Page 26 of Rogue Witch

“Did you find anything new?” I ask.

“More strangeness,” she replies. “Miriam was a powerful witch.”

“Indeed, she was,” I reply carefully. Why is Olympia avoiding the question? “Miriam was one of the witches present when you turned the tide of the Shadow War in our favor,” I add.

Olympia’s expression grows distant. “I would never have believed that such a powerful white witch could fall so far.”

“As I mentioned, I am not certain she did fall.”

Olympia taps the arm of her chair. “You detected the blasting spell she used in the potionary.”

“That doesn’t mean she was trying to open the gates in order to help Damien join forces with The Morning Star and gain control of Margidda,” I say.

“Why else would she have used such a powerful blasting spell—and with the power of Shadows?”

“Miriam may have found a way into Hell, but that doesn’t mean she had a nefarious reason,” I say. “Or that she can get out.”

She laughs. “You’re right—even if you are gullible. It would serve her right to have found a way in, only to become trapped. In any case, do you recall that her granddaughter’s room looked as if Miriam hadn’t touched it since the girl left?”

I nod. “It seemed almost to be a shrine.”

“I thought the same thing—as did Blade. What Blade failed to tell me, however, is that the school textbook—a chemistry book, if I recall—that sat open on the small desk is gone.”

“Gone?” I blurt. I understand what she means, but the possible dozen reasons that rush to the surface boil down to the strongest possibility: Ciarah returned to the potionary since I found her there. “What do you think happened?” I ask.

Olympia locks gazes with me. “I think someone returned to the potionary for whatever the charmed chemistry book hid.”

Chapter Thirteen

ETHAN

Unless Blade is keeping secrets, which is quite possible, his flashback to the night we turned the Shadow War in our favor is the first in seven years. Fae feel emotions too deeply. He couldn’t have known the forest spirits would react to his plea for help by sending the ancient eudaimon. Even if he had known, he’d had no other choice.

We reach Raith’s private chambers and Blade and I settle on the couch near the hearth where, thankfully, a fire burns. Raith pours three glasses of whiskey then passes Blade and I ours. We down the liquor and Raith refills the glasses, then sits in the armchair across from the couch.

He looks from me to Blade. “How did we miss that Seton was a fucking demigod?”

That had me flummoxed, as well. “Just goes to show that no matter how old we are, we can still be fooled.”

“How reassuring.” Blade finishes his drink, then sets his glass on the coffee table. “What does he want with Ciarah?”

“I think Olympia is right,” Raith says. “Miriam Crowe is at the heart of this trouble.”

Blade nods. “No white witch has dabbled in Shadow magic for centuries.”

“Maybe Miriam thought herself to be Elexea,” Blade says.

I blink. “Damien’s Demon Bride?”

He shrugs. “Elexea was a powerful Shadow Mage. Miriam certainly qualifies.”

“Elexea hasn’t been heard from since she sank Atlantis. Maybe the Anunnaki are right and she’s trapped in Hell,” Raith says.

I grunt. What do they know? If Blade’s right, their god Yahweh is trapped in Hell. That would explain his continued silence. I would love to believe the Demon Bride is trapped with him, but that would be too easy.

“Maybe Ethan’s right and Miriam is The Demon Bride,” Blade says.

“A high white witch a Shadow Mage?” Raith shakes his head. “We’d have picked up on that long ago.”