Marcus’ jaw dropped when he saw Charlie there. He rubbed his eyes, like he thought he might be seeing an illusion. “What’s going on? Charlie was caught. How is hehere?”
Emperor Cassiel stood from his throne and reached his arms out wide. “Finally, you’ve all returned safely. It’s wonderful to see you. I trust that you have it, princess?”
I smiled widely. “Charlie promised he wouldn’t let you down, and he didn’t.”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the vampire key— therealone.
Marcus gasped. His gaze darted from the key in my hand to Charlie, then back again. He turned toward the inferichite net Alistair was playing with. “I don’t get it. Ava had the vampire key all along? How did Charlie escape?”
Charlie stood, smirking proudly. “Simple. Salvatore never captured me in the first place. The vamps who threw me in the back of the van weren’t vampires at all. They were the Elvish Associates in disguise. They used the potion you made with your Uncle Grant to avoid triggering any magical alarms, along with the potion you used in Paris to take on the bank employee’s identity. It was a perfect combination. Asa and Aries didn’t infiltrate The Devil’s City this morningjustto hack into the security cameras. They were also taking down members of Salvatore’s security team, so they could don their identities. Salvatore never knew the men guarding him were really working forus, and he believed the inferichite net to be one of his security team’s latest toys.”
“But what about the key Salvatore took?” Marcus demanded. “We were just down the street when it happened. WesawSalvatore take the vampire key from you.”
“You saw him takeakey,” I said. “When we got to the vault, I pocketed the real vampire key. I gave Charlie a fake key he’d made with his illusion magic before we ever entered The Devil’s City. Once we got outside the building, Asa and Ares threw the net on Charlie, and I pretended to protest as Oberi carried me away, to put on a good show for Salvatore.”
“You did a wonderful job. Even I believed it,” Charlie said smugly.
“Charlie was only a distraction for Salvatore, so thatyoucould get away with the real key,” Marcus realized. “Capturing Charlie in the inferichite net was your plan all along! That’s so clever.”
Danny crossed his arms. “You guys should’ve told us about this. It isn’t okay that you kept this whole other plan from us.”
“You didn’t need to know everything,” Charlie stated. “I did what had to be done. It was what my grandfather would do, and we pulled it off— quite spectacularly, I might add.”
Cassiel clapped Charlie on the back proudly. “You got the vampire key, and that’s what matters. Now, you have six of the seven Divinity Keys, and all that’s left is the Astromancer key. You have all worked very hard, and now it’s time to celebrate.”
“Time topart-ay!” Alistair exclaimed.
I smiled, because after everything we’d been through today, I was relieved that all my friends had made it out alive. I thought a party would really help take the edge off for all of us. We hadn’t celebrated a win like this in a long time, and I wanted to let loose at the idea of foiling Salvatore Bianchi’s plans. “A party sounds great.”
“Go put the key in the royal vault with the others, and enjoy the rest of your night,” Cassiel said. “Take the day off tomorrow, too. You’ve earned it.”
Cassiel left the throne room, and the Elvish Associates followed him. Charlie leaned down to pull the inferichite net off Pig’s head, then began folding it up.
Danny scowled. “Charlie. Where did you get an inferichite net?”
“I had the Elvish Associates return to Darke Island to dig up what was left of the inferichite buried beneath the Institute's fence,” Charlie stated. “The place has been completely abandoned, and the crystals were ours for the taking. I had it made in case we needed to use it against the Warden’s demigods. Esther, Deuce, Naya, and Mad Dog won’t be able to do anything if they’re trapped in this.”
Danny huffed. “Whatever. Don’t eventhinkof getting that thing near me.”
“As long as you don’t fuck up, you have nothing to worry about.” Charlie gave a wry smile.
I pushed my chair between them. “Now, boys. Play nice.”
Charlie finished folding the inferichite net and handed it off to Eddie, who left the room to store it elsewhere. “There’s no problem here. Danny and I arejust fine.”
Just fine, my ass. But Dannydidhelp us get out of The Devil’s City, and for that, I’d be forever grateful.
My friends and I left the throne room, and my guard Eldin followed us to the royal vault. We left the vampire key with the others, and then sealed the vault with iron-clad wards that even the other demigods couldn’t break through. We knew the keys would be safe there, for as long as they remained.
We returned to our quarters, where we found the rest of our friends. Kallie sat on the couch wrapped in a blanket, sipping tea Abigail had brewed. Kallie looked much better than she had hours ago. She was talking with Ez and Opal, who were cuddled on a chair beside her. She still seemed pale, but Ez and Mama had healed the rest of her injuries.
I wanted to check in on her. “Hey,” I greeted, and I came up beside her. “How are you?”
Kallie forced a smile. “I’m… I’m here.”
That wasn’t the best answer, but it also wasn’t the worst. “I didn’t think they’d let you out of the hospital yet.”
“They didn’t want to,” Kallie said. “My mom and dad were there. They stayed at my side every second. I insisted I was fine, but they didn’t want to let me out of their sight. I snuck out when I had the chance and came here. I don’t want anyone fretting over me.”
