Page 54 of Captive Witch

Miss Wren Landrey,

We will miss you and Miss Morrow for the rest of the semester but understand family emergencies are quite difficult to plan in advance. Please keep us updated for the spring term.

Best wishes to you and yours,

Assistant Headmistress

“That email isn’t the assistant headmistress. I…Look.” She points to the return email at the top of the screen—[email protected]. “It says ‘Apate’ and ‘com.’ It’s so similar to the AOW—Academy of Witches—emails, but they always end in ‘edu.’”

My hand tightens around the phone, cracking the plastic before I throw it toward the bed with a growl. It bounces on the mattress as a knock sounds from the front door.

Adara jumps up, but I grab her arm. “You stay here,” I say, keeping my voice low. I glance at Frank, who nods, moving to stand beside her. The knocking intensifies as I make my way down the stairs.

Ripping the door open, I stare down at frizzy red hair tucked inside of a dark blue cloak, the color blending in with the night sky around her. “Gods, finally,” she says, pushing past me. “Are they here? I called to warn them…” She spins in a circle, her mouth pulled down into a frown. Misty blue eyes are clouded over when she turns to face in my direction again.

“Oracle?” I ask, glancing from her to the stairs. Narrowing my gaze on her, I take a step forward, but she lifts her hand in my direction.

“Calm yourself, Gideon Disantollo. I’m not the enemy you seek.” She tips her head to the side, the skin around her eyes tightening. “But I see I am too late.”

“Ruya?” Adara says, coming down the stairs, Frank looking sheepish as he trails behind her.

Ruya breathes out a sigh as she faces Adara, reaching out a hand toward her. Adara steps forward, grasping her hand.

“Why are you here? How—” Adara starts.

Ruya shakes her head. “I’m too late. They’re gone, aren’t they?”

“How do you know that?” I step behind Adara, pulling her back against my chest.

Ruya sighs. “Because I’m an oracle. I had a vision.”

“What did you see?” Adara’s free hand reaches for my arm, squeezing.

“Let’s go to the kitchen,” Frank interrupts, stepping up beside me. “I can make some coffee. Or tea, Ruya, if that’s what you prefer.”

The oracle’s head turns toward him, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Tea would be lovely if it’s no trouble, thank you.”

He touches a hand to her shoulder, guiding her into the next room and toward the table. They introduce themselves, talking quietly, though solemn. Whatever her vision was, it wasn’t good news.

Adara swallows hard, rotating to bury her face in my shirt. “I’m worried, Gideon. What if something happens to them? All of this is because of me…”

I smooth a hand down her raven-black hair, resting my chin on the top of her head. “It isn’t your fault,mia fiamma, no matter what’s happened or who came for them. We’ll get her and Wren back, I swear it. Whoever did this will regret the minute they came for what’s mine.”

“Gideon…” She pulls back and looks up at me, tears staining her cheeks. Her violet eyes shine under the low lights.

I cup her cheek, brushing my thumb over her lips. “I told you before, darling, I’m no hero, and I refuse to be one when it’s at the risk of you and anyone you care about getting hurt. I’ll find who did this, and I’ll kill them myself.” Glancing into the kitchen, the smell of brewed coffee enveloping us, I see Ruya and Frank settling into chairs at the table. “Come, let’s see what the oracle says.”

Wiping her sleeve across her cheeks, Adara lets me lead her into the kitchen. I place a mug of coffee in front of her, watching as she wraps her hands around the hot ceramic and stares down into the steaming liquid without taking a sip.

Sitting down beside her, I pull my own coffee closer and lift it to my lips, letting the caffeine soak into my bones before I set it back on the table. “Alright, oracle, tell us about this vision.”

Ruya rolls her eyes, her hands wrapped around a cup of amber tea. The scent of chamomile fills the space, competing with the aroma of coffee swirling in the air. “Do you remember the prophecy I told you?” She glances toward Adara, who nods. “What did you learn?”

“I found the keeper, my aunt. She’s guarding… something powerful.” Adara fidgets in her seat. “It’s hidden behind powerful magic, deep in the forest, but she thinks Monique might be coming after it.”

Ruya nods, her hands twisting around her cup. “And you’re sure this power is the treasure the prophecy spoke of?”

My patience wears thin, and I smack my hand on the table. “If there’s a different treasure, then tell us. Stop—”

---