Chapter 28

28

ROWAN

Holly remains in hospital under human and supernatural guard, and Violet visits daily. Everybody monitors Holly for any new physical or magical issues, and apart from the headaches and frustrating memory loss, she doesn't display any more damage.

Dorian left and hasn't returned to the hospital, which means he hasn't yet met with Holly's parents. Eloise persuaded him to wait to talk to the couple until their emotions aren't running as high. Thankfully, Violet hasn't encountered Holly's parents either, as that would stir things into further chaos.

Holly's parents would like their daughter to return home with them, and away from everything and everywhere connected to her disappearance but agreed to Holly remaining in the local hospital for now. Human medical staff pressed their preference that Holly stay a few more days too, so Dorian didn't need to push his agenda.

Only Holly's family didn't know their daughter disappeared and were horrified to find out that the attack didn't happen randomly one night. Violet questioned Dorian on the wisdom of joining in with Mrs. Lorcan's lie but, even with distrust and dislike between them, the supernatural pair pull ranks. Following Wesley's death, anything else happening to a human in a supernatural environment would intensify the turmoil and offer more proof why humans aren't safe under Dorian's government.

Is the full moon a genuine threat? The origins of the rumor amongst Darwin kids was pinpointed to an imaginative Cassie who claimed she overheard a plot. A plot by people she didn't see, can't name, nor can she remember specifics. I'm inclined to believe there isn't any threat, especially now we've established the ‘werewolf' is Dash, who was searching for Violet and not lining up a victim. Still, guards will outnumber students on campus on the night of the full moon.

Dash remains in a secret location, much to Violet's continued annoyance, especially as Zeke and Ethan also had the opportunity to visit and speak to Dash, and she hasn't. Zeke and Ethan demanded more answers from Dashiell about his origins. I'd picked up on his Scottish accent, and Violet informed me that there's a past between Ethan and a Scottish wolf shifter community, but she isn't aware of the details. Another connection or coincidence? Man, I hope it's coincidence because I can't deal with any more threads to pick apart.

Is Dashiell in Scotland? Dorian says not, but is he lying? Teens and their parents are adversarial, but Violet's recent changes, and challenges to her father's authority, aren't helping.

Violet's stalking switched to Kai's mother, who enjoys the lifestyle that her family's wealth and standing allow. Sarah Sawyer spends days out on everything from expensive shopping trips to pricey visits to an aesthetician—the source of her flawless, young complexion that Violet once thought was witch interference. Sarah also meets friends for lunches in nearby towns at more expensive restaurants, and is a member of the local golf club, where she visits the spa more than she plays.

So far, Violet hasn't approached the woman, nor has she attempted to enter anywhere Sarah visits. So far. The more time that passes with no communication from Kai, the closer Violet comes to taking that step. We haven't seen Sarah with anybody apart from humans, all females. Whatever Sarah's secret, it must be in the past, or the people involved well-hidden.

The longer Holly remains in the hospital, the more agitated Violet becomes, even when we explain that Holly requires time to recuperate. Holly's parents won't allow any ‘witch hokum' used on their daughter, and never leave her in the room without a nurse present.

With no further communication from either Vincent or Viktor, or any communication at all for several days, we're at stalemate. Kai is Violet's hope.

Kai contacts us the same day that Violet declares Kai an ineffectual waste of time and makes plans for an all-out invasion of the Sawyers' house. You could never associate the word ‘jubilant' with Violet, but Kai's message that he has information pulled her out of brooding over Holly. Violet pulled a face at me when I suggested Kai isn't such an ineffectual waste of time after all.

As Kai still isn't allowed to leave the Sawyer home alone, we arrange a return visit. Kai ushers us into the lounge area inside his annex again, which smells worse than a few days ago—stale pizza and sweat, and spilled beer. He isn't looking crash hot again either, dressed in gray sweats and a stained blue Henley, feet bare. I glance at Grayson and Leif. The decision to keep Kai under constant watch isn't fair. I'd be stir crazy too.

He repeatedly drags a hand through his hair before peering through the wide window that overlooks the pathway between his place and the main house, before yanking down the beige roller blind.

"How's Holly?" he asks sharply.

Violet takes an empty plate from the sofa and sits, placing the item beside a glass on the side table. "Improving."

"Is anybody else hurt? Nobody tells me much." He chews on his lip, eyes wide. "I heard rumors of more zombies?"

Violet opens her mouth, and I shoot her a look. "No. No more necromancy," I say. Not that anybody has had a chance to interview any shifters since the elders still have the place on lockdown. At least Leif's connection to Violet and Dorian stopped their insistence he join them—for now.

Leif folds his arms over his chest, brow furrowing. "Are you okay, Kai?"

"Of course I'm not fucking okay!" I arch both brows at Kai's vehemence, and he clears his throat. "I've looked around Dad's study, but I couldn't get into the safe." Kai perches on the sofa and grabs his phone from the table. "No paperwork. He must keep that at his factory office."

I huff and rest back. If Kai couldn't find his way into the safe, he's unlikely to find anything important. "Did you take photos of his office desk and shelves so we can check for anything magical looking?"

"Yeah, but he keeps his office fairly empty. I did look behind pictures and photos on the walls—that was smart, right?" Kai straightens with pride.

"And did you locate anything hidden behind them?" asks Violet.

"No."

Violet sucks her lips together, and I'm impressed at her self-control when she doesn't berate Kai.

He scratches his cheek. "But I found something else in a drawer that freaked me out. He had a fancy folder from the local funeral place, and I thought he was planning mine ."

"And?" I ask.

"There was an invoice inside. Dad paid for everything related to Wes's funeral. I mean everything —top price." He scoffs. "I wonder if he'll get all the extras for me?"

"Wesley Willis's funeral?" asks Violet.

"What the hell?" says Leif. "Why would Sawyer do that?"

"Good question," I mutter. "Did you take photos of the invoice?" Kai nods. "Send them to me."

"What did you find about your mother, Kai?" asks Violet. "You informed us you'd discovered something."

"Yeah. I searched through her closet and found a small cardboard box hidden at the back, on a high shelf." He rubs his nose. "I barely got a look before Mum came into the room; she asked what I was doing, and I had to make an excuse."

"What excuse did you use?" I ask warily.

"Uh. That I wanted to borrow a pair of shoes."

"From your mother's closet? You're not even the same shoe size." Leif groans.

"Shoes was the first thing that came to mind!" Kai protests. "If Mum asked why, I could've told her a girlfriend wanted to borrow them."

"But she didn't ask about the box?" I lean forward. "Did she see what you were doing?"

"Mum always gets pissed if people mess with her things. I swear she's OCD. Tidy freak. Control freak." He shrugs. "I left her examining the wardrobe but, no, she never mentioned the box. I did manage to grab a couple of photos from the top before Mum appeared."

"Oh?" Violet's hand shoots out. "Show me."

"You can't take them," he warns. "I'll have to put them back some time."

"Yes, yes." She beckons with her fingers.

Kai stands and goes to a small cupboard beneath the TV on the wall. He pushes around inside, moving games controllers and junk before producing an A4 envelope. "I placed them in here."

An eager Violet tips the aged images on the low table between the sofa and chairs, then spreads them all out for us to all pore over.

One depicts a family standing outside a red-brick suburban house, parents and a son and daughter. The tall girl with straight chestnut hair smiles at the camera, but the guy beside her, a couple of years older, hunches over, hands in pockets, scowling. They're opposites in dress too—like Holly and Violet, colorful versus dark.

I'm looking at the same guy as pictured with Madison. Undoubtedly.

Violet picks up the photo and studies. "Discover where this is, Rowan."

"The family home. I already got the address when looking into the Pipers," I say.

With a nod, Violet sets that down and moves another picture to look at. "Just Sarah and Robert in this one."

"They're at a party, maybe?" suggests Leif. "Both have bottles that look like beer or mixers."

"Who's in the background?" Grayson takes the photo. "There're other kids."

"Difficult to tell. Weird place though," I say and tap the image. "Are they in a cave?"

The individuals in the image are too close to see the space behind them clearly, but the uneven walls appear to be gray and brown limestone, familiar for this area. Sarah and Robert perch on makeshift seat created by old, worn-out blankets on large, flat rocks, around a small fire pit made of stones.

Another photo shows an outdoor scene, in the dark, reminiscent of the footage we found of Madison and her friends, but at a different location. This isn't a wooded area with cars, but teens sitting on the top of a rocky outcrop. Robert is in the photo again, sitting with a couple of guys, and the photographer has taken pictures of half a dozen girls sitting on the ground in a circle.

"Take a photo of this. Research the other individuals," says Violet.

"How are we supposed to find out who random people are from a photo, taken in the dark, twenty years ago?" I complain.

"Kai. Is your mother in contact with old school friends?" asks Violet. "Do you know any of these people?"

"I don't think so," he says. "She has a different life now. When she gets pissed with me, Mum goes on and on about how lucky I am, and that she had nothing, blah blah."

"She cut ties with her old life?" I ask.

He shrugs. "I don't follow Mum's social life."

"Did any of your mum's school friends come to her fiftieth?" asks Leif.

"Maybe. Don't know."

"Well, what a wealth of knowledge you are," mutters Violet, and picks up the last picture. Pursing her lips, she peers closer. "Look at this."

The photo shows a limestone wall—possibly the cave that the other picture was in—with various names and initials carved into the rock from people leaving their mark. Some have love hearts around, but there's no Madison or Viktor, or Robert, but Sarah is etched along with other girls' names to check. "Right. I'll try to match the names to Sarah's old school friends and photos."

Kai watches quietly, one foot jiggling as he listens. "This is good stuff, right?"

"Possibly," says Grayson.

"Look. There're more than the names, Rowan," says Violet and points to the bottom edge of the picture. "Runic symbols. They're not clear and the image cuts off, but that's definitely runes carved on the rock."

"Where is this place?" asks Grayson. "Kai? Do you know?"

"How the hell would I know where my mum hung out as a teen? She's never taken me anywhere like this."

Violet's eyes remain on the picture, and I can practically hear her mind whirring. "We check the geography for caves in driving distance of Mrs. Sawyer's home town. Kai, do you know about any gatherings in caves? That town isn't far from this one."

"No. We only have—had—fire night." He sits back. "I'd know if town kids went somewhere else."

Violet pauses. "Ah. Yes. Due to your social standing as the individual everybody wishes to garner favor with. You'd be the instigator."

Kai looks to me. "Does she ever make sense? Was that an insult, or what?"

"Violet means you're popular and included in everything," says Leif.

I take photos of the images with my phone, then Violet gathers them to return to the envelope. "I'm disappointed there's nobody familiar from our investigations into Madison, but we must locate this cave," she says.

"Who's Madison?" asks Kai.

"The girl in the picture with your uncle," says Violet, and I raise my brows at her giving out the information.

"Is she involved in the plot against your father?" he whispers.

Violet gives a tight smile, and the envelope, to Kai. "No. Did you happen to notice anything else in the box?"

He wrinkles his nose. "Just a handgun on top of a pile of papers and envelopes."

"A gun?" I choke out. "Do your family have a lot of guns?"

"Maybe there's one in Dad's safe too, but none that I knew of until now." He blows air into his cheeks. "My parents should give me one."

"Are you insane?" asks Violet. "The supes that we're dealing with possess spells more damaging than a gunshot wound."

"A gun would kill a witch," he says firmly.

"Not one who can throw a spell quicker than you can pull the trigger." I shake my head. "Kai. Promise me you didn't go back to the closet and take your mum's gun."

"Yeah. Well. That's the other thing I was gonna tell you. Mum and Dad had a huge row in the gardens. I couldn't hear everything from inside here, but Mum got in her car and left with two suitcases."

"She's gone?" I exclaim. "You could've told us that first, Kai!"

"Good grief!" Violet stands. "Time to go and discuss our next move."

"No. That's the thing. Mum only left for an hour and then came back—" He tips his chin. "While she was out, and Dad drinking in the garden, I checked her closet again. No box. When she spoke to Dad, I snuck out and checked her car too. No suitcases."

I exchange looks with the other guys. "Sarah hid the box somewhere. She'd know the photos are missing."

"Not only the box, but two suitcases worth of things," says Grayson.

"Hidden where?" asks Leif. "The factory again?"

"If she's possibly the person who hid the tiara, Kai's mum would know that's a useless hiding place," Violet says.

I stand and wander to the window. Two cars are parked in the circular driveway, a black Lexus with private plates, and Sarah's red MG, with familiar plates. "She left for an hour?" I ask. "That's all?"

"Yeah. Sometimes, Mum leaves Dad for a couple of days after a big argument, so I was surprised she came back. Why?"

"What have you seen, Rowan?" Violet asks as she joins me. "Who's out there?"

"Mrs. Sawyers car." I point. "There's mud streaked along the bodywork, and the wheel hubs are covered too. She drove off-road to somewhere that takes a maximum of an hour to get there and back."

Violet's face brightens again. "The lane to the lodge. The suitcases are at the lodge!"

"Maybe," Leif adds cautiously.

"Do you have a key, Kai?" continues Violet.

He looks between us. "I do. But I need you to keep your end of the bargain."

"But there's much more to discover, Kai," Violet informs him.

"And we still need to catch those responsible," I add. "We promise that, once it's safe, we'll help you leave the Sawyer family."

"And when will that be?" Kai stands. "Ever? I've helped, haven't I?"

"Allow us to borrow the key tonight," says Violet in an unfamiliarly gentle tone. "You must possess one as you're inclined to spend time with friends there."

"Not recently," he mutters.

"We need to ascertain if your mother did take the suitcases to the lodge and what they contain. I assure you that we will not remove anything," she continues.

As a semi-reluctant Kai searches a drawer, Violet beams at me Holly-style.

Please let the suitcases be at the lodge, because if Mrs. Sawyer knew Kai found something, and took evidence to a place different than the lodge to hide, Kai's ‘help' has been anything but.