Page 66 of Poison Ivy
“This is pointless,” Tate says. “But whoever else was here has left no trace either.”
“Whoever else?” I ask, curious. “There was someone else here?”
“When we burst in, there was a cloud of purplesmoke. It’s a dissipating spell. Very advanced for a practitioner who isn’t a witch or warlock.”
“So, a mage?” I growl, my first thought going straight to my mother.
“Your mother?” Bram asks as if reading my thoughts, “She’d have the power and motive.”
I shake my head, trying to make sense of it. Unfortunately, it’s not that complicated.
“Unless she’s playing a deeper game,” Tate muses, also connecting the dots. “Setting you up somehow.”
The thought sends a chill down my spine. My mother has always been ruthless, but this level of manipulation seems extreme even for her.
“We need more information,” I say finally. “About that blue-haired woman, about what really happened here. And we still need to find Poison.”
Bram nods in agreement. “Where do we start?”
I consider our options. “We go back to Thornfield, and I’ll ring my mum. See what she has to say.”
As we leave the cottage, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re missing something crucial. This whole situation stinks of a setup, but to what end? “Let’s go,” I growl, leading the way back through the forest. “We’ve got work to do.”
The walk back to the university campus is tense and quiet. My mind races, trying to piece together this fucked up puzzle. If my mother is involved, things just got a whole lot more complicated.
As we reach the edge of the forest, I pull out myphone. No missed calls or messages from her, which could mean anything or nothing.
“I’m going to call her,” I announce, stopping at the tree line. “You two go on ahead.”
Bram and Tate exchange a look but nod, heading towards the townhouse. I wait until they’re out of earshot before dialling my mother’s number.
It rings three times before she picks up. “Torin, darling. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Her voice is smooth as silk, betraying nothing. I grit my teeth. “Cut the bullshit, Mum. What game are you playing?”
“Now, now,” she tuts. “Is that any way to speak to your mother? I’m sure I raised you better than that.”
“Did you have something to do with what happened to Dad?” I demand, ignoring her chastisement.
There’s a pause on the other end of the line. When she speaks again, her voice has lost its playful edge. “What exactly are you accusing me of, Torin?”
“Dad’s dead,” I state bluntly, although I’m not one hundred per cent sure of that. In theory, it could’ve been anyone in that cottage.
There’s a long pause on the other end of the line. When my mother finally speaks, her voice is carefully controlled.
“I see. And how exactly did this happen?”
I clench my jaw, debating how much to reveal. “Someone got to him before we did. A woman with blue hair. Ring any bells?”
Another pause. “I’m afraid not, darling. Though it sounds like you’ve had quite the eventful day.”
Her casual tone grates on my nerves. “Did you have something to do with this?”
“Torin,” she says, her voice sharpening. “I suggest you watch the accusations.”
I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my frustration. “I’m not accusing, I’m asking. Because this whole situation stinks. Dad was at that cottage, an assassin showed up and killed him, but Tate seems to think that there was an advanced mage there as well.”
“Does he now?” she snaps. “And you think it was me?”
