Page 11 of Heart of a Witch
“I’ll go find Cas.” I looked at the window. Dappled moonlight slid through cracks in the black drapes. “If he’s not out.”
“Caspian is downstairs, eating dinner.”
“Good. Ember should be down there too.”
“Oh, honey, Emberly left an hour ago. She went to meet some boy.”
I clenched my jaw. “Chester?”
She smiled. “Yes, that’s what she said.”
My eye twitched. “He’s the son of the couple who runs The Black Card. He’s trouble.”
Her thin brows pulled downward, warning in her eyes. “Emberly is a smart girl. She wouldn’t get involved with someone dangerous.”
“Well, he is.”
She gave me a look. “Have you met him?”
“I don’t need to.”
She sighed heavily. “Don’t think about it.” Warning laced her words. “I mean it.”
“Think about what?”
“Getting involved. I know you’re protective when it comes to our Emberly, but she’s old enough now to do what she wants. If we try controlling her, then we’re no better than the rest of this society.”
My fingers flexed at my side. “Well, someone has to. I’m going to go find her.”
“Victoria!” she called, but I was already out the bedroom door. She didn’t see it yet, but that was okay because, in the long run, she’d understand. I knew in my gut that Chester was bad news, and his family was worse. They could all think me the bad one, but they’d thank me for it later.
“Heading out,” I called to the kitchen, placing a necklace and ring on the side table. The ring was for Cas because he wouldn’t be caught dead in anything else.
“Where ya going?” Cas shouted back. He appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, adjoining the hallway, and leaned against the frame. “Don’t tell me you’ve finally made friends.”
I ignored his smirk. “I’m going to the club.”
He frowned. “I assume not to relax, like a normal person.”
“I’m looking for Emberly.”
His shoulders slumped. “Of course you are.”
Ignoring his quip, I pointed at the ring. “It’s spelled. It’ll hide your magic from anyone using detection objects.” I frowned at the thought of them possessing dark objects that should belong to Istinia, but the humans had kept some. One was powerful enough to detect our powers. All the hunter had to do was touch our skin with it, like he had Jackson. As soon as it glowed, the gathered humans roared in excitement, anticipation for his death.
He grabbed the ring, examining it with a smile. “It’s not terribly ugly.”
“Good.” I pulled on my short black jacket before heading out into the chilled autumn day.
I walked down winding streets until I reached the town center. Obsidian buildings lined the road, with alcoves and statues half out the walls. I rushed past tall, terraced houses and through an open wrought iron gate into a narrow alleyway. Branches reached overhead, like grappling fingers. Wind creaked the gate and rustled leaves down the cobbled stone. A spiderweb glistened between a flickering oil lamp over a back door, and a lonesome spider climbed the silvery weave. I turned left where the alley veered off, into a smaller alley, and walked until I reached the familiar, glossy black door with a single playing card as its door knocker.
I tapped it three times, and within seconds, a slot opened in the door and a pair of brown eyes found mine. “Victoria Amberwood,” I drawled.
Their eyes regarded me, then the slot shut and the door opened. “Come in.”
I handed the woman three silver dramair. I’d seen her before, one of the nights I’d come to bring Cas home after he’d blacked out drunk. “I’m looking for Emberly Amberwood.”
She moved back to the doored arch leading into the club, where music slithered through the cracks around the entrance. “She’s in the back.” She peered around me. “Will your brother be joining you this evening?”
