Darren shows up at the club not long after the deal is made with Rory, Rox and Drac behind him. Of course, Mayfly is a wanted criminal in the supernatural world but Darren has promised to overlook it since he wants Merelda's head on a platter.
Speaking of, I make a mental note to speak to Mayfly about a necromancer for Darren's mate.
"So you're saying Merelda's cave is actually an underground tomb within the Lafayette Cemetery? Why would she desecrate witch graves for that? She is an Elder."
We wait for Mayfly to answer Darren's question but the Nymph shrugs and confuses us further.
"Is she really an Elder or has she created the illusion of being one? Think about it. When have you ever seen the Elders outside of their castle?" He looks around the room waiting for an answer from us now.
He's right, I've never seen the Elders out in the streets. They've never come to enact their rules or to make sure their bounty hunters are doing their jobs. They don't come to any of the gatherings or meetings, in fact, they only send Merelda when or if she's needed.
"That's impossible, I've spoken to the Freda, the Wolf Elder and the Fae Elder multiple times. They can't be illusions." Darren sounds unsure even as he says this.
Mayfly just shrugs, "Whatever the case may be... Merelda doesn't follow the rules. Her location is within the witches domain but her rule is a desecration... why do you think the witches have found sanctuary on the outskirts?"
"He's right Dare Bear," Mayfly scoffs at the endearment but Roxy ignores him, "I've always wondered why there was so much prejudices against Blood Crows even as they send us out to do their dirty work. It makes sense now. Merelda hates us so either she's spelled the Elders to see her side or they're not even alive and she uses their energy to make illusions."
Everyone is quiet for a moment as we absorb this new information.
"I want to open her throat and see if her vocal cords look as old as they sound." Roxy murmurs to Drac who nods vigorously, giving her one of his split smiles.
Mayfly snaps his fingers and one of his many guards comes forth with maps. Unrolling the paper, Mayfly begins to mark routes and paths through the cemetery. There are over seven hundred tombs and each one could be the entrance to Merelda's hideout.
"Do you know which tomb she uses or just a general area?" I question as the Nymph continues to make markings. On closer inspection though, I see he's not making marks, nor is he using a pen. How did I not see this?
Mayfly ignores my question as he pours a black powder around the circumference of the cemetery. Once both sides of the circle touch, he looks at me.
"No I don't and the general area is the entire cemetery. I see your Mate's mark on your arm, have you found your magic yet?"
I quickly cover my tattoo like his mentioning of it will somehow mess it up.
"Yes, we did. Why?"
“Then it's you and your sisters who will need to speak the location chant and it will need blood from your mate or one of his brothers."
Both Draven and Drac bite into their palms and let the blood flow onto the map. Right in the center before pulling back.
"We don't know the chant."
"You play toss the bones, no? It's like that. You repeat his name while picturing him. Your sisters will be your grounding.”
Okay, I can do that. Taking the hands of my sisters, I take a deep breath and will my power to the surface. I picture Drug's face as I told him I loved him, I picture the cave he's in and the wounds that bled freely. I picture his lips moving against my skin and how his fingers tug on my hair. I can almost feel his lips against mine, silently repeating his name as I speak it.
Something tickles my nose and when I open my eyes, not realizing I had closed them, I see I'm levitating. I look at the my sisters whose eyes are white while they stay seated on their chairs like my levitation doesn't affect them. Hmm, they really are grounded.
I continue to chant softly and watch the blood flow from the center of the map to the west end of the cemetery until it stops at a small burial plot.
I stop chanting and drop to my seat. That was crazy and I totally want to do it again.
"Of course, she uses a tomb that's totally inconspicuous."
"Really? I would have thought the powerful witch would have chosen a tomb fit for a queen." Roxy says while tapping her chin like she's pondering the meaning of life.
"What matters is how many traps does she have for unwanted visitors?"
"Good question my dear Rory." Mayfly says as Draven flashes Hellfire in his eyes, a threat the Nymph understands clearly but smiles at nonetheless.
I'm starting to think Mayfly has a kink for threats.