Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace #7) - Keri Arthur Page 0,100
after nine, then. That’ll give us enough time to get down to Melbourne and find parking.”
“Thanks, Ashworth.”
“No problems at all. And I daresay Eli will be glad to get me out of the house for a while.”
“That’s a surety,” came the response in the background.
I grinned, bid them both good night, and hung up. After making myself ham, cheese, and spaghetti jaffles for dinner, I spent the rest of the evening flicking through the TV channels in a vague hope of finding something decent to watch. Eventually, I just gave up and went upstairs to sleep.
The lack of an indentation on the pillow next to mine the next morning suggested Aiden hadn’t made it home. I hoped it meant he’d decided it was easier to sleep at the compound rather than drive all the way here, but knowing him as well as I now did, it undoubtedly meant they’d worked all night.
I made a quick breakfast, then jumped into the Suzi and headed up to Castle Rock. Belle was just clattering down the stairs when I stepped through the back door.
“Didn’t expect you here so early,” she said. “What’s happened?”
“Ashworth’s made an appointment with the Thaumaturge Society to look through their archives. He’s picking me up at nine, so I thought I’d get here and do some prep work.” I slung my bag under the counter. “How was yesterday?”
“Steady, which was nice. Coffee?”
I nodded and updated her on the rogue. She swore softly. “How the hell are we going to stop her?”
“We?” I said, amusement twitching my lips.
She waved a hand. “A general we. You know, the whole damn gang.”
“I’m guessing it’ll depend on what we uncover about her at the society.”
She handed me a coffee, then leaned a hip against the counter. “Why would they have a record of her existence?”
“They may not, but to me it seems practical to not only keep a record of the marks, but also who’s received them.”
“I guess.” She wrinkled her nose. “You know, this whole rogue episode feels a lot different to all the other entities we’ve had through here.”
“That’s because it is. Not only is her killing spree personal, but she appears to be a wolf capable of magic.”
“Which is why I think the final action we take against her should be different.”
I frowned. “Meaning what?”
She hesitated. “Mom and I were talking about it last night. If she does want revenge for how badly her mother was treated—and I suspect we’re dealing with more than bullying here—then surely she deserves our pity rather than our hatred? Plus, what sort of upbringing must she have had? She’s been marked by a dark sorcerer and consumed by her mother’s trauma and need for revenge. She may not be playing on the same footing as the rest of us.”
I thought that was a safe bet. “Trouble is, she’s now killed nine people.”
“I know, and I’m not saying she shouldn’t be brought to justice. I’m just saying that our usual method of dealing with dark entities—that is, killing them—may be neither right nor appropriate in this particular situation.”
“What happens in that regard will depend entirely on what she’s capable of and how she reacts to us when we finally track her down.”
“I know, and I’m just putting my thoughts out there.”
A smile twitched my lips. “Have you put those thoughts out to Monty?”
She raised an eyebrow, knowing exactly what I was actually asking. “No, I have not, and you well know it, given he was with the rangers last night, not me. Go do some prep, evil woman.”
I laughed and headed into the kitchen. We worked steadily for the next couple of hours, with me handling the knife work and Belle readying cakes and slices. Ashworth arrived right on the dot of nine. I swung my handbag over my shoulder, then picked up the coffee I’d made us both and headed out.
The trip down to Melbourne went without a hitch, though things got a whole lot slower once we entered the city. We might have arrived well past peak hour, but the traffic still seemed on a go-slow.
The Thaumaturge Society was located in a grand old building at the top end of Collins Street. As we walked under the ornate arches that lined the building, a blue-clad security guard stepped in front of the door and said, “May I help you?”
Ashworth dug out his RWA credentials and showed them. “We’ve an appointment with Marian Jennings at eleven.”