Page 47

I held on to Bianca as my focus grew sharper.

“Remember,” Titus, who’d moved back to his seat, spoke. “Your only purpose is to find Bianca and get her out.”

“I know,” I told him.

“Don’t go snooping around,” he continued, looking at my grandfather. “Whatever information we need from her, it’s not going to be gathered against her will.”

The two older men looked at each other, nonplussed, before Pops answered, “I do understand the concept of professional boundaries. I once won a medal for that.”

My skin felt light, and a rushing sound washed over my ears—I’d already begun the dive. I barely glanced at the dragon before the wave washed over me.

A breath later, the room faded around me.

I opened my eyes to a haze of color and overlapping voices ringing loudly through the never-ending space.

The darkness settled as the bright windows of memory filled my sight.

The waters of thought ran in hurried currents throughout the space, and for a moment, it was impossible to make sense of the chaos.

Was this what being in her mind was like? It was chaotic and unorganized, with conflicting thoughts and emotions and no end in sight.

No wonder she was so anxious.

Some of the windows were brighter than others—the memories that made up the core aspects of her personality. I was drawn to those glowing lights, my attention lingering on them. But then, my attention was pulled downward, and my gaze shifted to my feet.

A slow, gentle stream of water flowed away from me, leading toward a particular location, not at the forefront of her mind.

I followed it to where her focus had been captured, and I leaned forward, reaching for her consciousness, and fell through the window.

I stepped into a bright, airy room, and my gaze was instantly drawn to her light.

Bianca .

She had to be no older than four. She wore a long, pink gown and a green ribbon tied in her hair, and was sitting with her back to me as she played with a small doll with button eyes and red yarn hair.

Faint voices murmured from somewhere else in the house, but their words were lost to me.

It didn’t matter. That wasn’t why I was here.

“You figured it out.” My grandfather was suddenly beside me.

I frowned at him. “It wasn’t that hard.”

And, indeed, it hadn’t been. I’d worried for nothing.

Pops lifted a brow and tilted his head, and something moving in his expression that made my stomach turn in knots. “You haven’t gotten to the difficult part yet,” he replied.

I ignored him, returning my attention to mini-Bianca. My heart began racing. It was too late to back out when I was already in her memories. But I sincerely hoped that I hadn’t lost her trust after this.

But then, as I studied her, my anxiety eased.

Damen and Titus had told us that she’d had a relatively safe life before Eric Richard had gotten his hands on her, but it was different seeing it—seeing her—with such a genuine, carefree smile.

The room was clean and well kept, with lace on the bed and windows and clean toys scattered throughout, and there was a lightness in how she carried herself that didn’t exist anymore.

And I’d never once heard her sing before.

So, she did have the ability.

“Good morning, Bianca,” a melodious female voice rang through the room. And as I looked, a presence shimmered into focus some feet away. As this was Bianca’s memory, I could access the same things she’d witnessed and heard.

The spirit had waist-length, brown hair that she wore in a braid over her shoulder. She carried herself with an elegant posture, and I knew I was looking at the spirit of Alyssa Dubois.

“Hi Aly!” Bianca dropped the doll and sprang to her feet, smiling at her mother.

She ran across the room with her arms open, but stopped short when Alyssa raised her hand. The spirit’s expression turned stern, and Bianca’s face turned heavy with disappointment as she lowered her gaze.

“Sorry,” Bianca murmured. “I forgot.”

Alyssa’s sternness softened with a hint of sadness. “Don’t be sorry,” she said, kneeling in front of Bianca. “Just remember, touching a ghost can be dangerous. You shouldn’t do it so casually.”

I frowned. While she wasn’t exactly lying, it was odd that she’d say that. Mu had always been able to touch spirits of all kinds.

Then Alyssa spoke, her voice leaving a weight in the room. “What are the rules?”

“You were gone a long time.” Bianca sniffled. “I missed you.”

“I know Bianca, and I’ve missed you too.” Alyssa folded her hands over her stomach. “But before we play, I must know you understand this. Look at me,” she demanded, waiting until Bianca’s watery eyes raised to meet her own.

“What are the rules?” she asked again.

“Don’t touch.” Her little fists clenched in front of her as she repeated Alyssa’s earlier statement.

“That’s right. You must never touch a ghost; don’t let them touch you.” Alyssa nodded.

“But why?” Bianca tilted her head, the tears drying up.

“What’s the second rule?” Alyssa ignored her question.

“Not all ghosts are good,” Bianca responded. “If one feels scary, run away.”

“That’s right,” Alyssa said. “A normal spirit will feel non-threatening. But some can hurt you. And you’re not old enough to defend yourself.”

“Who will hurt me?” Bianca asked, frowning.

“You’ll learn as you get older. Kieran will teach you.” Alyssa’s gaze never wavered. “But until you’re taught, it’s safest to assume that all non-human spirits are demons. Don’t ever trust them.”

“Now, what’s the third rule?” Alyssa asked.

Bianca bit her lip, glancing down at her doll before looking back to Alyssa. “I want to play.”

“In a minute.” There was a frown in her voice. “Now tell me, what’s the third rule?”

I cursed as the ground fell from under me when Bianca opened her mouth to answer. I wouldn’t count on Bianca coming forward with the ‘rules’ she’d been given any time soon. But the memory was over—I’d gotten what I’d come for. Bianca had known her mother, even though she hadn’t been aware.

Before losing my focus, I followed the next stream of light.

A small white farmhouse was faintly visible in the distance, illuminated by the full moon. The sounds of cicadas and crickets filled the space, and we were surrounded by forest as a damp air pressed in around us.

Disappointment rushed through me. I hadn’t meant for this to be an investigation, but at some point, I’d begun to grasp for anything to help us solve the mystery behind Bianca’s past. However, there weren’t enough hints to determine where she’d once lived.

We were still no closer to making things right.

But then my thoughts were forgotten as an uneasiness settled over the air. I couldn’t look away from the chilling sight before me, and my stomach dropped as I moved forward without thinking.

“There’s no use,” Pop said, touching my arm. “You know this isn’t real.”

I froze, clenching my teeth, as I stood by, unable to do anything, while Bianca stood knee-deep in dark water and stared at the surface.

But that wasn’t what caused my heart to race—bad as it was.

It was the sight of the demon hovering in the air in front of her.

The creature’s green skin glistened in the moonlight, and its eyes closed as it played a flute.

The eerie, lilting melody broke through the otherwise quiet sounds of the night.

We could only hear the music because she could. Otherwise, the sound would have been unnoticeable to us. Adults, after all, were immune to the piper’s spell. The water rippled from where Bianca stood, and I knew—from legends—that she was captivated by the kappa’s illusions.

Many demons lured children to their deaths, and each had their reasons: loneliness, revenge, or evil intentions. I wasn’t sure of this one’s history—this topic fell more into Bianca and Damen’s realms of expertise—but it was easy to see that it wanted Bianca dead.

I glanced around the darkening space, fury lacing through me. Where was Kieran? Hadn’t someone else been in the house, too? There had been multiple voices present in Bianca’s earlier memory.

Why was she out here? He was supposed to be protecting her!

Bianca moved, stepping further into the water. My heart raced.

This was only a memory. There was nothing I could do.

But then Bianca paused and raised her eyes. There was no fear in her gaze, only mild curiosity as she spoke to the giant, long-limbed demon. “Why?”

The creature’s yellow eyes popped open, and it lowered the instrument. Its shoulders dropped as its mouth thinned. It’d never been questioned before.

“You can see me?” the kappa asked.

“You’re lonely,” Bianca said, her tiny fist clutching against her chest. “But you have so many people with you. So why are you sad?”

“Perhaps there’s many,” he said, raising the flute to his lips. “ But there’s not quite enough. I have to fulfill my contract.” He seemed to state this more for himself than her and began to play the instrument once more.

But for Bianca, the pull had been lost. Such power lost its potency once the spell had been exposed.

“I can’t go with you,” Bianca interrupted his song. “I need to go home.”

He paused, his eyes narrowing as his form tensed.

“But I’m sorry you’re sad,” she said, turning away from the demon. “Goodbye.”

Bianca hadn’t even taken a step before the monster moved. The flute was thrown aside, and he lunged across the surface of the water, claw-like fingers reaching for her.

“I just need one more,” he said. “I can’t wait anymore. I’ll just drag you with me myself.”

My throat closed as the demon reached Bianca and wrapped his fingers around her neck. He couldn’t have known it would work. There was no way he’d known that he could touch her while she was alive. He was simply acting out of furious desperation.

However, he didn’t let his surprise stop him from continuing his assault.

Instead, he smiled.