“I could’ve been telling ye that,” said Lyra, “Magic circles work better when they’re made from sacrificial materials,”

Phoenie held a hand in front of her mouth as bile began to creep up her throat at the thought of young Ravens – as naïve as they were – seduced into these depths, only to have their throats slashed and blood drained.

“Bastards,” muttered Theseus.

It was then that Joel and Kaori emerged from their little cocoon, bodies trembling at the memories Phoenie could only guess at.

“They didn’t kill us,” said Joel, “Just…” He pulled up a sleeve and cast his naked arm in torchlight, revealing several scars across his slender wrist. “I’ve got some proper scars here. We had to prove we were worthy and make some cuts…”

Theseus turned his back; Phoenie could see his fists tightening.

“After that they jabbed us with needles, sucked out what they needed. Said it was for the magic. Man, how were we to know what they were doing?”

Phoenie pulled Andromeda and Katrina towards her for emotional support, while John shook his head and whispered disbelief. Lyra seemed the only one unaffected by the whole revelation.

“Fecking twats, the lot of yers,” she said.

“W-we’ve gotta make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Phoenie, “Someone has to pay for all the suffering they’ve caused,”

“Damn right,” said Theseus, his voice a low growl, “I don’t give a fuck if this is about hallucinations or demons or whatever, but I ain’t having this sorta crap going on underneath my nose. Now tell me where the hell these freaks’re holed up so I can break their ribs,”

Joel and Kaori looked to one another for an answer, and then to Lyra, who shrugged.

“Feck knows, they ain’t been around here for a bit at any rate,”

“Maybe we should check out those corridors that are blocked off,” suggested Katrina, “They might have their base of operations around there? If they have a base,”

“We could spend days getting lost in there,” said John, “Those catacombs spread over under the town and possibly even outside it, connecting to the outlying villages and settlements,”

“Man, I never seen those blokes around anywhere but here,” said Joel, “The dealers hang around the club, yeah, but the robed magicians, or shamans, or whatever they are? Nope, never seen ‘em topside,”

“Maybe they come in through that hole in the wall?” suggested Andromeda. Theseus, who was closest the crevice, stomped over to examine it.

“Just looks like some kinda cave,” he said, peering in, “Could be a dead end for all we know,”

Then, just as he leaned in for a better look, he came stumbling back out, falling flat on his backside and scrambling backwards across the chamber. Phoenie – none of them, for that matter – had ever seen him looked so freaked. Had he seen a shaman? A dead body? A demon? The last thing Phoenie expected was to see a now-familiar girl with waist-length blue hair and smart dress step – or rather float – out off the shadows.

“I have been anticipating your arrival,” said Faye Delphinus, “Before you attempt communication with me, however, I must inform you that this is only what you might call a ‘recorded message’ I have left to activate upon entry into this cave,”

Chapter 48
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