I didn’t like the surprise on her face. “What is it? Do they have the glamour?”
“Yes, they have it. And they’re ready for it to be picked up.”
Okay... “So why do you look worried?”
“Because they’re very specific about who collects.”
Oh boy, was she going to say what I thought she was going to say?
“They want you, Cora.”
Yep. She said it. The idea of heading to a maximum-security supernatural prison made my lungs tight with claustrophobia. But the glamour was important, and if this was the only way to get it, then so be it.
“Fine. I can leave right away.” I fingered the amulet around my neck. “I’d jump there, but I get the impression it’s quite far from here.”
Since becoming the anchor, making jumps was easier, but the amulet still muted my powers so jumping too often or too far was still a drain.
“No need.” Anna shook the envelope and a silver coin fell out. “They sent a portal.” She flicked the coin toward the wall. It turned heads over tails and then there was a flash of light and a silver door appeared. It stood a foot away from the wall, disconnected to anything. “It’ll take you to Blackmore. They’ll be expecting you.”
“I’m going with you.” Conah’s sapphire eyes were bright with concern.
“You can’t.” Anna frowned. “The portal won’t admit a demon, but I’d prefer you not to go alone, Cora. Take Sloane with you. She’s been to Blackmore before.”
I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed Sloane.
She answered on the second ring. “Miss me already, cupcake?”
My pulse kicked up at the sound of her voice. I cleared my throat. “How about we play hooky and head to Blackmore to pick up a glamour?”
She was silent for a long beat. “Where you at?”
“Anna’s office.”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
Sloane arrived at Anna’s office a few minutes later and her gaze zeroed in on the portal door.
“Nice,” she drawled. “Beats driving.”
Conah didn’t look too convinced. “Mobile portals can be unstable. Are you sure this is safe?”
“The sisters wouldn’t put the anchor in danger,” Anna replied.
Sloane opened the door to reveal a swirling purple miasma of light, then held her hand out to me. “Shall we?”
I slipped my palm into hers. “Let’s do this.”
We stepped into the light.
I expected the shattering sensation that came with a jump, or a sense of being undone and reassembled, but there was no sense of displacement. One moment I was in Anna’s study and the next I was standing on gray flagstones in a small courtyard surrounded by high walls topped with iron spikes. The sky above was a churning mass of angry gray clouds.
Sloane squeezed my hand before letting go. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I scanned the empty courtyard. There were a couple of benches and a dried-up fountain but nothing more.
“This is where the sisters get some air,” Sloane said. “Come on.”
“How often have you been here?”
“Used to play courier for Anna all the time.” She arched a brow my way. “I’m usually the one they ask for.”
She led me to a door that looked like it was made of wood and iron, and at least a foot thick. There was a heavy knocker in the shape of a torch. Sloane lifted it then slammed it onto the metal, but there was no sound.
“Okay, that’s weird.”
“I know.” She shrugged. “There are a lot of weird features to this place.”
“Have you any idea why they’d ask for me to pick up the glamour?”
“Curiosity?” She raked me over. “Maybe they want to probe your mind to make sure you’re not going to go nutso like Charlotte.”
Wait, what? “Are you serious?”
She rolled her eyes. “Chill, cupcake. If they want to probe you, they’ll have to go through me.”
The grate of metal on metal cut through the silence—a lock being disengaged—and then the door was pulled open, revealing gloom lit by flickering light.
An oval face framed with unruly dark curly hair peered up at us. Wide brown eyes, a thin mouth, and a straight nose, the woman studied Sloane then me, nodded, and stepped back to admit us.
“Nice to see you too, Gertie,” Sloane said. “Been a while.”
Her voice seemed to echo in the silence. The woman winced with her eyes, as if the sound of Sloane’s voice was painful.
Sloane put her finger to her lips and mouthed, Sorry.
I leaned in and whispered, “How do you know her name? I thought they didn’t speak?”
“I don’t. I just call her that. She loves it.”
The woman frowned, then turned her back on us and hurried away down the corridor.
“And now we follow,” Sloane whispered.
The silent sister led the way down a narrow stone corridor. Sconces lit the way, flames turned low, but even with the fire, the air was chill and damp. The silence was heavy and complete. My heels made no sound as they connected with the flagstones, and every breath was muted. The place was a maze of closed doors emblazoned with glowing silver runes. Each door had an eye hatch and brass plaque with a name etched into it. Names I didn’t recognize until…
Penelope Grimswood.
I stopped and pulled open the hatch to peer inside. A figure sat cross-legged on a bed, staring straight ahead with milky white eyes.
Penelope.
Except this wasn’t Penelope.
This figure was gaunt and had no irises.
What the fuck?
Sloane gently pulled me away from the door and closed the hatch. She shook her head and then slid a glance toward the silent sister, who was glaring at us, obviously pissed.
“What’s wrong with her?”
The witch winced again, and then turned on her heel and strode off.
Sloane sighed. “Probably should have said do not touch anything.”
We jogged to catch up to the witch, the sound of our footsteps being swallowed by whatever spell was on this place.
The silent sister led us through an arch, then up a flight of worn stone steps. She pushed
