Fly by Midnight (16 page)

“If you want me to work for you, then you’re going to tell me more about the wall and how this investigation involves my mother, or I’m not doing anything. You’re going to tell me everything about the Travelers Program. I want the truth, or no deal.” Honora crossed her arms over her chest, taking a defiant pose.

One of the council members leaned over and whispered in Beatrice’s ear. She took a moment to think and then responded, “Your candor is appreciated. That’s a fair request.”

Beatrice actually
agreed
to her terms. Now
that
was unexpected.

The councilwoman cleared her throat. “We’ll start by reviewing the witching wall and the Travelers Program that your mother, Elspeth Mayhem, was a participant in. The Travelers Program was developed for a select few witches and wizards to travel outside of Everland to explore the Otherworld. Once in a decade, the archway is opened for the pilgrims to move between the two realms. I know that this recent pilgrimage must have been difficult for you and your sisters. It must have been a terrible shock when your mother didn’t return,” Beatrice said with a smug tilt of her head.

Honora stared icily at the councilwoman. The memory of Elspeth not returning flooded her thoughts. “Shock only made worse by the council’s refusal to tell my sisters and me what happened to her. We only had the report given by the other travelers. You wouldn’t let us speak to them, since the program is a secret. But I suppose things have changed. The report said that no one had heard from our mother in the last few weeks prior to the scheduled return time. All communications stopped,” Honora said. “What happened?”

“Twelve pilgrims were on the other side, but only ten of them returned.”

Putting all emotions aside and reviewing the information clinically, the fact struck Honora as interesting. “Our mother and one other traveler didn’t make it back, but somehow a ghoul pretending to be someone else did. Which means she took the identity of one of them and then shifted into Jane Rainer. Which means, technically, you lost three travelers on this journey. How often have travelers not returned?” she asked.

“Over the decades, a few witches and wizards have chosen to stay in the Otherworld. Some have even died on the other side. Unfortunate accidents occur, and illness has taken some. Life happens. I don’t know the specifics of your mother’s trip. The data is incomplete.” Beatrice averted her eyes to a parchment lying before her.

“Do you suspect that something happened to my mother?” Honora asked. She bit the inside of her cheek. The answer to the question terrified her, but she had to know. “Do you think the ghoul could have gotten to her?” Honora shifted in her chair, her hands clutching the armrest.

“There’s a possibility that your mother found out about the ghoul’s mission. We don’t know for sure. I hate to say this, but there’s also the possibility that the travelers who didn’t return are working with the ghoul and whoever controls it.” Beatrice took a sip of water from a glass in front of her.

Honora paused, trying to make sense of what the councilwoman had just said.
Is she suggesting my mother was actually involved and working with the ghoul?
Anger flared up inside her, and she snapped. Honora launched herself out of the chair and across the table at Beatrice, getting a handful of robe before the guard grabbed her and pulled her back. “How dare you accuse my mother of being a traitor! You ask me to help you, and then you insult my family!”

Beatrice straightened her robe and settled herself. “Like I said, we must be sure. Everyone is a suspect. You must be prepared for whatever you find. The truth is the only thing that’s going to save us, no matter how painful the truth might be.”

Honora yanked herself free from the guard’s grasp and returned to her seat. “I understand, but I don’t believe for a minute that my mother was involved.”

“Then this is the perfect way for you to clear her good name.”

“Why don’t you just arrest Ghoul Jane and bring her in for questioning?” Honora focused back on the case. “Allowing her to live among us is risky, even a little stupid,” she jabbed.

“Because we need more information on the entire operation. Even using our best truth potions, we aren’t guaranteed to get the whole picture, especially if the ghoul has someone working on the inside. We need more, and we need you to find it. The ghoul remains free until then, so I suggest you work quickly.”

Honora could see their reasoning. “I’m going to need details on everything the council knows, especially the other travelers. You can deliver it to my office as soon as possible.” She stood to go, but Beatrice stopped her. “One more thing, Ms. Mayhem. You’ll be paired up with a Hex Division operative. I hope that won’t be a problem.”

Honora shook her head. “I don’t see the point. As you said, I’ve done more on my own than Hex Division has with all of the council’s resources. Your Hexer will only slow me down.” She gritted her teeth. The last thing she needed was some pompous Hexer taking over the case and ordering her around. “I have a team already in place, and I assure you we can handle this. If I need backup, I’ll send word.”

“I understand your reluctance, but I really must insist. This operative’s knowledge of the situation will be essential. I can verify for him personally. He’s one of our best and most experienced agents.” Beatrice practically beamed when she spoke of him.

“Why? What’s so special about this Hexer?”

“He was one of the travelers.”

Nothing should surprise Honora anymore when it came to the council and its secrets, but this little morsel of news shocked her speechless. Her mouth practically hung open. “Are you serious? You sent a Hexer through the witching wall and you still had a breach? How do you know he’s not involved?” She put her hand on her hip. “He could be working with the ghoul.”

“I have vetted Hexer Min personally. I assure you he’s on our side. This mission is the council’s top priority. We don’t have time to argue, and the council must be kept in the loop. That’s why he’ll be working closely with you. His knowledge of the others is imperative. You are going to need him whether you like it or not.” She stood. A side door swung open and Hexer Min entered.

Honora’s gaze locked on the tall, pasty Hexer who had attacked January and tried to steal the warden’s handbook outside of the rare artifacts shop. As he walked into the room, a rush of anger pulsed through her. A weaselly smile spread across his thin lips.

“What’s going on here?” Honora jumped out of her seat. “If this is some kind of joke, it’s not funny.” She’d had enough of Beatrice and her conniving tactics.

Min was just as rat-faced today as he was the last time they’d met. He strode over to her in a few quick steps, but before he could say a word, Honora slapped him across the face. “That’s for attacking my friend.”

He reared back and rubbed his jaw with a wince. “I guess I deserved that. I assure you it wasn’t my intention to hurt anyone. I regret using such force. I’ve been in the Otherworld for so long that I acted impulsively. It was a mistake. My sincere apologies.” He gave her a small bow, but Honora just rolled her eyes.

“Is there a problem?” Beatrice asked.

“You bet there is. Your precious Hexer likes to attack elderly witches in their shops in the magic district and then try and steal things that don’t belong to him,” Honora said, unable to hide the disgust in her voice.

“I understand the two of you have met, but for the sake of Everland and your duty to the witching world, you will put the past behind you and move forward. That’s not a request. Do I make myself clear to the both of you?” Beatrice’s gaze narrowed.

The Hexer nodded. Honora sneered.

Beatrice motioned to Harper, who held out a piece of parchment.

“These are the travelers from the last pilgrimage. Hexer Min has already begun his investigation. I suggest you two get caught up.”

Hexer Min turned to Honora. “We got off on the wrong foot. It happens in my line of work. I’m on your side. I know that’s hard to believe, but I am.”

“Looks like I don’t have much of a choice,” Honora grumbled.

A self-satisfied smirk played across Min’s lips. He took the list of names from Harper and handed it to Honora. She spun on her heels and strode out of the council chamber, a fire burning in her stomach, more determined than ever to solve this case and clear her mother’s name.

16

E
arly the next morning, Honora sat in her office thinking about her mother, a mother she hadn’t seen in over ten years. Elspeth had told Honora and her sisters that leaving Everland was a sacrifice. She had a job to do, an Otherworld to explore for the good of the witching world. They would lose ten years of birthdays and holidays, of family dinners and mother-daughter outings. Elspeth had waited until after the three girls had graduated from Haven Academy and were branching out into adulthood. Sacrifice was what she called it, but really Elspeth had left to follow her dreams, and Honora couldn’t blame her. But the only feeling worse than the one Honora’d had when she left was the punch to the gut she’d felt when her mother didn’t return.

It wasn’t so much that she missed her mother—of course she did—but that Honora had wanted to go with her. She wanted to be by her side, to run off and explore the world, just the two of them. But Elspeth wouldn’t allow her to go. And now she’d disappeared—a ghost witch, neither here nor there. Was she wandering alone in the Otherworld? Hurt or killed or taken? Was she really a traitor? No one knew. There was more to the Travelers Program than she and her sisters had realized, and Honora was finally going to find out what happened to her mother once and for all.

Honora held the worn piece of parchment in her hands and scanned the list of names. Sawyer brought her a steaming cup of tea. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? You know I’m with you no matter what you decide to do. We can do this on our own. We don’t need the council breathing down our necks.” He set the cup down and crossed his arms over his chest in a defiant posture.

“Me, too. ‘Independence’ is my middle name. We’ve got this.” Jenny leaned back on the sofa and propped her boots on the coffee table. “They practically called your mother a traitor. Did Beatrice really think that antagonizing you was going to get you to help them?”

“Actually, yes, I think she did. And as much as I hate to admit it, she was right. The more Beatrice implied that my mom might be involved, the more I wanted to prove her innocence. She made it personal. She knew I would take the case, and she knew I would work like a dog to solve it. She insulted my family and tried to dirty the Mayhem name. That witch is going to regret the day she implied my mother was a part of this.”

“I doubt Beatrice will regret it when you solve the case. She’s ruthless. But worst of all, we have to work with the Hexer.” Sawyer shook his head. “If this weren’t so serious, it would almost be comical.”

“Are we really going to team up with that snake?” Jenny asked.

“I don’t want to work with him, either, but the council knows more than we do about the wall,” Honora sniped. Her emotions were roiling, up one minute and down the next. She took a drink of tea, letting the warm liquid soothe her nerves. “Sorry. The past few days have been
enlightening,
to say the least.”

“That’s understandable,” Jenny said.

“Stay on your guard at all times and we’ll be fine. Nothing changes. Our mission is still to flush out Ghoul Jane and whoever’s working with her. Hexer Min should be here soon. I arranged for us to meet and formulate a plan. Remember, we keep this guy on a need-to-know basis. He doesn’t know about Rainer, and he won’t find out until I’m ready to tell him. We use the Hexer to do the legwork and give us details about the Travelers Program.” Honora straightened in her chair. It sounded harsh, even to her, even after what he’d done to January, but in her opinion trust had to be earned, and Hexer Min had a lot of ground to make up.

“We make him our lapdog,” Jenny said with a rueful smile. “I can handle him if you’d prefer to steer clear.”

“Good idea. Just be careful. Remember, he’s a Hexer. I’ve seen the kind of wandwork this wizard is capable of, and trust me, you don’t want to be on the receiving end of his spellcasting.” Honora stared at Jenny, remembering the Hexer’s dueling wands.

“I can’t believe the council didn’t just go and arrest Ghoul Jane. What are they waiting for?” Sawyer exclaimed. “Hex Division could swoop in and put her in knot cuffs and lock her up in a Hexer cell for good.”

Honora sighed. “You’re right, and it sounds good in theory, but Beatrice has a point. If they arrest her now, then we’ll never know who she’s working for. Tracking her is our best option.”

There was a knock on the door. Sawyer jumped to his feet and within seconds escorted Hexer Min, dressed in trademark head-to-toe black, into Honora’s office. Her skin crawled as he strode in, looking even paler and more beady-eyed if that were possible.
The guy really needs to get out into the sun,
Honora thought, giving him the once-over. She made quick introductions as Min sat directly across from her, leaning his pointy elbow on her desk. Honora turned everyone’s attention to the list of travelers.

“The program is the key. Someone on the other side used it to breach the wall. Would you like to elaborate on the travelers and tell us what you know?” Honora asked Min.

“A decade ago, twelve travelers left Everland through the arch at the North Woods Station. We were under orders from the council for complete secrecy, especially with family, friends, and associates. No one was to know the details of our trip. We all had our own reasons for going, and we mostly kept to ourselves when we arrived. We were given set dates and drop-off points for correspondence throughout our time there and a ten-year return date. As you know, only ten of us returned. Your mother and a wizard didn’t make it to the rendezvous point.” Min cleared his throat, prompting Sawyer to pour him a glass of water.

“Who was he?” Honora asked, curious to find out the identity of the other wizard who didn’t return.

Min shrugged. “A companion of hers. That’s all I know. I believe they were
close
.”

Mother never mentioned a companion in her correspondence.
Honora broke his stare. “And the others? Not counting you, that leaves nine travelers to investigate,” she said. “I suggest we divide and conquer.”

“I’ve already eliminated four of the travelers. There are two sky flyers from a flying club, living in the eastern sky country, and a couple of elementals who relocated to the South. All four are completely harmless and living quiet lives.”

“If you say so,” Jenny said, tossing her bobbed hair with a swing of her head.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Min asked with a sneer.

“That’s it? You’ve only investigated four witches and wizards?” Jenny uncrossed her legs, planting her feet on the floor. “That’s a little pathetic, isn’t it?”

“We didn’t realize there was a threat until after Jonathan’s disappearance, which we initially thought was due to personal problems. None of us suspected a magic-wielding ghoul.” Min adjusted his collar, clearly unnerved by Jenny’s directness.

“But Jonathan disappeared two months ago,” Jenny continued. “I know because I was the only one looking for him back then.” She pointed to her chest.

Honora shrugged at him. “She’s right. Why now? Why did the council suddenly get involved?”

He smirked at her. “You, of course. Your investigation raised a few eyebrows. And the fact that Jonathan’s wife was still pressing to find him. Between your mother and the other wizard not returning and Jonathan’s connection with the wall, the council could no longer ignore the issue.”

“When did the council realize Jane was an impostor?” Honora asked.

Min’s smirk dissolved. “Not long. Our investigations are parallel.” He twisted up his lips.

“I guess you guys need me more than you want to admit.” Honora felt a flicker of satisfaction.

Jenny examined her fingernails. “I suppose better late than never,” she said, taking the high road.

“Did you know many of the travelers while in the Otherworld?” Honora asked.

“No, we all had separate assignments. I prefer to work alone. Also, being with Hex, I’m not at liberty to discuss my mission. I hope you understand. But I will help in any other way possible.”

“The council likes to keep secrets,” Sawyer said. “Here’s the list of the rest of the travelers. That leaves three witches and two wizards to track down.” He brought the casebook in and opened it on Honora’s desk.

“Anything interesting show up when you checked them out?” Honora asked.

“Two work for Haven Academy, so that’s good. You can find both of them at one time. Husband and wife professors—the Brassborns.” He waved his wand, and a picture of the towering stone buildings of the iconic academy appeared on the page with the wizards’ names.

“What do they teach?” Honora asked.

“Advanced spellcraft and magical illusions. Next on the list is a naturalist, a gypsy witch, and two astronomers,” Sawyer said.

“I’ll take the astronomers and the naturalist,” Min said, quickly laying claim.

Honora raised her brow at him.

“The astronomers were next on my list,” Min explained. “I’ve already done some background checks on them, so I’d like to finish what I’ve started. The naturalist is a mystery to me. I’m interested in learning more about her.”

“I’m going with you.” Jenny hopped up from the sofa. “Just think of me as a fly on the wall.”

Wisely, Min didn’t argue, but opened the door for Jenny.

Honora grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair. “I’ll go by the academy first and get the professors done, and then track down the gypsy. We meet back here at one o’clock with as much information as we can gather. Focus on suspicious behavior, associates, and daily routine.”

“Not a problem.” Min nodded. He was being suspiciously agreeable.

Flying over the Haven Academy grounds brought back a flood of memories to Honora, mostly of sneaking out late at night to fly by midnight or to cut class. A smile bloomed across her face as she remembered the old spellcasting classes, brewing parties, and her first wandworking lessons. School had been an interesting experience for Honora. She loved learning but hated studying. She preferred to jump right in with both feet when trying to learn a new subject. Why study when she could just
do
magic?

Honora dropped down from the sky and landed in front of Craft Hall, which contained the bulk of the academy’s classrooms. It was a mammoth gray stone building with a huge arched entry covered in carvings of giant caldrons, witches on broomsticks, and a galaxy of stars and moons. When a young witch wanted to learn everything she could about magic, this was the place she did it. Honora landed just as a rush of young witches and wizards poured out of the building, forcing her to push through a crush of students making their way to the grassy quad.

Nostalgia filled her heart as she navigated the halls. The directory led her to the seventh floor. After a few wrong turns, she found the professors’ classroom in a far-off corner of the building, with stacks of moving boxes crowding the hallway. The room was empty—no desks, no students, nothing but a tiny hedgehog sitting on a red velvet pillow in the middle of the room.

“Hey, little guy.” She bent down and scooped him up, gently holding him in her palm. “Did someone leave you here? Better be careful—you might get stepped on.” She picked up the velvet pillow the animal was sitting on, suspecting he was someone’s familiar. There was nowhere to put him out of the way of unsuspecting feet. “What kind of classroom is this?”

“It’s the illusion room,” the hedgehog whispered and twitched his nose.

“Did you say something?” she asked, staring in shock. Animals didn’t speak, not even in Everland.

The hedgehog sparkled on the pillow, beguiling her as its quills suddenly sprouted from its back, growing into long spines that shot right through the pillow, pricking Honora’s hand. “Ouch.” She dropped the animal, but it was too late. The creature transformed into a thorn-covered vine that twisted around her wrist.

“Not funny!” she yelled, trying to remember what the illusion room was. She vaguely remembered a class on disarming magical illusions. “Advanced phantoms!” she yelled, proud of herself for remembering, but then realizing the class name alone did her no good. The vines tightened. She silently berated herself for falling for such an obvious trap. Was this some kind of joke, witch hazing, or impromptu lesson?

She tried to pull the vine off, but it twisted harder, digging into her skin. Panic, mixed with anger, flared in her. She slipped the wand out of her inside jacket pocket and whispered a basic severing spell, but nothing happened. She tried a dissolving spell and a cutting spell, but neither worked on the thorny vine. Frustrated, she dropped her wand, pulled the knife from her boot, and awkwardly sliced through the ropey flesh. It snapped and sparked, the magic dissolving in a pool of golden light.

“Bravo, bravo.” A wizard wearing a long purple robe and black boots appeared on a raised platform that materialized in the front of the room. His gray hair was cropped short, giving his tanned face a bright glow. He had spent time in the sun. Desks also appeared out of thin air and filled the classroom.

“I’m going to presume you’re Professor Marvin Brassborn,” Honora said. “I seem to have stumbled into your illusion maneuvers.” She smiled politely.

“It’s a basic security illusion. Can’t be too cautious.”

A sticky pool of thread bound Honora’s feet to the floor. She shifted an annoyed glare from the golden pool of honey-like goo to the professor.
Talk about being paranoid.
“Do you mind?”