Page 31 of Rogue Witch

Matthias audibly sighs. “I believe the creature either mistook Father Lucci for me or was trying to get to me. The demon lived up to its reputation for inflicting pain. I was forced to imprison it in a spirit bottle.”

And I’m betting he buried the bottle somewhere so remote and so deep no one will ever find it.

“Miriam’s death isn’t a secret,” Raith says. “Maybe someone thinks she faked her death and is looking for her.”

Blade straightens. “Olympia feels Zedkeil isn’t the only one who wants to know if Miriam found a way into Hell.”

“Who better to find an open door into Hell than a demon?” Matthias asks.

“Leilah just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time,” I say.

“How did the demon get past the wards around the potionary?” Blade says more to himself than to us.

“Miriam has been gone for three months,” Raith says. “There are bound to be weak spots. That the wards still hold at all is a testament to her power.”

Matthias’s attention focuses on Blade. “Olympia informed me that Zedkeil told you that they believe Miriam was trying to enter Hell—and that God is locked inside.”

Blade grunts. “Who would have guessed?”

“That would explain much,” Matthias says.

“You’re not going to tell us how God has been silent all these years?” Raith sneers.

“One could make a case for that point, but no,” Matthias replies. “I was going to say that Miriam might have been trying to free Him.”

“So, you do believe she was trying to find a way into Hell?” Blade asks. “I was certain that was rubbish.”

“Few witches in history surpass Mariam’s abilities. I find it unlikely her magic backfired.”

Raith says, “Few are strong enough to use Shadow magic.”

“True,” Matthias says. “I detected a blasting spell in the basement where she disappeared.”

“We didn’t discover any blasting spell.” Blade looks at Raith. “I took Judith Holwen.”

“Of the Kispu Order?” Matthias chuckles. “You had to know she wouldn’t tell the truth. I’m surprised Olympia allowed anyone from the Order to participate in the investigation.”

“Olympia didn’t have a choice,” Raith says. “The Kispu Order insisted on an investigation.”

“Of course,” Matthias says. “I imagine they said nothing about the hint of magic—almost an echo—in Leilah’s room? It was subtle. So subtle, I couldn’t locate the source.”

Blade’s mouth thins. “I must be losing my touch. I detected nothing.”

“Perhaps that was because you didn’t know that the room belonged to Ciarah.”

Blade blinked and opened his mouth, but I cut in, “You knew? Dammit, Matthias, why didn’t you tell us? We were blindsided by learning that the new High Potential, Leilah Crowe, was Ciarah.”

“Would you have been any less blindsided had I told you earlier?”

“Hell, yes,” Raith snaps. “We would never have allowed her to be recruited.”

Matthias laughs. “You couldn’t have stopped it. The Wall named her as a High Potential.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Raith repeats.

“Raith,” I warn.

“No,” he says without taking his eyes off Matthias. “I think he owes us an answer.”