dissolved. Instead of returning to the clearing, I found myself back in the rotunda with Esmariah—and Rafe.

  “No,” I said, my voice shaking. “Take me back.”

  “I’m afraid that’s all the seed affords,” the witch said.

  I turned to Rafe. “Take me back to them. Let me see my mother again.”

  His expression was pained. “I’m sorry, Cassia. I would if I could.” I fell against him, sobbing.

  “She was a beautiful princess, was she not?” Esmariah asked. “And so very happy with your father. The universe can be such a cruel and unfeeling place.”

  Rafe shot me a quizzical look. “Princess?”

  “How did you know?” I asked, focusing on the witch.

  “The Tree of Knowledge bears many types of fruit,” Esmariah said. “That information was your payment for that visit.”

  I remembered that the witch had buried the core of the apple I’d eaten beneath the tree and performed some sort of ritual. Fear crept into my bones. What if the coven had outed me for its own purposes?

  Rafe seemed to share my concern. “What would you do with that information? You told us before that our interests are aligned when it comes to keeping peace between the realms.”

  “You misquote me, Watcher,” she replied. “I said when it comes to keeping the peace in this realm. The coven has no stake in the others. We reside here.” She splayed her hands.

  “But they’re all connected,” I insisted. “A war between the Nether and Dominion would have an impact here. It might have already.”

  “Who said anything about a war?” the witch asked. “The prophecy merely states that you’d be the king’s doom. That doesn’t necessarily mean a war. The coven agreed that the information given was worth the risk.”

  “And what did you get in return?” I asked.

  “Protection for the coven,” the witch said. “New Hope was cataclysmic. I wanted assurances that, should war erupt, the coven would be spared.”

  “No one can promise that,” Rafe said. “What one side gives, the other side takes away.”

  “Not if you choose the winning side.” Esmariah smiled. She was pretty for a complete witch.

  “Who else knows?” I demanded.

  The witch scowled. “Take care with your tone, halfling. I have no bargain with you. I owe you nothing.”

  Rafe gripped the hilt of his sword. “Do you know many have sacrificed to protect the information you so freely shared? I should cut you down where you stand.”

  The witch’s eyes turned black. She raised her hands above her head, and began to recite an incantation. Wind began to blow inside the rotunda, causing the heavy tree branches to sway.

  “I think that’s our cue to leave,” I said.

  Rafe remained rooted to the floor, his entire body rippling with tension. “The coven had no right…”

  I stayed his arm. “No, they didn’t, but what’s done is done. Let’s go.”

  Esmariah opened her mouth and released a torrent of black bugs into the rotunda.

  “Now!” I turned and flew down the corridor. Thankfully, Rafe came to his senses and joined me. We made it out the rusty door and I craned my neck to the bugs dissolve the moment they came into contact with natural light.

  We flew back to the safety of his loft without a second look. I landed on the balcony and tried to catch my breath. My heart still hammered in my chest.

  “I guess it’s official,” I said. “Dominion knows about New Hope.”

  Rafe landed beside me. “It was only a matter of time.”

  “They’ll want answers,” I said.

  He looked at me. “I can handle it, Cassia.” His face softened. “Now, tell me about your mother. I take it she’s no longer living.”

  “No.” I paused, letting the memory of her sink in. “She died about ten years ago.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Rafe appeared to be at a loss for words. “That must’ve been difficult for you to see that.”

  “Yes, but at least I got to see her.” A small sigh escaped me. “That was enough.”

  Rafe tugged me into his arms. “You’re so strong, Cassia.
I don’t know how you do it.”

  I leaned my head against his chest and listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. “I don’t know either.” It helped to have Rafe in my life. And my kenzoku and Liesel. Even the Elders, despite their missteps. I knew they cared about me—so much, in fact, that they were willing to lose my trust and respect. They knew it could all come crashing down one day, yet they were prepared to stick it out. As long as I was safe, they could handle the rest. I’d never loved them more.

  “Is there anything I can do?” Rafe asked, as he stroked the back of my hair.

  The memory of the beautiful blond handmaiden with the almond-shaped eyes replayed in my mind. I lifted my chin to look at him. “As a matter of fact, there is.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “According to our contacts, Ana’s missing.” Liesel tucked away her phone as she joined Rafe and I on the balcony of his loft. The sun was shining in direct contravention of my mood.

  Jessup was murdered and now his mother was missing from Dominion? That didn’t bode well.

  “Missing how?” I asked. “As in kidnapped?”

  “No, she was given permission to spend time with her husband in California as part of her grief leave and didn’t return at the agreed-upon time.” Liesel hovered high enough to seat herself on the balcony ledge.

  “So, she’s gone AWOL,” Rafe said.

  “Jessup was her only child and they were close,” Liesel said. “I have to imagine she’s taking his death pretty hard.”

  “Then why not tell Dominion that she needs more time?” I said. “Why let them think she’s missing?” A thought occurred to me. “Unless she’s afraid.”

  “Afraid of what?” Liesel asked.

  Rafe’s eyes brightened. “That she’s next.”

  Liesel crossed her ankles. “You think she knows something about Jessup’s death?”

  “Based on the memory I saw of her,” I said, “Ana was probably privy to a lot of information as a royal handmaiden. It stands to reason that she knew what Jessup was involved with.”

  Rafe faced me. “And maybe she suspected the information that the Book of Admissions might contain.”

  “We don’t know that she knew of my existence,” I said. “The memory only suggested that my mother and her cousin were close. That’s it.” Maybe Ana was simply hiding with Jessup’s father in order to give herself time to grieve. There was only one way to find out.

  “Handmaidens hear everything,” Liesel said. “It doesn’t mean they share it, but there’s a chance she was coerced.”

  I thought of Elder Sam and his scars and knew that Liesel was right. “Let’s have Barris do a locator spell. If she’s in California, we should be able to narrow it down.”

  Rafe nodded. “Just tell us what you need.”

  “It would be helpful to have a personal effect, or something that once belonged to her,” I said. I tried to remember the contents of Jessup’s apartment. If they were as close as they seemed, there had to be a useful item there.

  Rafe seemed to arrive at the same conclusion. “We can still access Jessup’s apartment. I bet there’s something there we can use.”

  “You don’t think it’s been emptied?” I asked.

  Liesel hopped down to the balcony. “Nope. They won’t do that until a new Watcher has been assigned to his area and they’re dragging their feet.”

  “Is that typical?” I asked.

  Rafe and Liesel laughed in unison. “Yes,” she replied. “Very. You’d think they were choosing a new pope. Dominion doesn’t respond quickly to anything. Too many royals with opinions.”

  “Then let’s go now,” I said. “I can take whatever we find straight to the academy and have Barris perform the spell.” He’d be pleased to be asked. He loved flexing his djinni muscles.

  “Tell me what you find,” Liesel said. “I need to go back to my place and do research for another Watcher. He’s convinced there’s a gnome digging up gardens in Villanova and he needs a way to trap it.”

  “Your task sounds more fun,” Rafe said. “Maybe we can swap.”

  Liesel clapped him on the back. “Not a chance.” She took off into the air and Rafe and I followed, turning immediately in the direction of Jessup’s apartment. I closed my eyes as we flew, enjoying the warmth of the sun’s rays on my skin. I wondered whether it was the seraph in me that enjoyed fresh air and sunshine so much. I’d always assumed it was my human side.

  We reached Jessup’s building and made our way to his apartment. It was quiet this time of day. Other than the sound of a television from one of the apartments, there was no other noise. We arrived at Jessup’s door and Rafe pressed down on the handle. He swore under his breath.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  He frowned. “The door’s locked.”

  “Isn’t that what you’d expect?” I asked.

  “No,” he said, keeping his voice low. “Liesel and I were the last ones here and we didn’t have a key.”

  “Maybe the landlord locked it when he realized Jessup wasn’t coming back,” I said. It seemed like a reasonable explanation.

  Rafe shook his head. “The landlord doesn’t touch this place. Dominion has complete control over it so that they can install their Watcher here.”

  “How do they manage that?” I asked.

  Rafe avoided my penetrating gaze. “They have their ways.”

  I folded my arms and leaned against the wall. “I thought the whole point of your job was to protect humans against supernatural interferences. Shouldn’t that include seraphim?”

  “It’s not hurting the landlord,” Rafe said. He turned toward the door. “Maybe we should try a window.”

  “Why? Can’t you use super strength to break down the door?”

  “I could, but I’d like to know why it’s locked first,” he said.

  My gaze darted to the locked door. “You think someone might be in there now?”

  “If the ones responsible for killing him think there’s evidence to be found here that they need to destroy,” he whispered, “why not?”

  “But they would’ve already done that,” I said. “He’s been dead…” A crashing sound interrupted me and dread pooled in my stomach. “That came from inside the apartment, didn’t it?”

  Rafe unsheathed his sword. “I guess we’re going in through the door after all.” His boot shot out and made contact with the door. The flimsy barrier didn’t stand a chance. It came straight off the hinges and landed flat inside the apartment. Rafe walked right over it wielding his sword. I pulled out my daggers and gripped one in each hand, treading carefully behind Rafe. The apartment seemed even messier than the last time I was here. I spotted a trail of feathers that definitely hadn’t been here before. Rafe was right—someone was inside.

  He came to halt and pointed to the floor where pieces of glass had scattered. That must’ve been the noise we’d heard. He jerked his head toward the bedroom and I held my breath as I nodded. I’d expected to come here and find a family heirloom, not a fight.

  “Come out and we won’t hurt you.” His voice rumbled like thunder. If I weren’t so attracted to him, I’d be very intimidated right now.

  I braced myself for impact, but none came. Rafe peered into the bedroom and I heard his sharp intake of breath. Only when I fell into step beside him did I understand his reaction.

  A woman was curled into a tight ball on the bed. Her tattered wings were tucked behind her. They looked as though they’d been caught in a wind tunnel. Her blond hair was matted against her head and her lips were cracked from dehydration. Her skin was so pale it was practically translucent. It seemed we wouldn’t need that locator spell after all.

  “Ana?” Rafe used a surprisingly tender tone, though I understood why. This seraph was no threat to anyone. She was so weak that she barely acknowledged our presence.

  “She needs food and water,” I said. And a shower. The stench was undeniable. There was a perfectly good kitchen and bathroom here. Why ignore them?
Either she didn’t want to use the facilities and alert anyone to her presence or she was too grief-stricken to function. From her overall appearance and demeanor, the latter seemed like the most obvious answer.

  Rafe edged closer to the bed. “Ana, can you speak?”

  She dragged herself to a seated position and slid to lean against the headboard. “Yes,” she rasped. “Who sent you?”

  He sheathed his sword. “No one,” Rafe replied.

  “How long have you been here?” I asked.

  She wore a faraway expression. “I’m not sure.”

  “Are you injured?” I asked. She managed to move her head from side to side. “Good. I’ll be right back.”

  I hurried to the kitchen to get her a glass of water. There were a few dirty dishes and cups in the sink, so she’d been taking care of herself to some degree. Still, she definitely seemed to be letting herself waste away. I wondered whether my own mother had felt a touch of this grief when she’d sent me away. Although it wasn’t death, it was an experience of loss all the same.

  I returned to the bedroom and handed Ana the glass. “Sip it. If you drink too quickly, you’ll be sick.”

  “Any food?” Rafe asked.

  “Nothing that’s edible now,” I said.

  He gazed down at the seraph. “Do you feel able to shower?”

  Ana took a careful sip of water and held the cup with both hands. “I think so.”

  “I can help if you need it,” I said.

  Ana offered a small smile. “I should be fine, but thank you.” She shifted off the bed and headed to the bathroom.

  “We’ll be in the living room,” I said. I pushed Rafe toward the bedroom door to give the seraph her privacy.

  “She’s not in great shape,” he said. The understatement of the year.

  “What are you thinking we’ll do?” I asked.

  “Give her natural light and a decent meal.” He rocked back and forth on his heels. “There’s a cafe in Rittenhouse Square. We can talk there while she eats.”

  “You want to take her out in public to eat?” I asked.