I was starting to realize that Alice was always busy. Unfortunately, it seemed she was rarely busy doing actual Keeper work. “So you just added it to the pile of artifacts to be cataloged,” I said, giving her a hostile stare.
“I could feel its magic,” she admitted. “But it didn’t seem malevolent. I assumed the Universe had just forgotten to give me an order on it…or that it was a revoked artifact.”
“Revoked artifact?” Lea asked.
Woo, was I happy she’d asked instead of me.
“When an artifact is lost or is being misused, I generally get an order for its retrieval. But sometimes the situation is too dire, or wires get crossed in the system and the Universe just does a special retrieval, dumping it in my lap,” Alice explained.
My eyes went wide. “Crossed wires? Does that happen very often?”
Alice chewed her bottom lip. “No. I personally have only had it happen one time. But other Keepers I’ve spoken to have experienced it, so it’s not all that rare.”
I knew from Alice’s whirlwind instruction on the first day that each dimensional space had its own Keeper of the Artifacts, or KoA. But each dimension only had one. Along with a Universal governing body that ruled from an undetermined central place where they kept watch on all of the dimensional representatives, Keepers answered to a ruling body of Powers that Be, which, in turn, answered to the Universe. Like Keepers, there was only one PTB per dimensional space, and outside of extraordinary circumstances, they weren’t allowed to cross into another PTB’s dimension or interfere with their activities.
I wasn’t exactly sure how the Société of Dire Magic fit into the hierarchy, except that they seemed to be more of an educational organization than a disciplinary one. Though Alice had told me they’d stepped into a policing role on occasion, when it was deemed necessary.
“But that still doesn’t explain why the mage is attacking you,” Sebille said, her brows like accusatory slashes above a galaxy of freckles.
Alice paled. “I might have put a Keeper’s Mark on the suitcase before I stashed it.”
Lea gasped. “You didn’t!”
Alice twitched her lips to the side.
“What’s that?” I asked, a sense of foreboding filling me.
When Alice didn’t immediately respond, Lea said, “It’s an invisible mark that, once added to an artifact, makes it all but unusable.”
I thought about that. “So the mage probably took it back to his lair and tried to use it, then realized what you’d done…”
“And returned to make her remove it,” Sebille finished for me. She frowned. “But my understanding was that it could never be safely removed once placed on a magical object.”
Alice turned an odd shade of green.
“So why attack us?” I asked, wondering what the big deal was. “Why does it matter that the suitcase is nil? What could the thing have done that would be important enough to potentially kill three people?”
“Because artifacts, especially the dangerous ones, are generally geared toward gaining love, wealth, or power. Things people kill for all the time. And because there’s only one way to remove a Keeper’s Mark once it’s placed,” Alice said.
By the twitchy aspect of her movements and the greenish hue of her homely face, I was pretty sure I knew what that one way was. “You have to die,” I said, my voice catching on the words.
Alice sighed.
Lea shook her head. “Killing Alice might disrupt the mark, but it’s not guaranteed. And if it doesn’t work, the last option is negated.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“The Keeper can always open the artifact,” Sebille said, her gaze locked on my face. She seemed to be waiting for me to understand.
It took me a minute but I finally did. “Ah. Oh! He’ll try to take Alice and force her to open it.”
“Yes,” Sebille agreed. “And he won’t be content with a one time open. He’ll try to keep her prisoner.”
Alice’s green color deepened.
“What happens to the mark if you pass the Keeper position to Naida?” Lea asked Alice.
“I’m not sure. As far as I know, it’s never been tested.”
All the blood ran out of my face until I no doubt matched Alice. “You mean this guy’s going to try to kill or kidnap me too?”
Nobody looked at me. Trying to catch their gazes was like trying to capture a lightning bug with a floppy hat.
I narrowed my gaze on Sebille. “What do you know about this?” I asked the sprite.
“Not much. My people haven’t had any experience with a Keeper’s Mark that I’m aware of. But I can ask my mother.” She looked at Alice and the Keeper nodded.
“Thanks,” she said, looking sincerely grateful. “Maybe she’ll know of a way to break it.” Alice didn’t need to add the unspoken thought, “without anyone having to die.”
“We can try Madeline Quilleran,” Lea said, dread clear in her voice.
Alice flinched as if struck. “I’d rather not if we can avoid it.”
“Who’s that?” I asked.
“One of the most powerful witches in the country,” Lea said, frowning. “She’s a little scary.”
“Why is she scary?”
“In general, the Quillerans are not what anybody would consider light witches. They dabble in blood magic and tend toward the black side of the magic arts,” Lea explained.
“Madeline’s not a black witch,” Alice said, sounding defensive.
Lea just shook her head.
“Have you worked with her?” I asked Alice.
“Yes. She actually created an impenetrable security system for Croakies. It’s completely Keeper initiated and controlled.”
Lea nodded. “She’s got a reputation for helping the magic community on occasion. But it always has to be on her terms.”
“Back to the current problem,” Sebille said. “How are we going to find this mage so we can stop him?”
Alice rubbed her arms. “I…um…might have an idea where the suitcase is. I’m assuming if we find that, we’ll find him.”
“Good,” I said. I’d ask her later how she knew where it was. I was assuming it had something to do with the mark she’d put on it. “Where is it?”
“It’s um…” She twitched for a moment, her gaze sliding around the
