Perhaps I can thank the air of dangerous desperation around me for that.
As soon as I step beyond the entrance, magic takes hold behind me, making my senses fire as the cube closes, a wall forming that drops us into silence.
Trying not to react to the suddenly confined space, I meet the mage’s eyes. “Blessings on your power,” I say. “My name is Tansy. I need your help.”
I stumble over my request. Asking for help has never been my strong point, but I clear my throat, lower my voice, and force myself to continue. “I need to locate a witch who has feasted on souls. She’s hiding at this Ball. Can you tell me where she is?”
The mage considers me carefully, a light of curiosity entering her eyes. Her hands shift across her cards, an almost imperceptible movement. Whether or not she’s heard of Mother Kadris, a witch who feasts on souls will be a dangerous creature. I’m sure the mage thinks I’m reckless—or equally dangerous—to be looking for her.
She crosses one leg over the other, her thigh-high boots accentuating the shape of her legs. I envy the way she wears her clothing. She’s confident, comfortable in her power and her body. I wish I could be the same.
Just when I think she’s going to deny my request, she nods. “I’m Katya. I can find what you seek.”
I take a seat on the other end of the couch. The cards hum in Katya’s hands, a curious energy that makes me both nervous and hopeful. I try not to let it show, hiding my desperation behind a blank mask I learned from the assassins. Their emotions are always closed off.
“Can you tell me where she is?” I ask.
“Yes.”
Relief rises inside me, but Katya pauses. I suspect she’s regretting helping me. I haven’t told her why I’m looking for Mother Kadris, but the light of intelligence in her eyes tells me she doubts things will go well for me tonight.
“Well?” I sit forward, the ruby-red rose on my shoulder dipping toward her.
Katya taps the topmost card with her index finger, as if she’s considering whether or not she should tell me. “Will finding her this evening give you peace?”
I meet Katya’s eyes. “Nothing will give me peace. But finding her will give me closure.”
She hesitates another moment, then says, “Perhaps you should visit the rooftop. I understand there are conversation pits up there. In one, you shall find your witch. But tread lightly. A witch who has feasted on souls is potent.”
I push to my feet, still bunching the dress into my fists.
“Thank you,” I say, taking a deep breath. “For your help.”
She tips her chin at the door, and I step toward it, the magic in the cube taking hold and revealing the opening once more.
Outside, a man with the aura of a dark wizard has appeared, waiting to go inside. I shiver, wondering for a moment if I should stay, but I’m certain a mage as powerful as Katya will be able to handle any situation that might arise.
It’s time for me to face Mother Kadris.
CHAPTER NINE
Ihurry past the circular white bar in the middle of the rooftop toward the sunken couches on the far side.
The staircase led me up through the colorful neon cloud that covered the ceiling and out into the open air at the top of the warehouse.
Multiple sunken couches line the edges of the rooftop, and a lone woman sits in the one to the far right. Her dark hair falls softly across the top of it, her features composed into an air of calm as she stares out over the sparkling city below us.
She looks about forty, despite the stories that she’s hundreds of years old.
The power radiating out from her tells me she must be Mother Kadris. It bites like I expected it would, making my arms tingle and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I have no doubt she’s the witch I seek.
She could easily respond to my presence with violence, so I take each step slowly, reaching for the nearest spell attached to my dress. It’s another protection spell like the one I used in the library in case things get nasty.
I’m not sure how far to trust the stories I’ve heard about The Proprietor’s protection of this place, and I don’t want a bunch ofdead supernaturals on my hands. Even so, suddenly, all of the spells I’ve attached to myself seem pitiful. If I have to fight this woman, I’d better hope my instinctive magic is up to the task.
Mother Kadris sweeps her hair behind her ear as I approach. With a scant sideways glance at me, she returns her focus to the glass on the table in front of her, a smile gracing her lips. “Well met, Tansy Gray. Blessings on your power.”
