“What?” Everyone asked at the same time.
“It is the Klavier der Seelen.”
“What is that?” Lady Saye asked.
“I have no idea,” Eugenia answered. “Help me find the journal, Cassian,” Eugenia instructed.
Eugenia searched tables and drawers while Cassian looked through nearly every book on the shelves.
“This!” Samantha cried and pulled a leather-bound book from beneath the decorated tree. “It is similar to the ones in the vault and nothing is written on it.”
Cassian took it from Samantha and handed it to Eugenia. When she opened it, a scrap of paper fell out, which she picked up. “It is the Piano of Souls. Apparently, when played, the piano will claim the person, slowly. With each note a piece is drawn into the piano until nothing remains.”
Cassian looked back at Samantha who had grown even paler and sank onto the settee.
“How do we fix it?” he demanded.
Euginia flipped through the pages of the book and frowned. “I do not know.”
“What do you mean?” He marched forward and took it from her. “What language is this?”
“It appears to be German, I believe.” Eugenia looked toward the door. “Does anyone read German, or a similar language?”
There was silence from the witches waiting in the hall.
“Samantha, I promise that we will find someone who can translate this so we can free you,” Eugenia insisted. “Someone in Bocka Morrow, or near, must speak the language.”
“Why can we not use a reveal spell so that we can read the words?” asked Selene Norcott, the youngest of the Drakos witches at ten and nine.
“It is always dangerous to use magic to find the answer to magic. We do not know if the journal is enchanted and if it is, something worse might happen to Samantha.”
“How can it have fully pulled anyone in?” Maia asked. “Did the person not notice they were disappearing before it was too late?”
Samantha placed a hand against her chest. “I was lost in my music. My eyes were closed. It surrounded me and I had never felt it so strongly before. I thought it was simply because I let my emotions free because I thought it was safe to do so.”
Cassian told them what she had said then explained that if it had not been for a missed note and looking down that… “That is why Iza saw Samantha trapped in music. The piano takes and pulls, embraces and surrounds.”
Samantha glanced back at the piano. “I wonder how many have been claimed and if they can be freed?”
He did not want to think about that. Maybe it was something that could be solved later, but right now, all he cared about was freeing Samantha and having her whole again.
“How could none of us have known about this room?” Lady Chandos murmured near the door. “I spent years here as a child with Eugenia, and studying in the vault, but we never knew about this room.”
“I did,” Petra said. “So did Maia, but the door was always locked.”
“Come along,” Lady Chandos ordered. “While my sister finds someone who can translate, we need to search the magical vault for any reference to the piano.” She frowned. “Do any of you recall reading about it when you were searching for the other spell last month?”
“I honestly cannot recall,” Maia answered. “We read so much and only worried about what we needed.”
“Then I am even happier that Gretchen and Larisa have decided to provide an index of everything we have, which we will all work on while we are searching for information on the piano.”
Their voices faded as they retreated to the vault.
“You do not have to stay with me,” Samantha said quietly.
Did she really think he would leave her? He was the only one who could see or hear her. And, even if that wasn’t the case, Cassian would sooner die than leave her alone.
“I am not going anywhere, Samantha. I promise.”
