Page 29 of Rites of Passage

“Does this mean the Dark Council has been targeting magic users in the city without our knowledge?”

“It would seem so,” Nikolai said grimly. “They’re experts at making people disappear. Many of the people we rescued from that warehouse weren’t from New York, so I’m not surprised the disappearances went undetected by your coven.”

This information did little to reassure the High Priestess.

Abraham came through from his office, a tablet in hand. “I’ve made a list of all the victims at the facility on Staten Island.”

Bryony straightened in her chair. “And?”

A frown furrowed his brow as he scrolled through the display. He looked up and met their tense stares. “Agnes Keevan was the only magic user among them.”

Mae traded a confused glance with Nikolai.

“The ghouls we fought last night were magic users,” she said adamantly. “I have no doubts about that and neither does Brimstone.”

The fox growled out his assent and licked his chops, the enormous dish of black bean beef before him now empty.

Abraham’s brows knitted together. “So, how come there weren’t more of them at that warehouse?”

Silence followed his question.

“I reckon they made a mistake,” Vlad said slowly.

They stared at the incubus. Brimstone raised his head.

“I don’t think Agnes was meant to be there,” the incubus explained. “The ghouls must have been part of another experiment, separate from the ones that created modified demons like Antonovich and Sobol. I think the Dark Council slipped up and accidentally brought her with them.”

“That would make sense,” Mae murmured. “Her ghoul didn’t manifest during that fight.”

The incubus is likely right, Brimstone said.

“Then why are they using those monsters now?” Abraham’s voice was edged with frustration.

“They must have something to do with that key,” Nikolai said.

“I agree. Agnes told us she was one of many ghouls whose principal task was to keep it safe.” Mae furrowed her brow and fingered the skeleton key where it lay against her chest. “Our priority should be to stop the Dark Council from getting their hands on this thing until we figure out what it’s for.” She looked at Bryony and Abraham. “By the way, are the remains of the dead guy from my apartment here?”

“Yes. His body is in the cold storage facility in our infirmary.” Bryony studied Mae curiously. “What do you intend to do with him?”

“I want to take a closer look at his magic core. Well, that and other things.”

“Wait,” Abraham said numbly. “You can do that?!”

The doors of the meeting rooms opened before Mae could reply. Violet and Miles barged in, Jared in their wake.

“I can’t believe we missed all the action,” Violet grumbled. “Why didn’t you call us?”

Mae sighed. “We were busy.”

“You could have messaged,” Miles told Nikolai accusingly.

Nikolai narrowed his eyes. “Like she said, we were a tad occupied. You know, monsters from Hell?”

Mae looked past Jared. “Where’s Alicia?”

“She decided to take a trip home to investigate the origins of those ghouls.” The Immortal shuddered. “Better her than me.”

Mae wrinkled her nose. “Oh.”

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