She cleared her throat as unease flickered across her face. “As you well know, I was still at the shifter academy that evening—preparing for the third Spy Game event. I didn’t even know my own school had fallen until Andre and Sam came running and shouting through the forest. I tried to contact Professor Tittelbaum . . . he didn’t respond.”
She stood up and paced the room. “No one did—not even my husband. After hours of trying to make contact, I called Miss Iris in Wandstown. She told me that a demon horde had flown overhead, blocking out the light of the moon. Screams tore through the darkness, and fires burned all around Spellcasters.” Headmistress Wake wiped at her face hastily as if she’d shed a tear.
“But how did they move so fast?” I threw up my hands, no longer angry at her, but still not understanding. “The Hellgate opened in London. They’d have had to cross an ocean to get to the academy.”
Mom gave me an understanding smile. “Demons have had hidden portals in our world for millennia. Some say new ones appear occasionally too. Witches close them whenever they find them. They teach you how to do that as a Crucible, but of course we’ll never find all of the portals. Either that, or the royals have warpers at their beck and call.” Mom drew in a long breath. “We’re upset about the academy too, honey. It’s the first place on our list to liberate once we build a large enough army.”
I pressed my fingers to my temples. “Is the Hellgate still closed? Or did it rip open and we have more demons spewing in? Do the humans know?”
“You and Alex did a good job closing it up, pea,” Dad said. “Although, we do think it’s weakening. It will need to be permanently sealed again, after we force the demons back. And as for the humans . . .” He rolled his neck, telling that this next bit was a source of anxiety. “Many saw the demons fill the skies that night. Mind witches are currently scouring the globe to erase the memories of those the devils come into contact with. Thankfully, since that night, the demons haven’t made their arrival public.”
“But wouldn’t they want to make themselves known? Don’t theywantto take over?”
“Of course,” Dad replied. “For now, they’re sowing a nice little environment of fear, and using the top echelons of world governments like puppets. They don’t need to be in the limelight right now. They’re preparing for war, just like us.”
I flung myself onto the wicker couch between my parents. “I swear, it’s just one thing after another.”
Mom gripped my hand. “Yes, honey, it is. That’s why we’ve been recruiting. Our army is building. And we have an idea as to where we’ll get magicals willing to fight.”
“Where?”
“Remember all those PIA agents who went missing?”
I nodded.
“We’ve found that they’re being kept in a government facility in New Mexico. We’re going to break them out. Alpha Conon is working to rally—”
“The vampires are helping too,” Headmistress Wake interrupted, assumedly in case Mom forgot about them.
“Yes,” Mom said. “All of those people will do their part. If we can coordinate an attack on Spellcasters when the royals are there, we’ll have a good chance of success, don’t you think?”
I mulled it over. It did sound like the start of a decent plan. Particularly the freeing the prisoners part. I was sure that none of the incarcerated magicals had done anything wrong, other than question a crooked wing of the PIA.
“Yes,” I said. “And if the fae don’t mind, using their academy as a base could be smart. It has really strong protections around it.” I paused and steeled myself to add the bit I’d been dreading. “There’s one other thing I need to do before we attack.”
“What’s that, pea?” Dad asked.
“I need to find another spirit worker to bind the ghost of a mind witch to me so I’ll be protected from possession. Eva needs the same. If we can get this done, neither Ishtar nor Lucifer will be able to harm us from afar. We’ll be able to fight them. I’d hoped that Amethyst’s parents, or even Amethyst, could do it, but after seeing her . . .”
“Miss Rhines is not in shape to be helping anyone at the moment,” Headmistress Wake’s voice was strained, making a lump rise in my throat.
Although she rarely showed her emotions, this had to be hard on her. The school she called home was under control of an enemy. Her husband was there, and the students she’d sworn to protect.
“Definitely not,” I agreed. “Diana is working to help lure her back to this plane, though. Hopefully, it will work. In the meantime, Queen Aquatia tells me that there is an aether-blessed fae in her kingdom who might help. After Eva wakes up, we’ll begin planning a journey to visit her.”
“Does she live in the capital city? If so, why not invite her to the castle?” Mom asked, her face wary but curious.
I’d hoped this question would come up later, but should have known better. My parents always had liked to keep tabs on me.
“Not the city. She actually lives along the border.”
“Which one?” Dad asked astutely.
I folded my hands tightly together and squeezed.
“The one the Riverlands shares with the Dark Court.”
The room stilled. Dad’s eyes latched on to Mom’s, and they shared one of those moments that made me feel like they could read each other’s minds.
