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“Uh, Wren?”
“What?!” I shrieked, rounding on Zale, who was standing on the other side of the room staring at a canvas on an easel.
“I think I know where your mom is.”
“What do you—”
“Come look at this.”
Nova, Eva, and I abandoned our shouting match and dashed to the far side of the room to where Zale stood, transfixed.
The painting on the easel was half completed, the brush strokes appearing more manic and undisciplined than any of Bernadette’s other works. It portrayed the lighthouse again, but the perspective was warped, almost twisted, like I was seeing it through an old window pane. There were three figures standing at the base of the lighthouse:
The Gray Man, his arms raised over his head in a triumphant gesture.
Bernadette, her long blonde hair streaming behind her, surrounded by a strange, blurred shadow.
And between them, her expression calm, almost peaceful: my mother.
21
“You don’t even have a license!”
“I have a permit, okay? Just get in the goddamn car already!”
We piled into the little silver sports car, what Nova’s mom apparently called her “weekend car,” as Nova slid into the driver’s seat.
Zale fumbled to get his seatbelt buckled. “I don’t think this is a good—”
“It’s going to take forever to get to the lighthouse on foot, even if we run the whole way!”
“What if you get pulled over?” Eva asked.
“Then they can arrest me!” Nova shouted. “Now buckle up!”
I didn’t argue. I knew Nova was trying to make up for lying to us, and I was going to let her, if it got me to my mom any faster. Nova pulled onto the road and started driving, and I pressed my lips together to prevent myself from screaming at her to floor it.
We made it through downtown without getting arrested, and the road began to wind toward Lightkeep.
“We should stop at the cottage and get your aunts, and the Conclave, too, if they’re still there,” Eva said, as the cottage came into sight.
“Yeah, stop at the cottage,” I said, letting out a steadying breath. My aunts would know what to do.
Ostara’s car was gone, as was Lydian’s rickshaw. I jumped out of the car before Nova even had it in park, bolted up the porch steps, and burst in the front door.
“Persi! Rhi! I know where mom is!” I shouted.
Only silence answered me.
I flew through the house, heart pounding, calling both of my aunts’ names, but no one was there. I dug my phone out of my pocket and checked my texts, the ones I’d only just remembered that I’d ignored. They were both from Rhi.
We’re going to identify the car and see if we can find any clues as to where your mom went.
Be back soon. Will keep you posted.
“Shit!” I muttered, and rapid-texted a reply.
Bernadette took Mom to the lighthouse. Meet me there ASAP!
