Darkness Rising (Dark Angels 2)

She paused. “That curse has gathered much interest of late.”

Excitement had my heart skipping several beats. “Meaning someone has asked about it?”

“Several someones, I believe. This way.” She turned and led the way to a room several doors down. The visitors waiting room, I knew from my past visit. You didn’t get past this area without either a witch escort or special dispensation from Kiandra—the head witch herself.

Helena walked around a desk and opened one of several large books sitting on top of it. She flicked through the yellowed pages carefully, then said, “Ah, yes. Here it is.”

She pointed to a spot about halfway down the register, then turned the book around so I could see it better. It was a spell register from the looks of it, with each page not only noting the name and location of the book that contained the spell, but holding a signed record of all those who had accessed it.

The Maniae curse only had three entries. The first, Charles James Highcourt, had accessed the book over two hundred years ago. The second, Deborah Elizabeth Selwin, had viewed it nearly three years ago. Which fit in rather neatly with Adeline’s comment that Alston had hired her because of some nasty stuff going down on the vampire council nearly three years ago.

The third name …

My eyes widened and, for a moment, I couldn’t believe what I was actually reading.

Because the third name—accessed only a few hours ago—was one Madeline Hunter.

Chapter Nine

I LOOKED UP QUICKLY. “MADELINE HUNTER? Is that Director Hunter, the woman in charge of the Directorate?”

She nodded and closed the book. “I believe so. Why?”

“Did she merely look at the register, or did she access the curse?”

“She asked about the specific details of the curse, but she did not ask for more than that.” Helena studied me for a moment, then added, “We would not have allowed her to view the curse anyway. Too many of the older vampires have a working knowledge of magic, and this spell can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Besides, she is not a member of any coven.”

“Would you have given her access if she had been?”

She smiled politely. “If she were a member of a coven, she would be a full practitioner, so yes, of course.”

“Does that mean the more dangerous spells are not under strict control?”

“Of course not. All witches must make their own decision, and it is up to them to suffer the consequences should they take the wrong path.”

I nodded thoughtfully. “The other woman—Deborah Selwin—I gather she is a coven member?”

“Yes.”

“Can I ask which coven? I really need to talk to her if possible.”

A small smile touched her lips. “Director Hunter asked much the same question.”

“And did she get the same answer?”

“Of course. Selwin is a member of the Frankston coven. They meet weekly, as well as at the time of the full moon.”

That odd smile still touched her lips, and instinct pricked up her metaphysical ears. “And the address?”

“They have special dispensation to meet at the Frankston Reservoir Park every Sunday evening.”

“And will I actually find Deborah Selwin at these meetings?”

Her smile grew. “No, you will not.”

Meaning that was a question Hunter hadn’t asked—although I had to wonder why. She had far more experience hunting people down than I did—centuries of it, in fact. But maybe she’d simply slipped the information from Helena’s mind—although that would be considered a breach of etiquette in this place, and might just put her on the outs with the Brindle. Even the vampire council wouldn’t want that.

“Then where will I find her?”