Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters - Bella Forrest Page 0,63

your missing magicals,” I explained, keeping my voice firm. “I only suggested that Victoria speak to you, in case you could share intel. I didn’t tell her anything that would breach any national secrecy acts, I swear. But… make sure you’re careful about who you involve, if you go ahead with this. And you should definitely contact Victoria again, or Charlotte Basani, if you want more information about these witch hunters. They’re the ones who know more. But maybe don’t use the term ‘Veritas,’ or they’ll know I said something.”

Mom’s gaze shifted to one of concern. “Are you okay, Persie? Is there more to this than you’re telling us?”

“I… met one—a witch hunter, and he had a serious axe to grind with us magicals,” I admitted. “That’s how I know they’re real, and that they’re a threat. But, before you both go off and start threatening to come and get me, I’m fine, and I’m safe, and I wasn’t hurt. I just heard some things from him that have got me worried.” It was the teensiest of white lies, told for their own sake. “That encounter has made this… personal. And I feel like Victoria and Charlotte aren’t telling me everything. I’d like to know why.”

Mom and Dad exchanged a dubious look before Dad replied, “Is that another reason why Victoria called us for help?”

“Yes.” I had to be as honest as I could. “But I asked her not to say anything about that encounter, so you wouldn’t freak out. If anything really bad had happened, I would tell you. But it was a random incident. I could’ve been any magical. I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

I knew that my parents would think almost-torture with a car battery classified as “really bad,” but I was fine, and there was no use stirring up that particular hornet’s nest. As long as they had some fuel to their fire, enough to get them going. Plus, I didn’t want my mom launching a tirade at Victoria for not telling her that her daughter had been kidnapped. It had been my choice, and it hadn’t seemed worth it, not when I’d come out unscathed.

Mom’s brows knitted together. “Well, that changes things.” She tilted her head from side to side, cricking her neck. “If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have gotten on my high horse about security breaches. Hell, if it was because you were in some kind of trouble, you can toss every NDA out the window!”

“You can’t try and take over, though, Mom. This is Victoria’s turf and she won’t thank you for trying to muscle in. Or me, for that matter. Do some digging on these witch hunters, as well as the missing scientist—that’s all I’m asking. I just… have a feeling they’re tied together in some way.”

Dad nodded. “We can’t promise we’ll find anything, and we won’t step on anyone’s toes, but we do need to know that you’re okay. We get that you’re not at home anymore and you’re living your life out there, but we’re still your parents. We have to know our daughter is safe and healthy.”

“I am.” I smiled at him.

Mom leaned closer to the camera. “Your dad’s right. If you ever need your parents, understand that we’re here and ready to zap through a chalk-door at the drop of a hat. We’ll freeze hell if we have to. Please, Persie, let us know when things like this happen, even if you’re not physically hurt. Sure, the urge to come running will be overwhelming, and your dad will have to restrain me, but we’re not aliens—you can talk to us, and we’ll always respect your decisions in the end. We just want to know what’s going on.”

I smiled sadly. “I promise I’ll let you know in the future. But I’m really okay. I just want to know more about who these people might be.”

Even with an ocean between us, I could feel their love through the video screen. It couldn’t have been easy for them to hear things like this secondhand. I knew they’d talk about it for a good few hours after I hung up, but this felt like definite growth on both sides, especially since they hadn’t jumped up from the sofa and come barging through a chalk-door. I had to believe what they were saying, that they trusted me to handle things on my own. I was already proving that I knew how to reach out to