I looked down at the town below us. This was it. Chance Harbor. It looked so small from where we stood. A village of puny mortals, unaware of our presence – sort of quaint, really. I can't say I envied them.
"They're here." I said, quietly. I could feel the pull of their magic, stronger than ever before. But, I could feel something else, too. A sense of desperation. A subtle scent of fear. "But something's wrong."
I heard three heads snap in my direction. "What? Something's wrong? What could've possibly gone wrong?" Finley snarled, "Everything was pretty straightforward if you ask me."
"Quiet, brother." I growled, "Sanguis sanguinem, cor meum, et inveniam illum et illum. Blood of my blood, heart of my heart, find him, find him." It was a basic calling spell, one I had done thousands of times before. But for some reason, it was falling flat. I could see nothing. My head throbbed.
"What is it, Felicity?" He persisted.
"I said quiet!" I rubbed my temples in small circular motions. "Sanguis sanguinem, cor meum, et inveniam illum et illum."
Evangeline and Kane exchanged concerned glances, but knew better than to say anything.
I closed my eyes, but there was nothing but an endless blackness. It went on and on infinitely, no matter how far I searched. And it was cold - so very cold.
"I can't find him." I whispered, finally. "He's not there."
"Not there?" Finley snorted, "What do you mean he's 'not there'? What sort of idiotic statement is that?"
"I mean he's not there, you ass."
Evangeline twisted a golden curl between her thumb and forefinger and bit the corner of her lip. "Well, maybe you're just not doing the spell right."
Kane nodded, helpfully. "Yeah, what if we help you?"
"I've done this spell more times than I can count." I mumbled, shaking my head.
"Well, that's not very many, seeing as you can only count up to three."Finley sneered, "I'll try. God, when you want something done right…" He shut his golden eyes, and began to chant. "Sanguis sanguinem, cor meum, et inveniam illum et illum."
"Well?" Kane asked. "Where is he?"
Finley frowned.
"Yes, do enlighten us, Fin, where is he?" I growled.
He opened his eyes, and looked at me, panic-stricken. "He's gone."
Kane's brows furrowed. "Gone?"
My stomach clenched. "He can't be gone."
"Like…what kind of gone are we talking about exactly?" Evangeline looked at Finley and I, inquisitively.
My eyes met his. A hot flash of pain shot through my chest. "Dead," we murmured, simultaneously.
"Father…is… dead?" Her lower lip trembled for a beat.
"No…no, he can't be. He can't," Kane grabbed my hand, "Here, let's try together. Say it with me. Sanguis sanguinem, cor meum, et inveniam illum et illum. Sanguis sanguinem, cor meum, et inveniam illum et illum.."
I wrenched away. "It's no use, Kane. We aren't going to find anything."
"She's right." Finley added, "There is nothing to find."
He ran a hand through his unkempt, black curls, his nostrils flaring. He paced for a moment, and then looked back down over Chance Harbor. "What about the girls? Where are they? Are they still here?"
"I feel them." I came to stand beside him. "They aren't far off."
"Then what are we waiting for? Blackwell is dead. How do we know that whatever killed him won't go after them next?"
Evangeline put a hand on my shoulder. "He has a point. What if the witch hunters found him? We…we have to act fast." Her voice shook.
Blackwell is dead. It rang in my ears like the toll of a bell. "You're right. Cassie and Diana are still down there. But for how long?"
Kane was furious. I could sense it in the air. His fists clenched and unclenched, as though he were looking for something to punch. "Let's go now, while there's still time."
Underneath Kane's anger, I could feel something else…sorrow. Devastating loss. And it wasn't coming from Evangeline. "Fin?"
His back was to the three of us, his coat collar turned up against the wind. I could just barely see his shoulders shaking. He coughed once, and wiped his nose on his sleeve. " I'll get the car."
