He opened the car door for me and let me in. Once he slid into the driver’s seat, he sat back for a moment and let his hands fall from the steering wheel.
A grin stretched across his face. “Do you remember?”
“I think about that summer every time I see your car.” It was the same autumn his father got sick, or so I’d assumed. The same autumn Darnell Cantini started losing weight and stopped attending meetings and events in town. I hadn’t known he’d attempted to steal Mom’s magic until Ivy had told me, and Viola had stripped the beast of his magic since.
Cyrus grabbed the shifter. “So much has changed since then.”
Numerous tunnels wound beneath Weeping Hollow in the shape of a pentagram. The only way inside was through a trap door at one of the access points—the points of the star. The Pruitt Mansion, a cave in the cliff, the cemetery, Goody Farms, and the woods behind Town Hall. The Chamber of the Order was located beneath the gazebo, in the heart of Weeping Hollow. Sacred Sea and Norse Woods each had a chamber to handle matters separately, but the Chamber of the Order acted as the shared Town Hall for the covens. It was the only place we could safely gather together.
We drove down Seaside Street to the Pruitt Mansion, parking in their massive driveway. We wasted no time, entering the home through a side door, descending the stairs, and making the journey with only a gas lantern lighting our way. Water leaked from cracks anddrip-drip-dropechoed off the walls.
As soon as we arrived, Cyrus gave me one last look before pushing the massive door open. I only took one step before stalling in the doorway.
Before the Order’s table, four Heathens stood with their backs to me.
In all my life, except for Beck, I’d never seen the Heathens without their masks. No one had until their curse broke.
Julian Blackwell, Phoenix Wildes, Beck Parish, and Zephyr Goody.
Four founding descendants of Norse Woods Coven.
I looked at Cyrus with my heart racing.
He grabbed my hand. “They’re waiting.”
My eyes were glued to their backs as I walked, anticipating the first look with a thickness in my throat.This is it, I thought. They had been hiding on their side of town for weeks. What could possibly bring them out of the woods, let alone at this hour?
When we reached the front of the room, I stood beside Cyrus. I couldn’t help my loitering gaze, when finally, Julian glanced at me with silver eyes that scratched up my spine.
I’d seen those eyes many times, but never the face it was attached to.
Julian stood straight with an intimidating posture. A man and no longer a hollow monstrosity, with sharp cheekbones, narrowed jawlines, and a metallic glimmer in his tired eyes. His magic contained the element of spirit, which held the ability to perform magic derived from any other element. Most recently, it was rumored he’d passed through the cell’s bars. It was how he escaped and got to Fallon in time.
Phoenix, the descendant of fire, crossed his arms and glanced at me, carrying questions inside his golden eyes. Stubble shadowed his jaw and upper lip, dipping with his cupid’s bow. He had a perfectly shaped nose with brows naturally slanted downward, giving off the impression that he was eternally moody. He always had eyes that were expressional, never able to hide the hot yet transparent flames that burned within them. And right now, he was wondering why I was here with the men of Sacred Sea.
Although Beck was the shortest of the four, he was far from short. He stood at least six feet tall with a knowing flaring across his face like he was anticipating this night. He was the witch of water, the youngest of the four, and the one Fable and I had seen in Town Square with Milo. There had been whispers about Beck being able to tell the future. Did he already see us all meeting here on this night?
My thoughts halted when Zephyr Goody, son of air, stepped forward, the tallest of them all. A mask still covered the Heathen’s face. Everything else about him was the same: light brown hair combed back neatly and neon, psychopathic green eyes shining. Butsamedidn’t sit well with me, considering he still wore the creepyPhantom of the Operamask.
What did this mean?
“Cyrus,” I whispered, my stomach in knots.
“I noticed.” Cyrus’s gaze flicked to Zephyr. “Let’s not form assumptions yet.”
Augustine banged the gavel, and my attention snapped to the front of the room, where the Order sat. Augustine Pruitt, Viola Cantini, Clarence Goody, and Agatha Blackwell.
Mina Mae, who looked after the flatlanders, sat off to the side to monitor, wearing a nightgown and slippers with her long braid tumbling off her shoulder.
Clarence Goody was the high priest of Norse Woods and Zephyr’s father. Most importantly, he no longer had a mask covering his face. His nose was long and straight, his pale face thin. How was it that Zephyr still wore a mask to hide his cursed face, but his father didn’t?
“Julian Blackwell,” Augustine said, his voice tired. “Please let the room know what was so urgent that you had to drag us away from our families during a time like this.”
Julian was standing too close for comfort. Only an empty aisle between us. Even with Cyrus beside me, disgust still swam through my bones. Julian paid the right side of the room no attention after the initial greeting glances.
“The Heathens request permission to explore the shores of Sacred Sea.”
“That’s not your jurisdiction,” Kane raced to say.
