All around the bench, roses climbed up the wall of the tiny garden. A little fountain burbled in front of it and, as we sat on the bench, dozens of roses unfurled, opening to the late-afternoon sun. Faerie lights sparkled inside of them, glowing with magic as their heavenly scent filled the air.
Grey followed, his brow creased. He hovered at the entrance to the garden, watching us with concern. He really should have been on his way back to his place, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him to scram. Not like I could control his actions anyway. And he knew what was at stake.
“Tell me what’s wrong.” I searched her frantic eyes.
Mary drew in a shuddering breath. “Beth was abducted. The whole guild is trying to find her, but we need help.”
“Abducted?” No. Not Beth. Fear pierced me, cold and horrible. And two in the same night? And both on my doorstep? “From where? By whom?”
“We were out partying. It was late, and we were walking home. Beth thought she might be sick, so she dipped into Hangman’s Alley. She was only there a moment when a bloke with red eyes nabbed her. Dragged her right through an orange portal.”
Holy crap.
Serial kidnappings.
There was no way the two were unrelated. Not with the red eyes and orange portal.
Grey leaned forward from his spot by the garden entrance. “Red eyes, you say?”
Mary nodded frantically. “Unlike anything I’ve ever seen. They burned like fire.”
Recognition flashed in Grey’s eyes.
“You know someth
ing about this?” I asked, hope flaring.
Mary cringed back, as if recognizing the Devil of Darkvale for the first time. Her voice was tremulous when she said, “You.”
“Not I, if that’s what you’re implying,” Grey said. “I did not kidnap your friend. It is not quite the business I am in.”
Her pale face did not regain any color, and it reminded me of Grey’s reputation around town. I’d gotten to know him well enough that I didn’t think much of it any longer, but he was still the most powerful kingpin in all of Guild City. Also, the most feared.
I turned back to Mary. “Is there anything else you can tell me about the abduction? Anything left at the scene, perhaps?”
“No, I checked. Then the whole guild checked just for good measure. Not even a shard of the transport charm on the ground.”
“They vaporize when used,” Grey said.
“Right.” Mary nodded. “There was nothing. Beth was there one moment and gone the next.”
I leaned back against the bench, my mind racing. I needed leads. More than just red eyes and orange portals. There was already a lot at stake, but with Beth also
abducted . . .
This had become so much more important.
My gaze flicked to Grey, who was clearly chewing on something inside his mind. He recognized something about this.
I rubbed Mary’s shoulder. “Beth wasn’t the only one abducted last night, and I’m already trying to find who’s responsible. What are you and the guild doing?”
“Searching spells, mostly. We’re scrying to try to find her, but it’s not working.”
“Keep it up,” I said. “Anything helps. And I’m going to start looking for Beth immediately.”
“Thank you, Carrow.” She hugged me tight. “I knew you would.”
“Of course. Beth’s my friend.”