Page 90 of The Spell Caster

Councilor Rhodes thumped her carved walking stick on the floor to draw attention. “It was I who called this meeting, and I insist that we proceed. It is far more than a personal argument.”

Quince looked to Grey, who said, “Very well.”

Rhodes straightened, using her stick for balance. Her white hair puffed out around her head like smoke. “I called this emergency meeting because I received an unexpected visitor.” She stared down the councilors like she was scolding them. “Diana Blackthorn, a clothing maker and foster mother to the guardian Constantine Blackthorn.” Rhodes indicated the younger woman, who was standing against the wall. “As I mentioned before we began, our conversation revealed some… very strange and convoluted reports, some of which implicate members of the Arcaenum.”

Grey’s face remained impassive, but Quince seemed like he was about to be sick, a flush darkening his skin. “We’re far too busy for some seamstress’s strange reports. We have refugees to deal with—”

No way was I letting the Council out of here without hearing the truth and fixing this. I opened my mouth to tell them what Councilor Grey was hiding—

“She told us, among other things,” Rhodes interrupted, “that her foster son and Layla Rosen were being detained unlawfully and without the Arcaenum’s knowledge.”

Daire sat up straight next to me. “Now you just hold on. It’s my job to keep the guardians in line.”

“It’s not your job to lock up our spell casters,” Rhodes countered.

“The… nature of the complaint was…” Daire floundered, turning to Cedar Grey and Calamus.

Councilor Grey stood and smoothed his beard. “What Daire is trying to say is that it was discovered that Constantine Blackthorn is a traitor.”

The room went silent.

“I already told you I’m not a spy, you—” Costi broke off with a choked sound, grimacing in pain as if the only thing keeping him upright were the two guardians holding on to him.

“Costi!” I was dashing toward him before I knew what I was doing. When I took his face in my hands, his skin was clammy and feverish. “You are hurt! Oh fate, you’re burned!” Up close, I could see that the marks I had noticed were the charred edges of his uniform. An angry, untreated wound marred the skin of his chest.

I spun to face Grey. “What did you do to him?”

“This young spell caster is determined to think the worst of me.” Grey’s voice lifted to the assembly. “I didn’t touch Blackthorn.”

Behind me, Costi huffed out a bitter laugh.

“I hope you have some evidence for the serious claims you are making, Councilor,” Rhodes said to Grey. “In the meantime, this young witch needs medical assistance.”

“Therein lies the problem. He’s not a witch at all,” Grey declared, raising his voice to address the room. He’s admitting his secrets? No, he was taking control, preparing to twist the story to his own advantage. Just like Costi had surmised. “This is a demon who escaped from Hell by bonding to Layla Rosen as a familiar.”

Whatever the councilors were expecting, it wasn’t that. Their expressions ranged from confused to amused. Daire looked embarrassed, rubbing the back of her neck. Rhodes frowned seriously—she must have already heard part of this from Diana.

“I knew that boy was trouble,” my mother said, her face alight with vindication.

Councilor Linnea chuckled, breaking the tension. “A bit tall for a demon, isn’t he?”

“Tell them about the other demon,” I said loudly. If we were doing this, the whole truth was coming out.

The scattering of nervous laughter halted.

Councilor Grey’s eyes glittered with anger, and I fought the urge to shrink away. “As Layla was so kind to bring up, we’ve made a startling discovery. After no communication from our allies for generations, my son was able to make contact with Hell. We have discovered it is a prison, ruled by a monarchy of demons who look quite similar to humans.”

The councilors looked back and forth between one another, whispering. I regarded Cedar Grey cautiously. He had accused Costi of being a spy, but it seemed he’d been doing some spying of his own.

Ash crept near me and pushed something into my hand—two pills that looked like pain relievers. I locked eyes with the beautiful guardian and nodded my thanks. Costi was still being restrained but let me give him the medicine without complaint and swallowed it dry. I had to get him out of here soon.

Rhodes said, “And you think Constantine Blackthorn is one of these demons. That he somehow made himself Layla’s familiar.”

“He is,” Calamus interrupted. “Both a demon and her familiar. I witnessed his transformation, and Layla was able to invoke him.”

My body flashed hot with anger. Calamus Grey had some nerve to think he’d ever be able to call himself my friend, let alone my spouse. He was so full of himself, so ready to throw anyone off a cliff. Telling on us to his dad and the Arcaenum like a child.

“Councilor Grey and his son are hiding things,” I said. Two can play tattletale. “Calamus did a circle spell that created a permanent video call to Hell, and then The Councilor threatened me not to tell anyone about it.”

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