“You mentioned other visitors,” I said. “Did they take something?”
“Indeed, they did.” She gestured us forward. “But first, drinks.”
I shot the Devil a look. Did we have time for this?
He nodded slightly. We didn’t have much choice. I had no idea if his magic could compel her to tell us what we wanted, so we’d have to convince her.
She led us to wooden lounge chairs at the edge of the folly. They faced the crashing waves and playing child. She waved her hand, and tropical orange and red drinks appeared on the tables next to us. A happy buzz floated through me at the sight of them.
“Have a Hawaiian Sunset,” she said. “They’re lovely.”
The Devil hesitated. He looked at them, as though trying to decipher their ingredients.
Mariketta laughed. “I promise they are not poisonous.”
We sat on the lounge chairs. Grey looked entirely out of place. Instead of reclining, he sat on the side, his arms propped on his knees as he watched Mariketta with keen eyes. He was a man who hadn’t relaxed in centuries, and it was obvious.
Me, on the other hand…I could get used to this.
I sipped the drink gingerly, to be polite. Fruity sweetness exploded on my tongue. It tasted divine. I wanted to gulp it but resisted.
Still, I felt great. This place was amazing. “You should sell tickets.”
She laughed. “That would defeat the point.”
“Why is this place connected t
o your crypt?” the Devil asked. “It seems like a security hazard.”
“We need the grave magic in the church’s crypt to help fuel this place, and the tunnel facilitates that.” She scowled. “As for the ones who broke in, they shouldn’t have been able to. But they were powerful.”
“Do you know what they intend to do?” I asked.
“Destroy Guild City.” There was an unmistakable scowl in her voice.
“That includes this place.” I frowned. “If it’s fueled by magic from the Sorcerers’ Guild Tower and the holy ground of the church, it will disappear when those places are destroyed.”
Mariketta rubbed her arms, a worried look rushing over her face. “Indeed.”
“Then why are we drinking and having a chat?” I sat upright, my head clearing briefly. I looked down at the beverage. “What was in this?”
“Truth serum.” Her eyes flicked to ours, hard and clear. “It gave you a buzz but was harmless. I need to know who you truly are if I am going to help you.”
She wasn’t just inviting us to a lovely cocktail party.
Of course she wasn’t.
“The Devil knew that.” She nodded at him, and I looked over, finding half his glass gone.
“Of course.” His voice was smooth as he gestured to the drink. “And you can see we’re willing to comply. We want to save Guild City, and with it, your place here.”
She nodded, appearing satisfied by our truths. “I tried to keep them from taking what they wanted. They shouldn’t have been able to make it into this place, but somehow, they managed.”
“What did they take?”
“Memories,” she said. “My memories.”
“Of the spell that you used to get vengeance for your daughter?” My gaze moved to the young girl who still splashed in the surf.