“She just told me to give you that. You are her friends, right?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I hope your investigation goes well.” She offered him a bright, innocent smile, as if she hadn’t just said something that could get them all in trouble.
Kain sighed and ran his fingers through his golden hair. It was clear Sophie had used her powers on the girl, so why did Alexi insist? Why did he always need confirmation when it came to their apprentice and the way she worked? He really didn’t believe she had things under control, did he?
“You won’t tell anyone about… about this.”
“Of course I won’t. Even if I wanted to, I can’t.”
“Why not?”
She cocked her head to the right and thought for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I just can’t.”
“Good, that’s good.” Alexi let out a long, shaky breath of relief. “Thank you, Leila. Take care of yourself.”
The girl nodded and went on her way. Finally, Alexi closed the door and turned to Kain.
“What does it say?”
The blond had unfolded the note and was staring at it in mild confusion.
“Not much… Just two words, actually: ‘Chalet. Irvene.’ What the hell do they mean?” He gave Alexi the piece of paper and crossed his arms over his chest. Why didn’t Sophie take the time to write more? Two words? Just two stupid words when they had been here all afternoon worrying about her?
“Irvene is a hellhound, Kain.”
“I know that, smart ass. She’s probably the most feared demon hound after Cerberus. But what does she have to do with D’Argyle?”
“When was the last time she was spotted?”
“I’ve no idea… Centuries ago. It’s hard to keep tabs on hellhounds. They do whatever the heck they please.”
“Unless they are caught and tamed by a master.”
“Holy shit!” Kain shook his head slowly. “Don’t tell me the Count has Irvene.”
“Sophie wouldn’t have mentioned her otherwise. Remember her torn dress?”
Kain started pacing the room. This case was getting more fucked up by the second. “And a chalet,” he said. “D’Argyle has a secret chalet guarded by a hellhound.”
“That’s where he took Sophie after lunch. If we got her message right, then he might have hidden the rest of the men and women there.”
The blond stopped and looked at Alexi. His cold blue eyes were filled with something between disbelief and exasperation. “How the fuck do we get past a hellhound?”
“There has to be a way.”
“We can’t kill her.”
“No. Hellhounds can’t be killed. It wouldn’t be fair, either. Irvene is under the influence of her master.”
“Which means…”
“… we have to set her free.”
They were both surprised at how fast they could come up with solutions to the worst problems when they worked together.
“We don’t have the power or the knowledge to set her free,” said Kain. “This is a job for someone who practices magic.”