“Ah. Well. I should have thought to ask you to bring your mirror. I’ve got a new enchantment that may allow it to work better,” Vassago said, walking toward one of the tables.
The women were all well into their own conversation, Phin giving me a slight nod of reassurance that she was fine as I followed my brothers.
“I’m not sure a scrying mirror will ever work reliably from the crossroads. Most methods of communication like that have a difficult time getting through the energy fields between the planes.”
“Only one way to find out,” he said as he sorted out some supplies. “I’ll make you another with the new method, and if it works, we can update your old one as well.”
He had me pick from several different sizes and shapes and began the task of enchanting it.
I looked at Rylan. “Could I impose upon you for a favor?”
“Of course.”
“I’d like for Phin to be able to go into the city. But she needs to be disguised somehow, if she’s going to be anywhere that’s unwarded or unprotected.” Despite my quiet request, I’d gotten the attention of the women and the room went quiet.
“I’m sure we can manage something.” Rylan rubbed his chin. “Were you thinking a trinket? I could also perhaps use a misdirection cantrip like I often do for myself when I go into the city.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think a cantrip will work.” I didn’t elaborate, but he must have seen enough explanation in my eyes. “I didn’t have anything specific in mind, it just needs to keep her hidden.”
“What about the invisibility thing you can do?” Vassago asked.
I shook my head. “Not only am I horribly out of practice, I have to be touching someone for it to work. That’ll be fine for other situations once I revive my skill with it, but not for enabling her to go without me. She should also have some freedom to move from place to place if she likes.”
“Hmm. Something spelled and worn would likely do the trick. Are we obscuring or disappearing altogether? How potent does it need to be and how soon were you thinking?” He moved toward one of the cabinets near the back of the room.
“Today if possible, so she can visit the glade and go shopping in the city, whenever she likes.”
Rylan nodded thoughtfully. “What are we avoiding?”
“Angels.” Phin’s voice was quiet but clear. Her cheeks pinked as silence swallowed the room.
My brothers both blinked a few times as they looked between us. Relief washed over me when they finally reacted.
“Well, of course.” Vassago nodded, hands still moving over the mirror.
“Naturally. We can’t have a Nephilim just running around unprotected in Revalia. That’s an invitation for Heaven to pick a fight, and the humans here don’t need to be stuck in the middle of any of their frivolous battles.” Rylan pulled several things out of the cabinet and brought them over to the table next to where Vassago was working. “It was bad enough when we had lower level demon hordes popping up.” He sighed. “I’m so glad that’s done with. Phin, would you mind coming over here for a moment? I need to know which object you prefer I use.”
She did as he requested, selecting a delicate bracelet with a small amethyst stone. It matched the necklace she wore. I had some suspicions about her necklace, and Rylan got a decent look while she was at the table. She’d mentioned before in passing that it was her mother’s, but it looked far too similar to the ones the other women in our family had come to be in possession of one way or another not to be intrigued. His eyebrow was raised as he stole a look my direction while fastening the bespelled item around her wrist.
Then everything stopped again as Phin burst into tears while laughing at the same time. Just as she did, Magnus camestriding through the open classroom doors, Grace at his side. They stopped, seeing that they’d walked into a tense moment.
“I’m so sorry,” Phin apologized through tears and laughter together, wiping at her face as she returned to the sofa. “I’msucha mess lately. I’m just… confused. Overwhelmed, maybe. Everything I thought I knew about demons is wrong. And I thought I had already come to terms with that, but I guess I haven’t, actually, because sometimes it feels like I’ve gone completely mad. You’re all so sincere!”
“Should we not be?” Vassago asked, head tilted to the side as he handed me the completed mirror. “Though we are an interesting group, I’ll give you that.”
“No, no, I just…” Phin threw her hands up and wiped at her face again. “You knew what I was when I came in?”
“Yes,” Rylan said. “I’m afraid it’s not common for any other kind of being to have your particular features, Phin.”
“Not to mention Seir has a big mouth,” I muttered. “And there are two nosy birds living here who happened to be visiting the glade the same time we were.”
“Yes, there’s that.” Vassago smirked. “But you are rather obviously angelic. Violet eyes and silver hair are a dead giveaway.”
“But you have?—”
“My eyes aregold.” Vassago’s smile was gentle, but his tone was insistent. “Occasionally red. Not violet. At least, not anymore. Though that color did suit me very well.” The cad actually batted his eyelashes at her.
“Fine, but what about my mother?”
