The Vampire’s Servant novel Chapter 50

The buzzer went off in the entry and Bellamy went to answer it. She came back and told us that the witch was here. Talia called Marius so he could be there.

I set out the map and went upstairs to get Echo’s hairbrush. Having something from her might help. When I returned, I saw a tall, willowy woman with dark blonde hair standing off to the side. She was wearing black pants and a deep purple top. A flowing black cover went down to her knees.

She was taking in everything going on around her. Marius had arrived and was making insulting, off-hand comments about wolves. Bellamy looked bored, but Grayson looked like he was about to get himself in trouble.

“Master Marius, welcome back.” I said, turning their attention to me.

“Why wouldn’t I be here? I come every night and watch you fail to find my childe. I grow less impressed with you every time I have to leave without seeing her again.” Marius sneered.

“We have a new lead that Queen Bellamy’s wolves are working on, and this witch is here to render her assistance.” I told him, indicating the woman.

“My name is Lila. Can we start?” She asked.

“I’ll head out to meet with my team and join the search. I’m not a fan of dark magic.” Bellamy said as she turned to the doorway.

“A dark witch held Bellamy for a few months when she was a child.” Talia explained.

“Must have been an empowerment spell. It’s easier with fae royal children and young alphas. I would never do that. I may be dark, but I’m not ‘kill a kid’ dark. I’m going to fill my bowl and start my spell. Who am I using?” Lila asked.

“Me.” Marius said.

“Okay, handsome. Just wait by the table for me and I’ll be there in a minute.” She replied giving him a long look up and down.

He appeared to be deeply insulted. Grayson growled a little more. Probably at the nonchalant tone she was using.

Lila filled the bowl and brought it to the table. I handed her the hairbrush. She nodded and shooed me away.

Without a word, she started mixing ingredients into a stone bowl and crushing them together while chanting an incantation. She pulled a long strand of Echo’s hair from the brush and let it fall in a circle around the edges of the bowl. Then she added the powdered plants.

She looked into the bowl, like she was watching something. I watched her eyes flick around the bowl as if she were following movements. She winced a little.

“The wolf who punched her is dead.” Lila murmured. “He displeased the man he was working for. He almost killed her with the hit and she’s been healing for the last few days. That may be part of what was blocking her. I also see a spell surrounding them. I can’t see any faces. I can’t make out where they are. There’s no girl in the room. This is the past. I’m blocked from seeing the present. I don’t know if this will work. Give me your hand, cutie.”

Marius gave her a deadly look. “My name is Marius Aconitum. You may call me Master Marius.”

“Sweetheart, I don’t call any man ‘master’ outside of the bedroom. I’m the only one who was willing to even try this. You can either do what I say, or I can leave.” She smirked.

“I like her.” Talia laughed. “Go on, Marius. This might help us find your daughter. Debase yourself with the living one more time for her sake.”

He huffed and took Lila’s hand roughly. I was expecting her to jump or ask him to let her go.

“Mmm, baby, you know just how I like it. Enough playtime, though. We need to find your kid.” She purred.

It was a struggle not to let my jaw drop. Anyone could easily sense the danger around Marius, but she didn’t seem to care. Talia looked like she was about to start crying with laughter. I could imagine this story would’ve been making the rounds in the High Council, if not for the secrecy involved.

Lila picked up a crystal on a chain and dipped it into the water before bringing it to the map of the city. She started swinging it around in a circular motion. It only took a few moments before the crystal planted itself on the map.

A thrill went through me. We knew where she was! I looked to Grayson. He closed his eyes and started sniffing the air. I wondered what he was smelling when the scent hit me.

It was a mix of fresh turned earth, rich and warmed by the sun, and zesty lemon. I looked around for the scent’s source, and it seemed to be coming from the bowl of water.

“Echo.” He whispered.

That wasn’t Echo’s scent. Not the way I knew it. She always smelled a little tart and mouthwatering. The appeal of a dhampyr.

“What was that, boy?” Marius growled.

“I smell Echo.” Grayson said.

Lila focused on the water in the bowl. “Keep holding my hand, honey. Your connection is breaking through the spell. Come over here, wolfie. Put your hand on my shoulder.”

Grayson did as she ordered. The smell grew stronger. I moved closer to them.

“What do you see?” I asked.

“She’s in a room. Like a cell. The walls are stone. She looks confused and scared.” She murmured.

I wished I could see what the witch was talking about. I wanted to see Echo.

“Someone came into the room. He has a bottle. I can’t hear them.” Lila said with a frustrated tone.

My arm brushed hers as I leaned in. I knew it was futile, but I missed seeing my Echo so much.

“Put your hand on my shoulder, now.” She ordered.

I did what she said with no hesitance. If it helped find Echo, I would do whatever the witch wanted. The smell was powerful now.

“It’s like she’s standing right here.” Grayson whispered.

That smell was Echo? It was perfect, delicious. The scent of blood washed over it.

“What happened? I smell blood.” I said.

“She tried to run and he caught her up against a wall. He’s forcing the bottle into her mouth and she’s choking on whatever’s in there. It’s blood. She coughed some up. He’s leaving. She’s whispering something. ‘Please, Victor, please come save me again. I’ll be better this time. Please find me.’ Who’s Victor?” She asked.

“I am.” I told her. “This was not even an hour ago. I heard her say that.”

“I can feel that you’re bonded with her. That was what made the connection strong enough that I could hear. Let me try scrying again.” Lila said and dipped the crystal back in the water.

I focused on Echo. On the sound of her voice. On the feeling of her in my arms. On the new scent that I knew was hers.

The crystal pinpointed a different location. That didn’t make sense. Had they moved her?

“That’s not it either.” She sighed.

“What do you mean?” Marius asked.

“There’s a magical deflection spell. It’s used to mess with location spells. Whoever has your girl assumed you’d use some sort of location magic. This was crafted by a dark witch. Someone died for this spell. It’s powerful if all of these connections to her are still throwing me off. Most of all, I know that she’s not there because those are all new construction with no basement. This is an older house with a stone basement.” Lila explained.

“Can we break it somehow?” Grayson asked.

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