“An odd neighborhood requirement,” Logan agreed, pulling on the light chain dangling in front of him.
“Kind of creepy down here.
Guess it’s a typical basement,” Logan whispered.
There was a washer and dryer, a hot water tank, and an old freezer on the far wall. Underneath the staircase was more storage. At first glance it looked like more tinctures and such, but I’d check it out later. Across from where Logan and I stood, I saw a tiny, square door.
“That must be what Trevor’s talking about,” I said, pointing at the tiny, wooden door.
“Looks like it.” Logan walked over and unlocked and opened the door only to be greeted by another door that needed to be unlocked by someone on the other side of it.
“Well, at least we know they won’t be spying on us.” I laughed.
Logan spun around and his eyes held the familiar sparkle that always rocked my world.
“You are impossible to be close to in dark, confining spaces,” I groaned.
“Is that so?”
We began walking toward the stairs, and I saw another small door.
“That must lead to another house?” I speculated.
Logan opened it, revealing the same set-up as the other door.
“Guess so.” He closed it, and we took the stairs two at a time.
“Are you okay with staying here?” Trevor asked.
I gave him a friendly smile and nodded my head.
I walked to the kitchen window and looked out at the view I hadn’t noticed before. This house was situated on a hill. The same hill that my own house was located on, maybe five or so blocks below. Trevor really did change this street up. I began to feel slightly comforted at the thought of being so close to the other house if needed.
“So, we’ll be back in about an hour to go over everything,” Trevor said, walking to the front door.
“First thing on the list is getting Bakula back,” I replied.
“We’ll see about that.” Trevor closed the door behind him, and I turned to Logan.
“He still doesn’t get my style does he?”
“Not many do,” Logan laughed.
“I think I know where she’s at,” I admitted. “On the car ride over I got another vision, and this time it was clearer.”
“The sooner we can get her back, the better,” he agreed. “I don’t think you’ll be able to concentrate on anything until we do. Dace and Bakula were smart to put our families in safekeeping.”
I nodded and let out a large sigh. “But I’d be lying if I didn’t say how much I miss my mom and aunt.”
“Me too, babe,” Logan muttered. “But it’s for the best.”
Chapter 15
“So, I know where they’re holding Bakula. And the best part is that it’s with Eben,” I said, glancing at Trevor. “And Lara.”
“How do you know?” he asked, his eyes narrowing.
“I just do,” I replied. “I can’t tell you how, but I know.”
“I’m not fully comfortable with this,” Trevor replied, his fingers grinding into his forehead.
“There’s probably going to be a lot of decisions you’re not comfortable with, but I have to know I can trust you,” I replied.
Trevor and Logan traded glances, and I knew I was close to getting what I wanted. I couldn’t tell Trevor about the visions yet. I couldn’t afford to have too many pieces of the puzzle put together about me.
I was flipping the pages in one of my notebooks, and Trevor turned his attention back to me. I didn’t look up until he was ready to give me his answer. Instead, I concentrated on all the names, places, and possibilities that I had jotted down surrounding the Praedivinus order. There had to be something that was similar or a pattern of some sort that I just hadn’t determined yet.
Logan walked up behind me and slid his hand on my shoulder. I turned and gave him a quick smile and then went back to looking at names of companies. I had added a few more that Trevor had given me. Dace found a few that were loosely connected to the Praedivinus order, and I scanned them hoping for a clue. Still nothing jumped out at me.
“Okay. We’re in. We’ll provide the protection for you.” Trevor sat down at the table across from me, grinning.
“Took you long enough. But thank you, and hopefully I won’t need any,” I replied, flashing him a grateful smile.
“So where do you think they are?” Trevor asked, glancing over at Logan who was bent over one of the notebooks I had open.
“The west side of Lake Washington at one of the old estates. It’s one that’s been for sale a long time, so I’m guessing the owners realized leasing it was better than nothing. I printed this off the website that had it listed, so I can at least see the rooms I’m heading into.”
I flipped the page and spun around the notebook, pointing at the address.
Trevor typed it in his iPhone and sat back in the chair. “So when were you thinking of going in?”
“Tonight,” I replied, and Trevor’s mouth dropped open.
“That’s not enough time to plan anything,” he objected.
“It’s not going to be much longer before they realize that we’re very much alive. Most of the Witch Avenue coven didn’t even hear of the warehouse fire, and they have no idea that we’re even playing dead.”
“True.” Trevor nodded, interlocking his fingers.
“I also heard from Jenna this morning. She finally persuaded the Priestess to go into hiding,” I began.
“You didn’t respond, did you?” Logan asked, his expression worried.
“Nope. But that didn’t stop her from writing again to let us know that the majority of our coven members aren’t going into hiding. They want to fight and stop the Praedivinus order from spreading. Apparently all the stories relayed from my dad’s camp have scared people beyond belief. Every family seems to be dealing with a Released Soul or know of someone who is, and it’s not a pretty process.”
My stomach knotted as my mind drifted to my mom, but I quickly forced myself back to the problem at hand.
“It makes sense. Our world hasn’t experienced this type of dark magic where both witches and non-witches are infiltrated for centuries. There’s even more at stake than the obvious,” Logan said.
“Which isn’t very obvious might I add,” I replied annoyed, as I sat staring at a notebook full of information that led to nowhere.
“I think we’re on the verge of something bigger than what Eben is after,” Logan continued. “Think about the Salem witch trials. Think about all of the witch trials around the world.”
I nodded.
“Over the centuries, every time the witch trials began anywhere in the world, we had the same exact scenario as now,” Logan said, pulling out a chair and sitting next to me.
“How so?” Trevor asked.
That’s right! We hadn’t filled him on my ancestors’ odd timing.
“In some of the records from the Witch Avenue library, we were able to piece together that Triss’ relatives were always very close in proximity to the witch hunts that took place.” Logan stopped so I could take over.
“However, they were never part of them. Never once were they afraid for their lives or pinned as witches. It looked like my family pointed their fingers, and cried witch to keep the heat off of them. The uproar would begin in towns and villages and the rest is history,” I said.
“That’s brutal,” Trevor replied. “All the innocent witches that were persecuted or worse were actually set up by their own kind.”
“Seems to be the case. Which kind of makes sense considering how discreet I’m sure the witches were. It would’ve taken their own kind to force them out in the open.” I shook my head and closed the notebook.
“One of the few patterns we’ve been able to identify surrounding the Witch hunts, Witch trials, and the movement of Triss’s family across Europe and eventually here had to do with the fairies’ migration. The dark sorcerers would cause hysteria among the townspeople, use
up all the resources, and then follow the fairies to the next town or country only to start the process up again,” Logan said.
“And I think it’s safe to say that’s what is happening now. Everything’s pointing to that. We’ve got the fairies on the move. Then we have the constant communication between the Praedivinus order and the ‘outside world’, non-believers for the most part. It’s like he’s setting the stage to out the covens of the world.” I looked at Trevor whose mouth was gaping. “Only this time it’s on a much larger scale. We’ve got names of politicians, world leaders, and pretty big corporations,” I finished.
“This is bad.”
“Yeah. It is. There are so many things we need to do that I don’t even know where to begin, which is why I feel like getting the simplest task out of the way first is best. Once Bakula is back with Dace we can concentrate on figuring out motive, taking out Lara and Eben, and maneuvering our covens to stop the spread of the Praedivinus order. And I’d like to be done by Saturday,” I teased, hoping to lighten the mood.
Logan looked over at me smiling, and I wondered why Trevor wasn’t saying anything. Maybe he was in shock.
“Does this sound like a good path to follow until a new one presents itself?” I asked Trevor, hoping my prompt would bring him back to us. Finally after a few more seconds, he responded.
“What I find pretty phenomenal is that you think going in to get Bakula is the easy part.” His lip curled up. “I like your determination. Always have.” He nervously shot Logan a look and then his eyes fell to the table.
“Unfortunately, I think with everything we’re facing, it is the easy part. On that note, would you begin contacting Jenna and everyone else that I’ve listed here to fill them in on where we think the Praedivinus order is headed. I’m hoping if they understand that our community is going to be used as a scapegoat in the public forum, we’ll find more people willing to fight and less who will want to remain in hiding.” I tore a piece of paper from the notebook with the list of names on one side, and then the dates of all the Witch Trials and hunts that seemed to involve my family just in case he needed some extra persuasion.
It was one thing to have witch-hunts from one town to the next, but it was quite another on a global scale, and I was sure that’s what we were up against.
Trevor stood up from the table, grabbing the piece of paper and walked toward the basement.
“What time should we meet you at Eben’s?” he asked, spinning around to face me.
“Be there at ten o’clock tonight. Logan and I will be in constant communication once I go inside, so he’ll take the lead in case anything goes wrong.” I didn’t like the idea of anything going wrong and forced the thought out of my head.
“Thanks for understanding, Trevor,” I said, as he walked down the steps to the basement.
I flipped my notebook to some printouts of Eben’s home from the real estate website and stared at them. There was the living room that looked to be off the entry hall. The kitchen was massive, and it looked like there was a door to the outside there. There were seven bedrooms, an office, media room, wine cellar, and a library. I couldn’t really tell by the pictures how many exterior doors there were, but I knew of three from these pictures.
“I think I should go in near the kitchen. It looks like it’s in the back of the house and closed off from the living areas.”
Logan sighed deeply and grabbed my hand. I adjusted in my seat so that I could see him better without getting a kink in my neck.
“I’m not really sure I like the idea of you going in there,” he said.
“I don’t think you have that much choice about it.”
“Believe me. I know that. I’m just hoping you’ll take my opinion into account,” he murmured.
“I do. I always do. It will make me extra careful,” I promised and winked at him.
“Not quite what I was hoping for.”
“Listen. If I can’t go into Eben’s house to snatch a fairy, then I have no business leading a fight against the Praedivinus order. It’s kind of a test for me.”
He was about to say something but instead clamped down hard on his jaw.
“I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t scared to death. I am. If I get captured then we’ll know I wasn’t ready to lead.”
“I think that’s one of the most absurd forms of logic I’ve ever heard. You’re meant to lead the covens, regardless of whether or not your game of cat and mouse works in your favor.” He shook his head. “You have more powers in that little body of yours then the entire Witch Avenue coven. That’s what should be telling you that you’re ready to lead the covens.”
“Regardless, I want to get Bakula out of there.”
“I get that.” He nodded. “But if things don’t go as planned you can’t think you’re doomed to failure on the rest of our plans.”
“I’ve never let failure hold me back so far.” I grinned.
“You look really cute with your ponytail and yoga pants by the way,” he said, scooting the chair closer. “But you might want to think about dressing in something a little warmer for tonight’s adventure. It’s supposed to be in the low thirties.” Somehow he could make his breath hover over me in such a way that even getting a weather report was hot.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” giggling came out instead of well-formed words.
He cupped my chin in his hands and turned my face toward him. “You have to promise me that if anything goes wrong, you’ll get out of there. I mean anything.” His blue eyes were darker, and something was changing behind them.
I nodded. “Totally. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” I wrapped my fingers around his biceps and jokingly squeezed them, laughing with each flex he returned. “You are such a dork.”
Logan threw his head back and laughed loudly.
“I wouldn’t find it funny, if I were you. Worrisome. Only worrisome.” I shot him a look and crossed my arms.
He patted his thigh and motioned for me to sit on his lap. I left my seat and plopped down on his knee, and he quickly brought me in. I rested my head on his chest and closed my eyes. Being pressed against him like this with his arms wrapped tightly around me, brought a flurry through me. Now was not the time! How could I let my mind wander like this? This next conversation starter should do the trick.
“I’m not comfortable with my mom and your mom in hiding. Actually, I’m okay with them being in hiding, but I’m not okay with not knowing where they are. I mean look at Bakula. She’s trapped in a box. If something happens with Dace, we’re out of luck.”
“I was thinking about that too. Once we get Bakula back, I think we need to bring that up,” Logan agreed.
Well, that topic was shorter than I thought, and the energy running between us was getting stronger by the second. Darn him. He clasped on a little tighter and pressed his lips against my forehead. I moved away slightly and looked into his eyes that were now playful, and I knew I was at his mercy.
His lips only parted halfway as he spoke, and I realized I wasn’t even listening to what was coming out.
“So what do you think?” he asked.
I began to flush and looked quickly away hopping off his lap. “I’m gonna go down to the basement and lock our side of the door,” I said innocently, ignoring whatever it was he must have raised.
“And why’s that?” his brow quirked. “Sounds like you liked my idea?”
I stood there speechless. Shoot! What was his idea?
“I’ll be right back,” I shot back to him, running down the stairs. Pulling on the dangling chain, the dull glow lit up the basement, and I walked to the small door. The musty smell of the basement was a bit overpowering, and I didn’t really like being down here.
I slid the lock through and heard Logan’s footsteps coming down the old, wooden stairs. I turned toward him smiling, when I noticed the other basement door was slightly ajar. Logan followed my gaze and jumped to the ground, bypassing the last few steps.
“That’
s not comforting,” I whispered, as if suddenly someone was in the basement with us.
He opened the door, revealing the other interior door and gently pushed on it. It was locked on the other side. He quickly closed our door and locked it.
“Maybe we just missed it when we were down here last?” I was standing next to Logan and he nodded, grabbing my hand.
“Or Trevor could have been checking it out,” he said.
“It would’ve had to have been unlocked from this side,” I agreed.
“Now where were we?” he said, smiling down at me.
“I’m not really sure.”
My breath caught as he slid his big hands down my back and rested them at the base of my spine, pulling me into him. He brought his lips to the crook of my neck and began placing gentle kisses along my flesh.
“Whoa,” I said breathlessly.
He stretched my shirt to the side, as his lips continued tracing along my shoulder. My stomach was completely doing flip-flops and then he stopped abruptly.
“Let’s get out of this dingy place,” he growled, lifting me into his arms and carrying me up the stairs.
“How much time do we have?” I whispered.
“Why? You want to use it all up?”
“Maybe.”
His lips pressed against mine, allowing me to escape into our own little world once more.
Chapter 16
The mansion sat back on a large piece of property, with an iron fence surrounding the grounds. Everything was magnificently manicured — not a leaf out of place. The lawn was cut short, the edging precise, and the lit flowerbeds glowed off in the distance. But there was nothing warm about this place. The stately brick house looked more like an institution than a home. Even with the glowing windows, the home looked frigid.
Logan was standing next to me as I stared at the home I’d be invading soon. I imagined Bakula trapped in the glass box and perched on a writing desk somewhere. I had no idea what spell they cast on her to keep her inside the glass walls, but I had several antidotes ready. To keep a fairy held captive, it’s gotta be a hummer. And if all else failed, I’d grab the box and run.
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