AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We, um, got a front row seat to the Malovian Revolution,” Grant admitted.
“You’re not going back,” Verla insisted. “This is too dangerous!”
Grant sighed. “Well, our luck has run out anyway. Our fae contact is dead. We’re not finding a portal to the Abyss anytime soon.”
“Good,” Helena said firmly. She’d never been a big fan of us walking through hell to retrieve an Oaken Wand, but it wasn’t like we had any choice. We couldn’t exactly send someone else after it. All eyes turned to her, and she quickly added, “I mean, it’s good that you’re alive. You’re safe now. Let’s get you a warm bath and a hot meal.”
Helena took their backpacks and helped them to their rooms.
“What are we going to do now?” Onyx asked. “Malovia is the only place we know of with portals to the Abyss. It’s our only way to get to the Mentalist Wand.”
“Technically, not the only way,” Nadine pointed out.
I scowled. “You’re not talking about making a demon deal. That’s worse than going in alone.”
There were all kinds of reasons that was true. Demons could turn on you or trick you into faulty contracts. For a task this big, they’d want something major in return, something none of us were willing to give up. The last demon we’d dealt with had killed dozens of people before we were able to kill him, and it hadn’t been easy. I wasn’t putting my friends in danger by entering into a demon deal.
“If we can’t find another way in, we may have to consider it as a last resort,” Nadine said.
“You have no idea the cost you’d have to pay!” Verla protested. “You can’t, Nadine.”
“I don’t want to,” Nadine replied. “I’m only saying it’s an option, even if it’s a bad one.”
“It’s off the table,” I stated. “If I have to kill myself making Abyss portals, that’s better than working with a demon.”
“There has to be a way to get the Wands without people dying,” Professor Warren demanded. “No one’s making deals with demons.”
“Perhaps we should focus more on the other two Wands,” Verla suggested. “Let’s take some time to think about pursuing the Mentalist Wand. We can’t afford any mistakes.”
“We may be closer than you think,” Chloe stated.
Everyone turned to look at her. She stood with her arms crossed and lips pursed.
“What do you mean?” Nadine asked.
Chloe drew herself upright. “As I was trying to say before, our mimosas paid off. Miles and I had a drink with someone we deem to be a credible source… and we learned something big.”
My heart leapt. “How big?”
Miles hesitated, like he wasn’t sure where to start. Finally, he sighed and said, “You need to come with us. This could change everything.”
Chapter Two
NADINE
Excitement rushed through me at the possibility of finding another Oaken Wand. We hadn’t made progress in three months, and now it sounded like we were close to a breakthrough. We’d already found several Oaken Wands, but they’d fallen through our grasp each time. We weren’t going to let that happen again.
We knew the priestesses had possession of the Seer and Alchemy Wands. We’d obtained the Alchemy Wand from the Crock of Death, and I’d given it up to save my friends. Last semester, we found the Seer Wand in a pocket universe within the Vanishing Stairwell, and the priestesses had forced us to give it up in exchange for my kidney transplant. Then we witnessed the Mentalist Wand fall into the pit to the Abyss when we fought the demon, Professor Leto. We hadn’t found any leads on the Mortana or the Curse Breaker Wands yet, but it sounded like this could be it.
Obtaining all the Wands before the priestesses was imperative to stop them from gaining control over the coven’s magic. Once we had the Wands, we could work to heal the coven and bring an end to the Waning.
“Tell us everything,” I insisted.
“It will be easier if you speak to our source directly,” Chloe said.
“Who exactly is your source?” Lucas asked.
“He’s a wandmaker named Beau Blankard,” Miles stated.
