would use my power to compel you to tell me. It would not hurt you, but I would leave with the information I need. Either way, the money is yours.”
She scoffed again, which seemed to be her signature expression. “You’re honest, I’ll give you that.”
“As I said, I would see to it that no harm comes to you,” Grey said. “But it is a matter of life and death. Of my life and death, and that of the woman I care for.”
Her eyes darted to me, considering. “I do not recognize you.”
“I’m not a resident of Guild City,” I replied. “Not this Guild City, at least.
“So you’ve given me this money to ease my way.” She hefted the pouch. “And you’ll have the information you want, whether or not I give it to you of my own volition.”
“That is essentially it, yes,” Grey said.
“You could have just taken the information.” She frowned at him. “That’s the reputation associated with you.”
“I suppose so.” Grey shrugged. “Perhaps I am a changed man.”
Her eyes moved to me again. “Love.”
He said nothing, but I couldn’t help but look at him. Just briefly. Then I turned to the woman. “Will you help us?”
“Yes. And you’d best be grateful, because your power would not work on my mind. It is too strong.” Pride echoed in her voice.
“Really?” Grey leaned forward, interest in his eyes.
“Indeed. Part of my magic.” She gestured to herself. “Try.”
Grey’s brows rose, and then he spoke, his voice echoing with his power. “Tell me the date of your birth.”
She smiled. “No.”
“Tell me a secret from your childhood. Something harmless.”
“No.” She shook her head.
Grey stared at her a moment. “That’s quite impressive.”
“Indeed. Like I said, my mind is quite powerful.”
“What species are you?” I asked.
“Witch. From a long line. My mother was the same.” She looked at Grey. “So I suppose it is good that you showed me kindness and honesty. I will help you.”
“Thank you,” Grey said.
My gaze moved to the money he’d given her. It had been a thoughtful gesture. Would the Devil have done that in this time? Somehow, I thought not. Even the Devil I’d known when I’d first come to Guild City would not have thought of it.
But Grey had. He was changing.
I liked it.
The woman leaned forward. “What do you want to know?”
This was the tricky part. We were looking for information about me. About my powers and my past. And somehow, Rasla was tied up in all of this. The woman I’d seen in my vision was tied up in this. But where did we start?
“Are you familiar with the Shadow Guild?” Grey asked.
It was as good a place as any to start.
Fear flashed in her eyes, turning the blue dark. “How do you know of that? I thought I was the only one who knew, besides Councilor Rasla.”
“Really?” I leaned forward. “What do you mean?”
She swallowed hard and lowered her voice. “The Shadow Guild was real. I swear on my eternal soul. The tower was on the far side of town, near the gate through the Haunted Hound. But it’s gone now because of Councilor Rasla.”
“He erased the town’s memories of it,” I said. “Did he not erase yours?”
“Oh, he tried, but the magic did not work on me. My mind is too strong, as I said. But he erased it in the memories of everyone else in town. Even in the memories of those who had once been in the guild. For a while, I spoke of it, trying to find someone else who remembered. But no one did.”
“And then what?” I asked.
“Eventually, I drew too much attention from Councilor Rasla. He’d worked so hard to hide what he’d done. If he learned that I knew…” She shook her head, and it was clear she feared for her life. “I left my post, hoping to find other work and that he would forget me.”
“What happened to the members of the Shadow Guild?” Grey asked.
It was a good question. The council evicted anyone who didn’t have a guild. Where were they? Still in Guild City?
“Most of them are outcasts now. Nearly all have left town,” she said. “He didn’t even care that his own daughter was in the guild.”
“His daughter?” Excitement thrummed in my chest.
“Yes.” Mrs. Birch-Cleve nodded. “His daughter, Evangeline Rasla. His only child.”
“Why does he hate the Shadow Guild so much?” I asked. “And his own daughter?”
Her eyes shifted left and right. “I’ll confess, I found this information in the tried and true way