Probably sensing her looking at him, Finn looked up. “Found anything?”
Violet rolled her eyes. “On necromancers? Not much. On necromancer’s symbols? Nothing. The only thing I’ve discovered is that Layla’s library is not as exceptional as I thought.”
Finn whistled. “You have guts. I wouldn’t say that to her face. But I must admit, I haven’t found much either. We need something that mentions symbols.”
With a nod, Violet rubbed the back of her neck. He made a lot of sense. “Any news from Sera?”
After a quick glance at his phone, Finn shook his head. “Nothing new about the symbols. She’s still working on it, though. If there’s something to find, she certainly will. If only the High Council hadn’t stopped general access to their library. We possibly could’ve found something there.”
Violet remembered that last winter, Soren had given Sera access to the library, but it hadn’t gone well. No wonder they were barred. “Yeah, that’s a shame but it can’t be helped. It was fortunate Soren didn’t get any flack after that incident. Worst-case scenario, we have to find a necromancer.”
The vampire looked at her as if she’d suggested going on killing rampage. “There aren’t that many necromancers, and they keep to themselves. And let me remind you we aren’t even certain they’re responsible for your kidnapping.”
Finn bringing up the same doubts she had was annoying. She wanted answers and closure, and most of all, to know what had happened to her and why her magic was still a no-show. A part of her was scared it would never return; another knew it was impossible to lose one’s powers. Often, what caused the trauma or curse needed to be reversed. Violet suspected it was a mix of both that had caused her magic to disappear.
“What else could it be? Necromancers aren’t out in the open like other creatures of the underworld are, meaning that we’re not aware of the magic in symbols they use. It makes sense.”
Finn hesitated. “Us vampires steer clear of anybody that deals with death magic. It’s too close to home. I doubt we’ll find a necromancer just walking down the street. Our best bet is to find a creature that can sense necromancers or who are part of the same kind of magic. Like ghouls.”
The word took a moment to register in her brain. “Abrams?”
“You told me that’s what he is, and ghouls are of the same type of magic. As a bonus, they’ve been around a long time, and he has to have some information on necromancers.”
“Aren’t you the same level as necromancers?”
Finn gave her his poker face, revealing how uncomfortable he was with the idea. “We are, and when we find a necromancer, I’ll be able to confirm it, but as you said, they use a kind of magic that’s closely linked to the one that makes us vampires. Therefore, vampires are more easily influenced by it, thus my caution. After all, we’re the undead. Meaning part of the reason we roam this land is that we hover the line between life and death.”
It was well known that necromancers could raise the dead and communicate with spirits. That dark magic was potent and could affect vampires. It meant that Finn could be vulnerable, which wasn’t a good thing. A vampire as powerful as Finn being influenced and even turning against her could mean the end of her mission, if not her life.
“Maybe there’s a friendly necromancer?”
The corner of his lips quivered. “That’s an interesting concept for sure, but let’s keep in mind that if there are necromancers around Easthallows, they could be the ones who took you. I’d suggest searching for lesser creatures, gathering information, and that may answer some of our questions, send us in the right direction.”
Once more, the vampire made sense. If it was only her, Violet would’ve charged forward, and in her current state, it would’ve put her at a disadvantage.
“Good point. Let’s try Abrams. He should have reappeared by now. He never leaves the shop for long.”
Without thinking, Violet grabbed Finn’s hand and led him out of the library. The gesture probably stunned her more than the vampire. She almost let go of him, but when he closed his cool fingers over hers, there was something right in leaving her hand there.
They reached the front of the shop to find it was still empty. “What the hell!”
Violet looked around. “Abrams is always here, why would he disappear like that?”
“From what I detected from his expression and energy; he was frightened.”
“Frightened of what? Surly not of me. I’ve been around him since I was a teenager. And he knows you.”
Violet reached for her magic, and when she found nothing, she sighed and turned to Finn. “Can you check if there’s anybody else here apart from us? I can’t…”
The words clogged in her throat, and it must have shown on her face because Finn brought their linked hands to his lips and kissed the back of her hand in a sign of reassurance.
“Nobody. The place is empty, both downstairs and upstairs.” After a moment, Finn frowned. “I know Layla lives upstairs in the apartment, but what about Abrams? Where does he live?”
“Good question. I don’t know. I’ve never asked. And as Layla still isn’t home….” That was another thing that didn’t sit well with her. Where was her friend and mentor?
Finn let go of her hand and examined the shop, sniffing around.
“I doubt Layla would’ve found him accommodations outside this building.”
Violet had to agree with him. “Not unless she accompanied him wherever he went and shielded him from the normal folks of Easthallows.”
“That means that he should have a place somewhere here.”
What he said made sense, but how come she’d never noticed it? She, Valeria, and Sera had roamed this shop for years. They’d never found a secret room. She had to admit they’d never asked themselves where Abrams went at night.
Finn almost looked like a bloodhound as he sniffed around the room before moving toward the hallway leading
