‘Getoffme!’ screamed Opal, swatting at her.
Moira seized Opal’s wrist. ‘This is Liutprand’s handiwork.’
‘You made my daughter forget me?’ cried Cate, whirling around. She had hatred in her eyes.
‘It was because of Salamander,’ said Theodora again, her voice firm. ‘His magic has doomed her. Our hands were forced. We wanted to be kind.’
‘Not that she deserves it,’ said Lio. ‘She’s your daughter, Cate, through and through.’
‘She killed a boy,’ added Dot.
‘Utterlies,’ hissed Cate. ‘You didn’t kill a boy, Opal.’
‘Me?’ asked Opal. ‘What are you talking about? I don’t know where I am.Please.I want to go home.’
‘We will take you there,’ soothed Moira.
Cate placed her hands to Opal’s temples once more. ‘Hold still, darling. I will reverse this.’
‘One cannot reverse a memory charm,’ said Casimir, weakly.
‘One can if it is poorly crafted,’ said Moira, smirking at Lio.
Cate began to chant. A vicious wind scattered the papers of Salamander’s study.
‘Where is the daemon?’ Theodora asked Casimir.
‘Below,’ said Casimir. ‘There’s a door behind the tank. If you go now, I can seal you in. The witches won’t get through.’
Dot peered behind the tank. Indeed, there was a recess there and a door.
‘Do it now,’ said Casimir. ‘While they’re casting. Those women are vicious and they are powerful. I’ve never seen blood magic before. They forced my hand.’ He gestured to the open cabinets.
The witches’ chanting grew louder. Wind howled around the space. Uncanny shadows began to dance along the walls, the same as the ones that had possessed Rupert so long ago.
‘Why did Acanthi think you would have Opal’s contract?’ asked Dot, ‘Perhaps Cate Saw it?’
‘Perhaps she Saw me withacontract, but it wasn’t Opal’s.’ Casimir rose slowly to his feet. He hobbled toward Salamander’s desk, then placed one bloodied hand on the drawer and muttered an incantation. The drawer sprang open.
‘One last little bit of defiance,’ said Casimir. He smirked over at Theodora. ‘Salamander hasn’t noticed yet. It seems he’s distracted. The parliament is preparing to debate Article Thirteen – the amendment is near.’
Casimir reached into the drawer, rifled for a moment, and took out a bundle of papers.
‘He’ll have me for this,’ said Casimir. ‘But I no longer care. Take it, Theo. A thank you for the tea.’
Theodora came to him and took the bundle with shaking hands. ‘Cas,’ she whispered.
‘Is that it?’ asked Dot, kneeling beside them. ‘The original?’
Theodora’s eyes watered as she looked at her contract. She nodded.
‘If you’re going to do something to stop Salamander, it has to be now,’ said Casimir, watching Acanthi. Their chanting continued.
‘What aboutyourcontract?’ asked Theodora.
Casimir smiled. ‘I found a loophole. I took mine home this morning. I’ll break it myself afterward.’
He looked away from Theodora, and Dot alone must have caught the flicker of falseness in Casimir’s eyes. There was no contract at home. Whatever was about to happen, it would be the end of him.
