Chapter 39:

Jack

When we reach the airport in London, I call Travis, who stayed the night outside Euphrasia in order to meet us when we get there.

“Did they find her?” I ask. “Was she where I said she’d be?”

“No, man. They sent two guys up there, but they said all they found was some harmless old lady.”

So Talia was wrong. I hadn’t thought of that.

“Maybe it was another hill, another cottage.”

“They’re checking every cottage on a hill, but let me tell you, it’s not a crack crime scene investigation team.”

I remember how easy it was to escape the dungeon and take Talia with me. “Guess not. They should check every cottage in the kingdom.”

When I get off the phone, Dad says, “No luck?”

“Nope.” I look at him, daring him to say it was a waste of time coming here.

But he just says, “They’re going to be boarding in a few minutes. Better get our stuff together.”

I do, and as I’m sitting on the flight from London to Brussels, I think of something: If Malvolia is a witch, she can probably disguise herself.