As soon as they had gotten in the car, Devlin had leaned back and shut his eyes. Alek knew the man was tired. Hell, even he could use a nap. But rest was not something he could concentrate on right now. His great aunt would not be happy with his failure. In his defense, he had tried to warn her she should use someone else. But she had insisted he track down Unrie and bring the man to her. Or at least his head. What she hadn’t told him was that Unrie had been on the island for a month. Yes, he had only been spotted two nights ago, but surely someone would have been able to confirm how long he’d been here. They had managed to compile a dossier on the man, for fuck’s sake.
Then there was Logan’s involvement. Had she known Unrie was working with him? If so, why not warn him in advance? Something wasn’t quite right with the whole situation. And while Devlin wanted to get more leads, Alek wanted to find out what game his great aunt was playing. And why.
Carnavalul de Fear wasn’t open until just after dusk. The rides were built to elicit fear, and most people had a misguided belief that nothing bad could ever happen to them during the day. The carnival preyed on this assumption nightly. They arrived just after two in the afternoon. The ground crew moved about, readying the park for the night’s visitors.
“It doesn’t look as appealing during the day,” Devlin said, staring out the window.
Alek grunted. “You sure you want to talk with her?”
Devlin turned to him. “I understand she’s family, but she must understand you are part of my team. If she needs something from you, she should have come to me.”
Alek smiled. “Just make sure you don’t tell her that.”
Devlin chuckled. “I don’t have a death wish.”
They continued toward the back in silence.
Alek stopped at the guard station and rolled down his window. It was the same man from Sunday, wearing a uniform too big for him with the same stain on the front. He was surprised the man was still there.
Recognition dawned in the guard’s eyes. His gaze swiveled between Alek and Devlin, and the surprise was replaced with a questioning look. He narrowed his eyes. “Is she expecting you?”
Usually, Alek would have been upset by the question, but this time, he understood. Petronela had no idea he was coming—let alone that he was bringing someone with him. Didn’t mean he was going to answer. Alek stared at the man, avoiding the question, until the guard waved them forward.
Alek parked in the same spot he did the other night. Before they could get out of the car, his phone dinged. He looked down at the display. Jonah had sent a text. It would seem Nicole couldn’t rest, either.
“Nicole is on her way to Hollingsworth Manor to confront Gavina. Jonah is following her.” He was surprised Jonah hadn’t sent the text to Devlin.
Devlin nodded. “Figured she would. Tell him to stick close.”
Alek sent a quick text then they climbed out of the car.
They made their way over to the back entrance. Unlike before, the door was closed, and Alek had to pound on it several times before another unfamiliar man opened it. The man looked no older than his early twenties, with cool blue eyes and long, dark hair. His skin was fairer than most Roma. He must have had mixed blood.
“Can I help you?” the man asked.
“We’re here to see her,” Alek said, shifting his weight. He noticed the man had placed his hand behind his back, possibly going to for a gun.
The man dipped his head and stepped to the side, sparing Devlin a brief glance as he did so. Alek didn’t want the stranger at their backs, so once inside, he paused just in the doorway and waited. He could see the calculations going on behind the man’s eyes as he took in both Alek and Devlin, waiting. Finally, with an audible sigh, he led the way to Petronela’s room.
The dark hallway pressed in on them. The muffled sounds of people talking were their only company. When they arrived at the curtained room, the man shifted the curtain to the side and signaled for Alek and Devlin to enter.
When they stepped inside, Alek was surprised to see Petronela sitting on her lounge chair while two couples stood in front of her. The women looked close to tears, while the men stood firm, as if waiting for orders. Petronela glanced over at them. Her dark gaze took in Devlin as if he were a rare specimen she needed to understand. There was calculation in her eyes. She smiled at them both and then waved her hand at the people in front of her.
“We will find them. Now, leave. I have business to attend to,” she said, her eyes still focused on Devlin. The couples glanced back, anger playing across their faces. But they didn’t say anything, only nodded and left the room.
“Devlin Grey,” Petronela started. “Tell me, do you know the power you have? Do you know the man who sired you?”
Devlin shifted and clasped his hands behind his back. “I never met my father. And I’m aware of my power.”
Petronela nodded, her eyes scanning the room, taking in the books lining the shelfs. “So much knowledge. You are welcome to it when you need it.” She turned her gaze to Alek. “Have you found him?”
“Who?” Alek asked, testing her. She didn’t say Unrie, and he had the feeling she really meant Logan.
She shifted in her seat, stretching out a bit. Pain had her face drawing taut. “The one I sent you to find.”
“Logan or Unrie?”
She sighed, locking her gaze with his. “Both. You needed to find both.” She tilted her head. A smile played across her face. “But of course, you already figured that out.”
“What game are you playing?” Alek studied her. She looked on the verge of collapse. Like she had too much on her shoulders and couldn’t handle any of it. He had never seen his aunt look like this before. “What is wrong with you, Auntie?” he asked, his tone softening.
“Tell me, Devlin, how do you like Tulare?” Petronela asked, ignoring Alek.
“It’s an interesting place,” Devlin said.
Petronela nodded. “Yes. That is a good description.” She pushed forward, grabbing the long cigarette resting on the small table by her side. “It will be even more interesting soon.” After taking a drag on the cigarette, she looked at Alek. “I’m getting old. If not for my usefulness, I would be dust by now. Able to finally rest.”
“You’ve always been old,” Alek said. “Even when I was a boy and first met you, you were old.” He went over and knelt in front of her. “Now, tell me, Auntie, why would you send me after a man who has been here for weeks? Why the game?”
She touched his face—a rare act of open kindness that made Alek flinch. “I always have my reasons. You know this, Alexandros. Even when I tried to get you to come to me, to let me help you…I had my reasons. And those reasons were a promise given in blood. I became bound long ago when our people first Traveled with the Historian.” She gripped Alek’s face when he tried to pull away in alarm. “I have a part to play in all this. And I have set you on the right path. That is all I can say. Now, I must concern myself with Daniella and Ileana.” Her mouth turned down, eyes going sad. “Some…” She sighed. “You can never save.”
She shifted; again, pain raced across her face. “The players are not what they seem. Make sure you bring Unrie to me soon.”
“We need more leads,” Alek said. “Unrie has become a ghost.”
Petronela closed her eyes. Alek could feel the magick rushing off her. A dark orange glow radiated from her as she used her rare gift of foresight. She’d told him once that she could only see parts of future events, not the full picture. And she always had to decipher what she saw. Had she seen Unrie? When she gave him the assignment, he had been too preoccupied with her request to ask.
After a short while, she opened her eyes. “I have been unable to see much lately.” She grimaced. “But I do know you will succeed in this.” She stared at him out of sad eyes. “That much I do know. It is the reason I asked you to do this.”
“Do you need my help finding the girls?” Alek asked.
Petronela leaned back. “Not now. Now, you need to expose the players in the game we are currently playing. These ones are the key to understanding everything.”
“You promised to bring someone to Tulare to help Nicole if I helped you. Will you still honor that promise?”
“I will.” She waved her hand, dismissing them. “Go. You don’t have much time.”
“What can you tell us about this path and your part in all this?” Devlin asked.
“War is coming to this island. And we’ll all be in the thick of it.” She studied Devlin. “You have your role as well. More than anyone else.” She looked at Alek, her eyes penetrating him. He felt her inside his head, but he didn’t turn away. “Bring me the girl.”
“Nicole?”
Petronela shook her head and closed her eyes. “No. The one who shines in the murky waters.”