Page 11 of Forty Deaths Till Us Part

“I don’t know anyone else who could get their hands on the seeds needed to create this garden. Unless there is another supplier I am unaware of. I heard there are some black-market seeds, but these plants are of the highest quality.” I motioned to the forest. “This isn’t an ideal location to grow the plant. Theyneed more sunlight, so I’m guessing that a witch with similar magic to mine is... encouraging the plants to grow in less-than-optimal conditions.”

Rene growled. “This traitor has access to security measures. How else would he keep this hidden?”

I shrugged. “It could be a woman.”

Cass shook her head. “I am the only female in Shadow Bone with access to all aspects of security. It has to be a senior in the clan.”

Quinn rubbed his chin. “It could be an aide. The seniors all have one. They give their aide access to their information to perform daily tasks.”

“Is an aide like a secretary?” I asked.

Cass nodded. “Basically. All the seniors have one, but they are fully vetted. We are diligent about security. Though I never believed any vampire would conspire with a witch.”

“Excuse me?”

Cass sighed. “I don’t mean you, honey. You aren’t a witch to me. You are an empowered vampire.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

Rene shook his head. “No. You have shown no loyalty to your coven, and with good reason. They had every chance to secure your favor, but treated you as a second-class citizen when they should have cherished you. I will not make the same mistake.”

I felt a twinge of regret at his words. Part of me still wanted the coven to accept the woman I was when I was alive. That moment had passed and there was no future for me with my empowered sisters. “You are right, and I do appreciate all you have done for me. It’s easy to forget that I am just as unusual in your world as I am in the coven’s.”

Cass grabbed her phone when it rang. “Hey, Manu.” Her voice lacked the enthusiasm it usually held when speaking with the antiquities dealer.

Her eyes snapped to Rene. “Manu found something. He thinks he may know where the next page of the prophecy is.”

Rene glanced around the forest. “Quinn station someone at this garden going forward, but have them stay hidden. I want to know who comes to visit this location.”

Quinn moved away to make arrangements as Rene turned back to Cass.

“Ask Manu if the page is in Shadow Bone territory.”

She nodded. “He thinks he has narrowed down the location, though.”

“Tell him to meet us in the conference room. We will be there shortly.”

Cass relayed the information as we started walking back to the mansion. The silence was interrupted by the thud of my boots on the fallen branches, but neither Rene nor Cass made a sound.

I ignored the hushed glances and trepid stares as we entered the foyer. While the clan may not know who had been killed, they were aware something awful had happened and likely had an idea that another vamp was murdered.

Manu was sitting at the long table and his head snapped up as we entered. “This is very exciting.” He turned the scroll he was reading around and pointed to a passage as Cass neared him.

Rene and Cass stared at it, but I was unable to read the script. “What does it say?”

Rene frowned. “Manu has found a scroll pertaining to Magda. This suggests she did not have magic but some kind of human abilities. Different from that of the witches. They call her a... gypsy. For lack of a modern translation.”

“She had the same ability I do. The mental thing.”

Rene nodded. “That is my guess. There is no way to be sure unless we follow her instructions.”

“What instructions?” I asked.

Rene pointed to the scroll. “She wrote this, and it says she hid the page located on Shadow Bone property herself. It appears she was quite adept at fooling those around her regarding her skill, and I assume she had the ability to connect with them in some way. Perhaps her gift was stronger than yours and she could... influence anyone she came in contact with. We have instructions, but not a starting point. Manu has further work to do.”

I shivered. “She could control people’s minds. That’s a scary thought.”

Rene nodded. “It is. I would like to discuss the gift you possessed in life with Jana, since you no longer have the ability.”