Page 69 of Star Witch
I tried to think. Pointing to the side, I drew an imaginary line. ‘He was walking from there over to there.’
A muscle throbbed in Winter’s cheek. ‘There are supposed to be Order witches guarding the entire perimeter. How the hell did he manage to avoid them?’
‘Let’s apportion blame later, shall we? We need to find out where he is.’ My tone hardened. ‘Right now.’ I took off in the direction where I’d seen Mazza and almost immediately regretted moving so quickly. My head swam and I was forced to take several shallow breaths to avoid passing out.
‘Ivy…’
‘I’m fine.’
Brutus shot out in front of us, scampering across the clearing at full speed. I blinked. I’d never seen him run before, not since he was a kitten anyway. I exchanged a quick glance with Winter and then took off after my cat with my fingers crossed. I was going to look mightily stupid if he’d just decided to chase after a woodland mouse.
Fortunately, Winter also seemed to believe that Brutus was onto something. In less than a few heartbeats he overtook me, sprinting towards the tree line. I quashed my trepidation at the thought that the shy runner was out there with a zombie just waiting to chomp on him, and tried to keep up. Not surprisingly, I couldn’t. I slowed down in an effort to reserve some energy – not to mention to avoid throwing up – and did what I could to keep Winter in sight. At least the river was over in that direction so there was a natural barrier.
Winter had just disappeared behind a tree when I heard a strangled shout. Muttering a curse, I picked up speed again, reaching him – and Mazza – just in time. Winter had grabbed the kid by the throat and was holding him at arm’s length whilst Brutus hissed repeatedly.
‘Is it you?’ Winter demanded. ‘Is it you raising the dead?’
Mazza’s eyes bulged. ‘What? No! I didn’t have anything to do with that!’
I eyed him. He seemed more scared than anything else. But was that scared because he’d finally been found out or because he was being falsely accused? It was imperative we learned the truth.
‘Let him go, Rafe,’ I said softly.
Winter glared then did as I asked, releasing his grip. Mazza staggered backwards and rubbed his neck vigorously. ‘What’s wrong with you?’ he croaked.
I stepped forward. ‘We’re looking for a very dangerous person, Mazza. Someone who might not even realise how much of a danger they are. All the other crew members are back in town. Why are you still here?’
He mumbled something under his breath.
I leaned forward, ignoring Winter’s bristling fury. ‘I didn’t catch that. Say it again.’
‘Amy.’
I squinted. ‘Pardon?’
‘Amy lost her necklace out here. I was looking for it.’
Winter was incredulous. ‘After the carnage that happened here, you thought you’d come back to look for some girl’s stupid necklace?’
I put my hand on his arm. ‘Did she ask you to come and do this?’
Mazza wouldn’t meet my eyes. ‘No.’
‘How did she lose it?’
He shrugged. He was growing redder and redder by the second. ‘Dunno.’
‘How did you get back here from Tomintoul?’
‘I never left. I didn’t get on the bus.’ For all his embarrassment and awkwardness, he was being remarkably recalcitrant.
Winter folded his arms across his chest. ‘You’re lying.’
‘Wh – what?’ Mazza stammered. ‘I’m not! Amy lost her necklace and I want to find it for her.’
‘He is sweet on her,’ I remarked.
The glow on Mazza’s cheeks intensified. ‘She’s a nice person!’ he said, as if daring me to argue with him.
