Chapter 26 #3
“The hunters will not so readily give up what they view as their right to unlimited power. Remember, they’ve been after your family for hundreds of years. Now, even with the grimoire destroyed, they’re closer than ever.”
Kate finally turns from the window. “I think I need to go outside.”
“Come sit with me, love. It’s raining out there.” Oliver, who’s barely left her side, guides her to the loveseat. Her sisters exchange a quick glance.
“Shock,” I say softly. “Should wear off soon enough.”
“I still can’t believe our mother left us with this,” Rachel says. “Like, she could’ve at least given us some instructions. A warning. Something.” Then, on a deep sigh, “Warren, you said your concerns were threefold. What else?”
He seems to rally at the sound of his name on her lips. I try not to roll my eyes.
“Yes, as I was saying… the second issue is the condition of the portal. It requires constant upkeep. And while Elizabeth and Merrick have made great strides, it’s still disintegrating quicker than they can maintain it.
There are safeguards in place—checkpoints designed to prevent unsummoned demons from manifesting at will—but even those seem to be failing, which is how Ozikai likely slipped through.
It’s only now that we realize the whole thing is being orchestrated by Matthias.
What he’s promised the Wielders is unknown. ”
“And the third thing?” Rachel asks. “Please tell me you’re saving the best for last.”
Warren drains his tea. Takes a moment to gather his thoughts, which is unusual for the normally boisterous demon.
When he finally speaks, his tone is grave.
“The magical interference on the portal… it’s not just demonic interference.
Oliver and I found trace magic at the checkpoints—destructive magic—that can only come from witchcraft. ”
“What?” I nearly choke on my tea. “Why haven’t you mentioned this before?”
Elizabeth lights up. Offers me an exaggerated pout. “Sooo not fun when your friends keep secrets, huh?”
“There was no point in worrying you until we had enough to go on,” Warren says. “We wanted to ascertain the power behind it first—see if we could narrow down the possible family lines.”
“Well?” I ask. “Have you?”
“We hadn’t… until tonight.”
“Blood magic, mate,” Oliver says. “Same shit they used on the Devil’s traps that nailed us to the floor.”
“Wait,” I say, trying to connect the dots. “Are you saying—”
“I’m saying,” Oliver says, “hunters and chaos demons weren’t the only threat at that party tonight. Blood witches are mixed up in this, too. And it looks like the whole lot of ‘em are one big dysfunctional family, all ready to usher in the end of the world and gather up the spoils.”
“Which is shit thinking on their part,” Warren adds.
“If all goes according to plan, the portal collapses, starting a chain reaction that breaks down the realms of Hell and sets its worst-of-the-worst abominations free. Daylight would cease to exist. Shadows would swallow the earthly realm, dragging chaos and terror in their wake. Humans wouldn’t survive.
Nothing would survive. Only that pure, unchecked chaos.
The Wielders and their co-conspiring blood witches are so blinded by greed, by their need to dominate, it never occurs to them that they’re just pawns in a much larger play.
One that will annihilate them as surely as it will all the other humans on this fucking planet. ”
The six of us sit in dreary silence, letting the tea go cold.
At long last, when it seems nothing further can be said without shattering the last of the witches’ peace, Warren rises from his chair. To Oliver and me, he says, “Will you two be all right without me for an hour? I was thinking I’d run by the cottage, fetch Medusa.”
“Do I even want to know what that is?” Rachel asks.
“Who. She’s… like a guard dog. Sort of.” Warren smiles. Then, extending a hand, “Rachel, would you like to accompany me? Perhaps the fresh air will—”
“No.”
“It’s a lovely night, all things considered. We could—”
“No.”
Warren stares after her, a steely determination in his eyes that says this isn’t the end of it.
Ah, well. It’s good to know some things haven’t changed.
“I’ll go with you,” says Kate, in that same dreamy, unfocused tone. “A lovely night outside, yes, that’s perfect.”
“Not tonight, love,” says Oliver.
I turn my attention to the other witches.
“I think it’s best that you three get some rest. Helena should be back soon, so I’ll check in with her, see if she can help the demons and I keep watch.
I don’t expect trouble in the immediate term—the Wielders suffered heavy losses and will need some time to recalibrate.
But we don’t know how many survived or how quickly they’ll reorganize.
Ozikai is also a concern, as well as the unbound imps.
As I said, it’s only a matter of time. We must remain vigilant.
Tomorrow, we’ll meet in the basement at dawn. Start fresh.”
“Start fresh with what?” Rachel asks.
“With a crash course in magic.”
“And then?”
I offer a smile, but I can’t hold it for long. A deep sigh escapes. “Then let’s just hope the last in the ancient line of Bonnivarde witches are indeed the most formidable.”