Page 88 of Rogue Witch

Malice gleams in Chelsea’s eyes. “It’s time you follow your grandmother into Shadow Hell.”

“Haven’t you heard?” I say. “My grandmother isn’t dead.”

Chelsea blinks in surprise and the other woman whips her head in Chelsea’s direction.

“That’s right, you heard me,” I say. “My grandmother isn’t dead. And if you’re not careful, she’s liable to return home and be fucking pissed that you’re in her house uninvited.”

“That’s a lie,” Chelsea says, but I catch the slight tremble in her voice. “Everybody knows she died using Shadow magic. Just like you.” She throws her arms forward and shouts, “Flamma.”

Flame bursts from her palms. I dive to the floor as flames shoot so close past me that I smell burnt hair. I roll into a squat and pin her with a glare. I glance at the hole in the cement, then swing my gaze back onto Chelsea.

I grin.

Her eyes widen.

“Lateo,” the older woman shouts, and disappears.

I know she’s only invisible.

“Into the hole,” I command, and swipe my hand as if shoving them into the hole. Chelsea stumbles as I chant: “I command the power of the darkest Shadows. Open your door and let them”—Blade lands in a crouch behind her at the foot of the stairs as I utter the last two words—“safely enter,” on a gasp.

A loud whooshing fills my ears. Two women scream.

Chelsea is yanked by an unseen hand over the hole and vanishes.

“Leilah! No!” Blade shouts, and leaps toward me.

The room spins. I glimpse a blonde woman stepping from the stairs into the basement. A gargoyle appears in front of me and throws his wings around me, blocking my view.

Then a banshee shriek deafens me.

Chapter Thirty-Five

CALEB

The vampire Carter hisses as I crash into him. We hit the ground and I roll aside onto all fours. He leaps to his feet and crouches in readiness to attack as I shift into human form.

He blinks. “Dakota?”

“What the hell are you doing here?” I demand.

“Following a demon we suspect made an attack on The Academy wall. What are you doing here?”

“I caught the scent of the demon and followed it here,” I reply.

“Any idea where the creature is now?” he asks in a low voice.

I shake my head. “I know it’s close.”

“A wolf can’t nail down the scent. I don’t like that. “

Neither do I. “What does the demon attack have to do with Crowe Potionary?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “I wish I knew. It’s weird.”

So, he has no idea Leilah’s in the house.

“I would like to find out,” he says. “You want to shift back into wolf form and see if we can catch this bastard?”