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WITH THE STREETS NOW mostly cleared of snow, Eden didn’t have any excuses left to delay her search for Xiara Evora. The Guardian of Nox would be out on patrol and she could be anywhere. The succubus left her mansion without running into Malachi or Sorcha, then let her feet carry her towards the City Square. She reached the stone fountain that was encased in ice and stood there indecisively. A carriage carrying a group of witches appeared and pulled up in front of the Magic Guildhall. The women disembarked and the skeleton turned its head to look directly at Eden as if it sensed she was thinking about it.
Going on a hunch, the assassin crossed the square to the carriage. “Can you take me to Xiara Evora?” she asked. The skeleton nodded and its frail bones creaked at its movement. It pointed at the window behind it, silently telling her to climb in. “I hope this works,” Eden muttered as she obeyed the walking corpse. She knew the Night Cursed were all connected to the Immortal Triumvirate in a similar way to how she was. It wouldn’t surprise her if they were linked to each other as well.
Eden settled back against the plush seat as the vehicle went into motion. The carriage driver headed for the Shifter District. It wended its way through the suburbs to one of the poorer areas. The skeleton halted the carriage, lifted its bony arm and pointed at an alley just ahead. Its head turned to regard her through eyeless sockets and it clicked its teeth impatiently when she made no move to get out. She couldn’t see Xiara Evora from this angle, but her guide was insistent that she was nearby.
The succubus climbed out and the carriage immediately took off. Snow was falling lightly and she wished she’d brought an umbrella with her. She pulled the hood of her yellow coat up to protect herself from the weather as she started towards the alley. Hearing the sounds of battle, she quickened her pace. Eden reached the mouth of the alley just in time to see Ms. Evora smash the pommel of her silver sword into a rogue weretiger’s forehead. The shifter staggered, then went down. He was unconscious rather than dead.
Eden held her hands up peacefully when the Guardian of Nox whirled around to face her. “You’re wounded,” she noted, seeing rips in the huntresses’ clothes.
“What else is new?” Ms. Evora said dourly. She flicked a dark glower at the fallen shifter, then sheathed her sword. “Do you need my help?” she asked. The round black shield on her left arm suddenly shrank down now that it was no longer needed. The succubus could barely make it out now that it was in its brooch form again. It looked like a dragon curled around an old black coin.
“I do, actually,” Eden replied. “Do you know of a holy person who can heal any type of wound?” She could tell the Guardian of Nox knew exactly who she was talking about when her back stiffened.
Tossing her platinum blonde ponytail over her shoulder, Xiara attempted to act nonchalant. “It doesn’t ring a bell.”
“I know you know who I’m talking about,” Eden said, keeping her voice low so she wouldn’t be overheard. “Two of your friends spoke about this holy person when I questioned them in the Night Cursed District. I believe their names were Amanda and Ivan.”
Xiara took a step towards her with expression suddenly turning fierce. “Who are you?” she demanded harshly. “Are you a spy for the Immortal Triumvirate?”
Eden didn’t even try to keep her distaste at that idea from her face. “If they knew I was talking to you about this, they’d have me killed,” she said.
The Guardian studied her suspiciously. “Why do you want to see this healer?” she asked, looking Eden up and down. “You don’t look like you’re injured.”
“I can’t talk about why I need to speak to the healer,” Eden replied.
“Why not?” Ms. Evora demanded. “I need to know if I can trust you before I’ll tell you what you need to know.”
Eden opened her mouth to tell her the truth, but the bargain she’d made with Padavion prevented her from explaining. “I can’t talk about it,” she said in frustration.
Xiara’s expression became thoughtful. “Did someone put a spell on you?” she asked. Eden held her hands out helplessly, indicating she couldn’t say anything. “Come with me,” Ms. Evora decided. “I need to consult with someone about this.”
Left with no choice, Eden followed the huntress down the street. A carriage arrived a few seconds after they stepped onto the sidewalk. Both women climbed inside and the skeleton gleaned their destination from Ms. Evora’s mind.
The succubus was surprised when they returned to the City Square. They pulled up in front of the boutique where Madam Quilla Astrid told fortunes for her clients. The sign that indicated when the gypsy was busy was absent from the window in the door. “Wait here,” Xiara instructed her after they climbed out of the carriage.
Nodding in agreement, Eden stood beneath the awning as the executioner stepped into the boutique. She listened in as the two Night Cursed women greeted each other.
“Hey, Xiara,” Madam Quilla said. “What’s shaking?”
“Hey, bestie. An uncursed citizen tracked me down and asked me if I knew a healer who can heal any type of wound. She’s the same woman who spoke to Amanda and Ivan a few nights ago.”
Madam Quilla gasped in alarm, then went silent. “She can hear us,” she said. “She’s listening to us right now.”
Eden took a step back when the door was yanked open. Xiara looked left, then right to make sure they were alone, then crooked her finger at the succubus. “Get in here,” she ordered.
Fighting against sudden trepidation, Eden did as she was commanded. The door closed behind her and the Guardian of Nox put the sign in the window to say the gypsy was busy, then stood in front of the door to block her escape.
“You’re a succubus,” Madam Quilla said as she studied Eden intently. “You’re the one who has been responsible for the withered husks turning up every now and then.”
“How do you know that?” Eden asked as a fissure of fear ran along her spine.
“I’m psychic,” the gypsy said, then pointed at the chair across from her. “I didn’t bother to read your mind the last time you came to see me. I just thought you were one of the usual vain, frivolous fae women who come to visit me on a nightly basis.”
“You remember me?” the assassin asked as she took her seat. She flicked a glance at Ms. Evora to see her stroking the handle of her staff. The gray fog that emanated from the larger blade reached out to touch her face. Eden had to hold in a shudder at the reminder that the staff was sentient.
“A few of us have better memories than the rest of our kind,” the seer said. “I foretold you would meet a tall, dark and handsome stranger who would sweep you off your feet. Did that come true?”
“Yeah, I’ve run into him a few times now,” Eden admitted.
Madam Quilla’s lips quirked up into a sly smile. “I see you’ve become pretty well acquainted with him recently,” she said with a chuckle.
“I’d rather not discuss my personal life,” the assassin said, face going slightly red. “Do you know the holy person who can heal all wounds or not?”
The mystic became serious as she studied her visitor. “I knew the first time we met that you had an important destiny. I’m going to do another reading for you, but this time, I’m not going to use the tarot cards.”
Eden became wary when the two Night Cursed women exchanged grim looks. “What are you going to use to tell my fortune with this time?” she asked.
Madam Quilla reached into her pocket and pulled out a crystal ball. “I’m going to use this,” she said and produced a silver stand to rest it on.
