Page 55 of Malice

“I’ll let you know what I find out,” Leo tells me, patting my back before releasing me. He says bye to Antonio and then he leaves. The door shuts behind him, casting the house in darkness yet again. Xavier and Theo have been in the office ever since I woke up, dealing with whatever political business they usually do.

“The hunters that have settled outside the city,” Antonio begins as we make our way to the kitchen. Alan is here making us a fancy authentic Italian meal.

“What about them?” I ask when he doesn’t elaborate.

“If they are any good they would have sensed the increase in demonic activity last night. Since they’re actually setting up to reside here, they’re not hyper-focused and tracking one monster.”

“You think they might end up in Charlotte?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised.”

We sit at the table, looking through the stack of books that was left here from our last little research party.

“Xavier found out more about this Abigail Williams lady,” I tell Antonio. “She died in the late 1930s and it was rumored she was murdered by members of the congregation of her own church because they accused her of being a witch.”

Antonio thinks for a second and then rests his elbows on the table. “So this demon, Vaelric, sent a demon to the area, assessing bodies until he found one capable of using the demon’s powers to reanimate the dead.” He holds up his hand. “Let me back up. We weren’t one hundred percent sure why the demons were possessing the homeless. But the homeless were camping out on the grounds that used to be the home of the church.”

“Where Abigail Williams' ashes were stored.” I finish.

“So, the plan the whole time was to find her ashes and try to resurrect her.” Antonio slowly moves his head back-and-forth, eyes and narrowing. “But she has no body. She was cremated and all that was left was ash and a little bit of bone.”

“I’m not sure how necromancy works,” I say, mind going to Maria once again. “Maybe they’re just trying to…I don’t know…bring her spirit back?” I shrug. “I don’t know how it works.”

“Neither do I, but it definitely makes me think a witch has to be one to find the sigil and break whatever hold it has on the demons.”

“You need witch friends.” Antonio is joking, but his words make me pause.

“Right?” I say, thinking of Marie yet again. “It would be great if one just contacted me out of the blue.”

“Hah.” Antonio picks up one of the journals, skimming through it. I reach for a random book when my phone dings with a text. There’s no way it’s Leo already. Someone from an unknown number sent me a message.

Unknown: Hey, it’s Marie. We’re not all getting together for a few more days but I felt like I should reach out. And you were right…I did have your number. Let me know if you want to grab coffee sometime!

I reread the text three times because are you serious right now? Is this too much of a coincidence or is the universe working in my favor for once?

Me: Hi! Do you happen to be free now?

Marie: I am. I can be downtown in like two hours.

Me: Yes, that would be great!

I send her the location to a coffee shop and then go back to research while we wait for lunch to be ready. Not surprisingly, we didn't find anything helpful, but at least the food Alan made was amazing.

Then I change out of my workout clothes and into a simple blue and yellow dress.

“You look nice,” Xavier says when I come down the stairs. He just walked out of his office.

“Thanks.” I look up at Xavier and smile. “I’m going to have lunch with Delphi.”

Chapter

Twenty-Three

“Florence,” Marie says, standing up when she sees me coming closer. We’re at the same cafe I was at the first time I saw her. “It’s nice to see you again. I have to admit that even if I had my doubts I would hear back from you when I texted.”

“Fair. Thank you for meeting me so soon,” I tell her. “And I had doubts as well I admit, but I have a lot of questions and I’m hoping you could answer some of them.”

“I’m hoping I can, too. I meant it when I said witches need a coven. You are welcome to join ours.”