Zhang looked as unsettled as Sebastian felt. “The article in today’s paper said the cause of death was unknown. I haven’t been able to see the body yet, but we need to find out if it’s the same method of murder.”
“A paranormal murderer stalking the nonmagical.” Sebastian set his jaw. “Is there any connection between the victims that also makes this seem related?”
Jade and Zhang exchanged a look. “A tentative one, maybe,” Jade said. “Magic.”
“The body found in Germany was one of the guards who was under the Puppeteer’s thrall, with Baron Zeppler,” said Zhang. “The body in Paris was a barber, found in the shop where Arthur got a shave from the Puppeteer. And the body in York—we know Lord Blanshard is a paranormal with a Yorkshire manor.”
“And now someone is dead in Kilburn,” Sebastian said, jaw still tight, “near the boarding home where Isabel stayed.”
“Certainly lends credence to our theory that these are paranormal murders.” Jade shook her head slowly. “Also, there have been no witnesses to any of these crimes, and I’m not naive enough to think that’s a coincidence.”
“Let’s say we continue the theory that Lord Blanshard is one of these vampire paranormals, like your family legend,” said Zhang. “Was that paranormal able to turn invisible, or into a dog or bat like Dracula?”
Sebastian shook his head. “I do not think so. But there are so many magical means to avoid detection. Charms and trinkets, powders and potions.”
“Tattoos,” Zhang said pointedly.
“But I can only hide from magic,” said Sebastian. “And no de Leon would be killing the nonmagical.”
“Because you all have the legacy of magic that thwarts other magic—is that really true?” Jade asked, as she pulled off a piece of her currant bun.
Sebastian probably owed them the story. “Yes,” he admitted. “It’s a blood curse.”
Zhang’s eyebrows went up.
Sebastian sighed. “It goes back to the relics. Everything always goes back to the relics.”
“The same story of the nobles who tried to hide their magic from an inquisitor during the Spanish Inquisition?” Jade asked. “By siphoning their magic out of their bodies and into objects, like a ring, a brooch, a pomander?”
Sebastian nodded and took a bracing sip of sweet, milky coffee. “The story I know is that the inquisitor found all seven nobles, but he didn’t know how to put their magic back or destroy the relics. So he locked the relics up with the siphon and enchanted his own blood, so his descendants would have magic that works on other magic.” He shrugged helplessly. “And we do.”
“He used blood magic on his own descendants,” Zhang mused.
“Cursing us was probably the least awful thing he did,” Sebastian said. “He was part of the Spanish Inquisition; I’m sure he wasn’t a good guy.”
“I understand the nobles made all the relics with murder, so it sounds like unpleasantness all around,” said Jade. “At least your family has tried to turn it into something better. How many of you have enervation magic that weakens other magic?” she asked, as she and Zhang shared their food with practiced ease.
“Just me,” Sebastian admitted. “I might be the first in my family to have it, or at least, we don’t have a record of any others. Isabel can create her art that traps magic, and my brother is telegnostic.”
Zhang’s eyebrows went up. “Your brother’s aseer?”
Sebastian nodded. “But still a de Leon. Mateo can see the future of magic—he sees how a paranormal will use their magic or how magic will be used on them. Well,” he amended, and held up his wrist so his tattoo was visible. “Almost any paranormal. Obviously, he cannot see my future.”
Jade’s eyebrows were up too. “Seeing of any kind is quite a powerful subordinate ability. How is he doing?”
I don’t know. I haven’t seen him in three years, and I wasn’t brave enough to face him this summer.
Sebastian stared unseeing into the thermos Zhang had brought. “Teo is at Oberlin in America now. He’s never liked his magic, so now he just wants to study science.”
“Another scholar. Maybe you can make a friend,” Jade said to Zhang, with a smile.
Zhang rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “We also think Blanshard is avoiding witnesses with some kind of magical object,” he said to Sebastian. “After all, Lord Fine described an entire collection that could be paranormal. Hopefully we can find out more in Kilburn today.”
“I could come?” Sebastian blurted. “If there was an object, or if there are traces of magic, my magic could be very useful. And it was Molly’s boarding house. I might have met the victim—I should help—”
“We’d be glad to have you,” Jade said, but then she made a face. “There is one other problem we should tell you about, though. It’s about Lord Fine again.”
Oh boy.
