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“I don’t know any herbs referring to griffins,” Grant said.
“Then what could Hattie have meant by it?” Nadine wondered. “Unless… it’s a password!”
Nadine walked straight up to the gargoyle and simply stated, “Griffin dick.”
The gargoyle stepped aside, revealing the door behind it.
Chloe smirked. “Siona apparently has a sense of humor. I like her already.”
I opened the door to reveal a small coffee shop that doubled as a bookstore. The smell of sweet pastries hit my nose, mixed with the scent of old books and cinnamon. Patrons sat at tables sipping coffee and nibbling on baked goods. A couple by the door met our eyes when we entered, and they quickly scrambled outside, like the sight of strangers terrified them.
A counter stood in the corner, and shelves of books lined the opposite wall. One of the shelves housed wands and crystals, which was strange, because the fae classified tools like that as dark magic. I couldn’t imagine any of that was legal here.
We approached the counter, where a barista was handing a patron their order. The sign next to her read Flavor of the Day: Spiced Chai.
The barista had dark skin, long black hair, and a green crystal hanging around her neck. The woman wore a kind smile and called the patron by name as she told him to have a nice day.
She turned to us as we approached. “Welcome to Enchanting Whispers. How can I help you?”
“We’re looking for Siona,” I said lowly.
“I am Siona,” she replied. “Someone must have sent you, or you wouldn’t have made it past my spell.”
“Who are you exactly?” Chloe demanded. “We need to know we can trust you.”
“I’m a griffin sorceress who helps supernaturals seeking refuge in Dolinska,” Siona explained. “I own this undercover shop and sell contraband magical items to people who need them, most specifically, dark fae. I’m not a dark fae myself, but my parents taught me that this world is better when everyone can coexist and find strength in our differences, so I do what I can to help. How can I be of service?”
I glanced around, and though no one was watching us, I lowered my voice anyway. “Hattie sent us.”
Siona’s features brightened. “I’ve been expecting you, though not for another few days.”
“Plans changed,” I admitted. “How can we be sure it’s really you, and that you want to help us? I know the fae can trick us using illusions.”
“I assure you I will help anyone, even witches,” she said. “This is a safe place for all dark magic users, including the Unseelie fae who are attempting to gain their rights back in Malovia. I’m afraid they are still persecuted here.”
I had the thought that maybe the fae weren’t all bad like we thought, but that some of them were just as desperate as we were.
“I understand, however, that my word is not enough,” Siona added, lowering her voice so only we could hear. “Therefore, I offer you this… Hattie’s Familiar is a gray wolf, and her name is Everest.”
I nearly reeled back in shock. This wasn’t just any random bit of information. The fae took names very seriously, and Hattie wouldn’t give her Familiar’s name to just anyone. For Siona to know Everest’s name was confirmation enough that we were speaking to the right person.
I glanced to my friends, and they shared a look of approval.
“We believe you,” I said. “Perhaps we could speak in private?”
Siona gestured to another barista behind the counter. “Can you handle the register? I’ll be back soon.”
Then she turned to us and said, “Follow me.”
Siona turned on her heel, and we followed her down a hallway behind the counter. She stopped in front of a bookcase and waved her hand. The sound of a lock disengaged, and the bookcase swung open like a door, revealing a narrow, twisted stairway behind it.
We ascended the dark stairwell to a small room above the shop. Shelves full of boxes and books lined the walls, and the ceiling was short. There were no windows—just a small lightbulb above us that barely lit the whole room. Labels on the boxes read things like Highly Dangerous and Extremely Rare. It was some sort of hidden attic where Siona must’ve kept the most illegal items in her shop.
A narrow doorway stood in front of us, and I heard unfamiliar voices beyond it.
“Our soldiers are on high alert,” a man said. “They’re looking to infiltrate Pruska, and anyone who is found to be disloyal to the king and queen will be eliminated. It’s going to be difficult to get your friends past the border.”
“We’re already here,” I stated as we entered the room.
