Finished, I strode toward the door, stopping to meet Christoph’s gaze. “You will immediately forget that I was here, and you will not disturb the charm in the corner.”

He nodded, eyes blank, but the gesture full of conviction.

“Good.” I turned and left, tucking the mirror back into my pocket.

Christoph shut the door behind me, and I turned back to it, affixing another charm to the upper corner of the door. It clung to the wood using magic, and whenever the door was opened, a corresponding charm in my pocket would vibrate.

Now, all I had to do was wait for Anton’s goon to show up. Whoever they chose to kidnap next, we’d know about it and have the drop on them.

12

Carrow

An hour later, Mac, Eve, Seraphia, and I arrived on the sunny shore of Cyprus. Blue waves crashed against a rocky beach, and the sound of birds cut through the wind. Warm sun shone on my face, and I breathed in deeply. “I need a holiday.”

“I could definitely come back here.” Mac spun around, taking in the scenery. “It’d be perfect. A little swimming, a little sunbathing . . . ”

I joined her, enjoying the dramatic coastline of pale rocks and glittering blue water. Fluffy white clouds filled the sky, and the waves on the ocean glittered under the sun.

I adjusted the bag of potion bombs on my shoulder and looked at Eve. Her eyes were closed as tilted her head toward the sky, a blissful smile on her face. Seraphia looked tense, however, her jaw clenched and her eyes shadowed.

I frowned at her. “Do you not come home often?”

“Never.” She searched our surroundings, her lips tight. “I haven’t been back since I was a baby.”

I wanted to ask why, but a shout sounded in the distance.

I turned to see an older man and woman approaching. They wore the simple, ancient clothing of fishermen that I’d seen in a Nat Geo documentary and, though they had white hair, their faces glowed with health and strength. The woman carried a basket in one hand and clutched the man’s arm with the other as they walked.

“My aunt and uncle,” Seraphia said, striding forward to greet them. She still looked tense, but the man and woman appeared to be delighted.

They spoke Greek—or at least, what I assumed was Greek. I’d never actually heard it spoken, despite my fondness for the Greek restaurant that had been located near my old London flat.

Eventually, they turned to us. Seraphia quickly made the introductions, and I learned that her aunt and uncle were named Aurelia and Stavros.

“Come!” Stavros gestured us forward with a wide sweep of his hands, his accent heavy. “My boat is in the next bay over. I brought it around just a few minutes ago.”

“Thank you.” I smiled gratefully, and the four of us followed them down the rocky path that led toward the sea.

As we neared, the waves sounded louder, and the scent of the sea grew stronger. I wanted nothing more than to dive into the crystal-clear water, and vowed I’d come back some day.

Finally, we reached the boat that was pulled up on the rocky beach. It was about thirty feet long and had a sloping deck and a tiny cabin near the back. The wood was painted blue and white, and the engine looked ancient.

Were we going to be able to get it off the shore? I’d never seen such a big boat pulled up on the shore like this.

Stavros led us down to the beach. Before I could climb on, Aurelia pressed the basket into my hands. “Food, for the journey.”

It was only a few hours, but I wasn’t going to turn down food. I smiled and nodded. “Thank you.”

I climbed onto the deck, joining Mac and Eve at the benches in the front. They were built alongside the hull, curving against the railing.

On the shore, Seraphia hugged her aunt goodbye. “Thank you, Aunt. I appreciate this.”

“Come home, Seraphia. The land misses you.” The woman clutched her arms.

The land?

Mac and I shared a confused glance. That was an odd thing to say.

Darkness flickered across Seraphia’s face, but she just nodded and turned, joining us on the deck.

Stavros took up his position at the back and waved his hand in a swirling gesture. Magic flared, and the boat drifted easily back from the beach, floating calmly on the small waves. The engine hadn’t even turned on yet.

I waved at Aurelia, who stared at us as Stavros turned the boat to face the horizon. The four of us sat back and watched Cyprus disappear over the horizon. With the breeze and the sunshine, it really did feel like a holiday.

“Let’s see what Aunt packed.” Seraphia leaned over the basket and opened it, withdrawing various cold salads and a selection of chilled meats and cheeses, along with crusty bread and bottles of sparkling water.

She passed it all around, and we helped ourselves, filling the little plates that Aurelia had included.

“I could get used to this,” Mac said.

I grinned and ate, trying to ignore my worry over the people that we were going to save. It would be better to ruminate over plans to save them instead of dwelling on my fear.

We traveled for two hours before the sun began to set. It gleamed brilliant orange on the horizon, the colors bleeding to pinks, reds, and yellows before the sun dipped below the sea.

The air immediately grew cooler, and I wrapped my arms around myself, looking toward the stars. They came out quickly, the night cloudless and bright. Fortunately, the moon was just a sliver.

“We’re nearly there,” Stavros said. “I can see the shore.”

“That’s my cue.” Eve stood and uncorked a little vial she wore around her neck. As she raised it to her lips, her wings flared behind her, glittering and bright.

She swigged back the potion, a shudder running through her. A moment later, she was gone. I felt her absence more than heard it and, a moment later, her voice whispered out of the comms charm I now wore around my neck.

“Headed to shore,” she said.

“We’ll await your directions,” I confirmed.

Stavros idled the boat off the coast as we waited for Eve to tell us the quietest way to approach. It was only five minutes before she spoke again. “I can sense activity in the city near the temple, also to the south, where there is a human settlement. There’s definitely something strange along that coast, as well. Best to avoid it. I think you should approach from the north. Go up the hill, and you’ll find the entrance to the city in front of you.”

“Is there anyone around there we should look out for?” I asked.

“Just some goats. No shepherd that I can see.”

“Thanks. See what you can find out at the city,” I said.

“On it.” The communication severed.

I looked at Stavros. “Did you get that?”

He nodded, turning on the boat’s engine. The engine rumbled almost silently.

I leaned toward Seraphia. “Is he using magic to keep it so quiet?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

I stood at the bow with Mac and Seraphia as we approached the rocky shoreline. Tension tightened my skin as the breeze blew the wind back from my face. In the distance, I could barely make out the sight of the city on the hill. As Seraphia had said, it was mostly rubble. Broken walls and tumbled stones, all so ancient that it was hard to believe.

Stavros beached the boat, and we scrambled off. We had transport charms for when it was time to leave, so we waved our thanks, and Seraphia said a quick goodbye. Silently, he drifted out to sea, then turned around and headed back for Cyprus.

The path up the hill was rocky and dusty. I led the way, spotting several goats as I walked. They stared balefully at me as I passed, chewing on some vegetation that couldn’t possibly taste very good.

From up ahead, I sensed magic in the air. Something powerful and dark that sent a shiver over my spine.

“I do not like whatever is going on up there,” Mac whispered from behind me.

“No kidding.” I was grateful we hadn't transported right into the middle of it.

Clouds drifted over the moon as we neared the city walls, and gratitude welled. Eve hadn't reported that there were any guards, but it’d be good to have the cover of darkness.

We slowed our pace as we approached the wall, which soared twenty feet over our heads. It was an enormous structure, wider at the base than at the top, with an incline about forty-five degrees. Rubble decorated the top, the remnants of the upper part of the wall.

An arched entryway to the city beckoned us. Whatever wooden gate had once been there was gone, and the tunnel into the city stretched ahead of us.

“Reminds me of the entrance to Guild City,” I whispered.

“Only creepier,” Mac said.

I nodded, walking silently through the gate. The tunnel within was pitch black, but I didn’t dare use a light. Instead, I walked slowly, my hands outstretched as my eyes gradually adjusted.

At one point, I stumbled. Heart in my throat, I reached out for the wall, bracing myself.

Power slammed into me, my vision going red. Screams echoed in my head, and pain flashed through me. My stomach pitched.

It was that same terrible vision I’d had earlier back in the alley and, again, when Coraline’s abductor had touched me.

“Come to me.” The voice echoed deep and terrible in my mind. I felt an aching pull dragging me toward it.

Almost immediately, the red turned to white. Calm descended, along with fear. The voice changed, soft and low, whispering, “Resist.”

Hands gripped my shoulders and pulled me back.

“Carrow, are you okay?” Mac sounded frantic.

“Yes. Yes.” I shook my head. “Just a crazy vision.”

“Your magic seems different,” she said. “More powerful.”

“I don’t what’s happening, but Anat may be trying to contact me.” It sounded crazy.

“Anything is possible,” Mac said. “Can you keep going?”

“Of course.” I straightened my spine and looked ahead. I could only spot the vaguest shadows and the exit on the other side. From the look of it, we were about halfway through. Magic sparked, vibrant and bright. Torches appeared alongside the tunnel walls, flames sending a golden glow through the space.