"And how exactly will she be helping us?"
Suna asked the witch as Lacey walked in with Hunt and Aidas flanked by her side.
It was obvious Suna didn't like Lacey that much. And no. Lacey didn't care.
She had her mind occupied with other things. The past few days had been exhilarating and exciting for her.
With Hunt and Aidas around her there was always something new to do. But then the insecurity in the city had gotten worse has it seemed like Ianthe had unleashed her demons on Aron City.
Not a day went by without them hearing about a demon attack.
And they had no choice but to collectively work together and try and stop it.
"She is the closest blood relative to Ianthe that we have. We're going to use her blood to trace her."
"Wait! Is this safe? Won't Ianthe somehow know we're looking for her?"
Hunt asked as he frowned. He didn't want to involve Lacey in anything that would put her in danger, especially when Ianthe was out to get her.
If not that Suna had pleaded to him about how much the witch needed Lacey, he would have found an excuse not to bring her along.
The witch exchanged glances with Suna and Crispin. It was clear she had considered that option too.
"It's a risk we'll have to take. And it is the only way to find her."
Suna replied.
Aidas stood in front of Lacey.
He wasn't too sure about everything.
Ianthe was already looking for Lacey, taunting her or trying to draw her out with a magic spell wasn't the best way to go about things.
Crispin sighed.
"The only way we can stop the demons from infiltrating the city is through her. She will lead us to her hideout and if we're smart we'll use this opportunity to our advantage."
Suna nodded.
"It's the only way."
Lacey gently pushed Aidas away.
"I'll be fine."
She said with a small smile.
She walked towards the witch. Her hair in a bun and her heart in her throat.
"What do you need me to do?"
She asked and the witch pointed to her hand.
"Stretch out your hand. I'll need some of your blood."
Lacey stretched out her hand. The witch brought out a dagger. It glinted in the light.
Aidas held his breath.
"Think of her. Think of your last memory with Ianthe."
The witch whispered as Lacey closed her eyes.
The last memory she had of Ianthe was when she was with her mother and she was squeezing her neck with her phantom hands. She remembered the look on Ianthe's face, how quickly it had turned to one of horror.
That was her last memory of the fae.
She felt the sting of the knife and she opened her eyes, red blood flowed from the cut and onto the Map.
The witch began mumbling some words.
Lacey watched as her blood started moving on the map.
Fascinated by how it moved like a living, breathing thing.
She shifted away a bit.
Hunt sensed her discomfort and helped her to her feet.
She entwined her fingers with his and moved closer to his arms.
No.
She didn't feel good about what was happening.
Not in the slightest.
She looked at Suna and Crispin and saw that they were too engrossed in whatever the witch was doing to notice that something about the air was off.
Aidas himself seemed transfixed for a minute.
The witch's chants grew louder.
"Stop it! Stop whatever it is you're doing!"
Lacey screamed but no one listened, especially the witch.
Hunt tried to calm her down by whispering into her ear but she wiggled away. He didn't understand.
Suna glared at her.
"Shut up!"
She said and Lacey groaned.
That aura. That smell...
It was all over the small stuffy room.
Ianthe wasn't there.
But her aura was.
A part of her was.
Watching them.
She knew what they were doing. And if they weren't careful, her aura alone was powerful enough to kill them.
Lacey would never forget it, for as long as she lived, she would never forget that rancid and rotten smell.
She could feel her coming closer.
"For fuck's sake stop!!!"
Lacey screamed as icy wind blasted from her throughout the tiny room.
Hunt, Suna, Aidas and Crispin had ducked to shield themselves from the blast.
But not the witch.
Lacey noticed she had stopped chanting.
Blood was coming out of her nostrils, her eyes and her mouth.
No, Lacey didn't do anything to her.
It wasn't the icy blast that hurt her, if it was the one she would have hit the wall or something.
It was Ianthe.
Ianthe got to her first.
Suna was the first to rush to check the lifeless body of the witch, her fingers on her neck.
While Crispin checked the map.
He looked up at Lacey.
"How did you know she was here?"
He asked and Lacey shrugged.
"Her aura. It was all over."
"If you hadn't blasted that wind she would have got to all of us."
Hunt said as she stood up from the floor.
Aidas gave her a small smirk.
She did good.
"Did the map get anything?"
She asked Crispin and he nodded.
"Yes. Not a specific location but we got something. She's in the mountains. It's the perfect place."
Suna sighed.
"Makes sense. But how did we miss her? We've been using those mountains for our pack retreats monthly."
Suna said.
Hunt shrugged.
"I have no idea. But its a good thing we're familiar with the area. When are we heading out to meet her?"
"Meet her? That wasn't in the plan!"
Lacey said and all of them looked at her with a confused expression.
"Why else did you think we were looking for her?"
"Well don't tell me you're planning on confronting her because that's stupid."
Lacey said to Suna who shrugged.
She was more worried about the dead witch.
She had no way to report back to the poor witch's coven to tell them.
They wouldn't be too pleased. Of course they might demand a payment but hopefully it wasn't going to be anything too ridiculous.
But the witch had known the risks and she had volunteered herself either way.
Still, it didn't justify her death.
"Lacey. Come on. Let's go."
Aidas said and Lacey glared at him.
"What's going on? What are you not telling me?"
"Just come outside for a second."
He whispered into her ear.
She looked around and followed him.
"Why are you being so cryptic?"
She asked as they got outside the building and Aidas shrugged.
"Suna and Crispin have been working really hard and they have a plan in motion already. That's why they needed you."
"Yea. But do you really think going after Ianthe is the best thing to do at this point? Besides, what is the plan?"
Aidas sighed.
"Going after Ianthe is the only way to stop the demons from coming here. See, everyone's under some kind of pressure. We found a few bodies ravaged by the demons. And trust me, the sooner we find a way to get rid of those things the better it is for us. We have about three types of demons running free in the city and people's lives are at risk."
He put a hand on Lacey's shoulder.
"I know you want to help, but trust me you're more valuable to us alive. Hell you're probably the only one who can take down Ianthe. But we have to be careful."
"Do you understand?"
He asked and Lacey nodded.
"Sure. I do. I just wish you guys would actually keep me in the loop about this."
"I'm not a small child to be shielded and protected from all this."
Lacey said and Aidas smiled.
"I know. But I'd rather have you alive than dead. And if there was a way to get you out ot this drama I would."
Lacey smiled as she gave him a hug.
"Okay. I understand. I think I better leave here before Ianthe figures out my location somehow."
Aidas nodded.
"Okay! Let's go."
"Technically, she might be the only one strong enough to handle her."
Crispin said as soon as Lacey and Aidas were out of earshot.
"She's barely figured out her powers..."
Suna started with a frown on her face. Lacey was far from ready, strong as she might have been.
But Crispin was right. She was half fae, just like her mother. And it had taken a Fae Queen to bring down Hades Vigilanco.
"Yes. But like you said, she has a sort of connection to Ianthe. She knows when she's near. And that's a good thing. Because it'll help us figure out wherever she is faster."
"I don't want to put her in danger."
Hunt said and Suna sighed.
"Hunt, the whole of this city will crumble if we don't do something about this problem."
He was about to hesitate again when his phone beeped.
It was his father.
He wanted him to meet him at the State Building.
He said it was urgent.
He looked at Suna and Crispin who were trying to carry the body of the witch.
"I've gotta go."
"Dad?"
Hunt called out as he reached the State Building's Council room. His Father smiled at him grimly. There were two other council men seated watching him cautiously.
"What's going on?"
Hunt asked and his father shrugged.
"We called you here because it was urgent."
"And because you're the only one we can trust."
The other Council man said.
He was short and bald. Hung recognised him. He was one of the oldest council members and also part of the founding family. He had been on the Council for as long as Hunt could remember.
Hunt turned to his father, he was confused.
"Between Crispin and that Vampire Aidas. You're the only likely compatible candidate for Mayor. And that is why we're giving you the key to stop this thing."
"Stop it? What do you mean by stop it?"
"We will lead you to Hades Vigilanco. You can use him to trap Ianthe."
"But..."
His father stopped him by raising his hand.
"Don't worry. He's powerless. The Fae Queen made sure of that. But that doesn't mean he's not dangerous."
"Then why do you want to get him out?"
Hunt asked.
"We're not getting him out, we're simply finding a way to lock both of them up. The Prison is strong enough to hold the two of them. The Fae Queen assured us of that."
"Wait... You talked to her?"
His father shook his head.
"No. Not directly. She wouldn't come to the city to see us. Or help as a matter of fact."
His father said.
Hunt found that very odd, she had seemed eager to bring her sister down, at least from what Lacey said about her.
"But she did give us a solution. She was the one who created the prison and also the one who locked up Hades Vigilanco. Very few of us know about this..."
"Why isn't Ianthe after her then? Why is she after us?"
"Because The Fae Queen erased any memory she had of the location. We are the only ones privy to that information."
"All you have to do is simple. Call out Ianthe with Hades and lock both of them up in the prison."
His father added.
Hunt was confused.
There were so many things he still didn't understand. So many things he wasn't being told and from the look on their faces they weren't going to tell him.
"How would I get Ianthe to the prison? What if she figures out it's a trap?"
His father chuckled. The other councilmen did too.
"When the Fae Queen created the prison, it wasn't borne out of a building or a place. It was borne out of thin air. She created a portal to a prison world she had made, where Hades would continuously be tormented for the rest of his eternal life for his sins."
Hunt's eyebrows widened.
What?!
"And how would I get there?"
"How the hell do I get there? Or even draw Ianthe there?"
His father sighed.
"The Fae Queen made the Prison in such a way that only her had access to it. But of course, her bloodline can have access to it."
"From my understanding... She has a daughter. And you are well acquainted with he?"
"Aren't you?"
Oh no.
Lacey...