Spellmaker (Spellbreaker Duology #2) - Charlie N. Holmberg Page 0,106

eyes narrowed. Behind him, Ogden was coming out of the barn, holding the lamp high over his head. When he neared, Elsie grasped Merton’s hand to show she was harmless. “I didn’t throw all the spells in the Thames,” she admitted.

Bacchus’s brows drew only closer together, but Ogden understood, even without reading her mind. His eyes shifted between Elsie and Merton several times before he said, “Which did you keep?”

“Forgetfulness. She thinks it’s December of 1880.”

Merton tensed. “What . . . Who are you?” She looked between the new faces. “What am I doing here?” She touched her forehead with her free hand.

Elsie let out a shaky breath. “It’s fine now. Everyone is safe.”

“Not enough.”

Elsie turned, barely making out Raven’s shadow at the edge of Ogden’s light. “Fifteen years gone,” she said. “She doesn’t remember any of it. She doesn’t remember you.”

“Who?” Merton’s voice carried a note of anxiety. Elsie squeezed her hand.

But Raven shook his head. “She’s the same person with the same motivations. Having her forget isn’t enough. Your little spell doesn’t undo her crimes. It won’t bring my friends back.”

Merton was crying now. “What crimes?”

Elsie set her jaw. “Ogden, distract her, please.”

She felt a slight distortion in the air between Ogden, who stood still as an ancient tree, and Merton, whose breathing suddenly calmed. Her eyes slipped away from them, seeing something that wasn’t there, and her lips turned up. The image Ogden had pushed into her mind must have been beautiful.

Elsie turned her focus back to Raven. “She doesn’t remember.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he pressed.

“But in her mind she’s innocent—”

“Elsie.” Ogden’s voice was soft, his concentration on his spell. His eyes remained on Merton, but he said, “She isn’t innocent. I will—” His voice strained, and he swallowed. “I will never get those years back. I will never be able to forget.”

A sore ache bloomed over her heart. She blinked away a new tear. “Of course you won’t.” No one could ever forget their deepest hurts, only learn to better shoulder them.

Bacchus murmured, “We could take her to the authorities. But she won’t be able to confess.”

“She will if they know which questions to ask.” Raven stepped into the light, dry weeds crunching under his boots. Approaching Merton from behind, he put a hand on her shoulder, and a clear, sweet note rang out from the spell he cast. A strong note, a rich pitch—a master spell.

“What did you do?” Elsie whispered.

“I cursed her,” he said, and Elsie’s stomach tightened. “She can only speak the truth now.”

That gave Elsie pause. The song was similar to the truthseeking spell he’d used on her in Juniper Down.

“You want to take her to the police,” Bacchus guessed, “with a note containing incriminating questions. Anonymous, I presume.”

Raven merely nodded, his face stern.

Elsie took in a deep breath and let it all out at once. “I suppose it’s only fair. Perhaps you should write it, Raven. I think your handwriting will be the least easy to identify.”

“She’ll write it,” Ogden said, straightening. “I’ll guide her hand.”

Elsie looked at him, then lifted her gaze to Bacchus’s. His brow was resolute, but his eyes were sad. Elsie was sad, too, though this was the right thing to do. Still, not everything she’d said to Merton was a lie. They were similar, in so many ways. In another world, perhaps they could have been family.

“All right.” She rubbed her arms uneasily. “But make sure she confesses to everything. Including the control and framing of Master Phillips. We need to make this right.” She looked between them, a chill embracing her. “Oh God, Irene. Where is Irene?”

Ogden released his spell suddenly, and Merton startled. “Where am I?”

“Help me get Miss Prescott to the carriage.” Ogden gestured to Bacchus. “She needs a doctor.”

As the two men hurried back to the barn, Merton pulled her hand from Elsie’s—Elsie had forgotten she was holding it. “My dear,” she said, “I’m quite confused. Will you help me?”

Elsie gave her the best reassuring smile she could muster. “Of course.” She glanced to Raven. “We’ll get you to where you need to be.”

CHAPTER 24

Elsie hadn’t stayed to see Merton interrogated. None of them had. They’d swiftly taken Irene to a hospital, retrieved Emmeline and Reggie, and escorted Merton to the local constable’s home early the following morning. She carried with her a letter sealed with plain wax.

The story hit the newspapers two days later.

Forgetful Aspector Raised from Death Confesses to Murders, the headline read. It was the top story that day. Three