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before he disappeared. Gone so quickly I didn’t actually see him leave. Swallowed by the darkness of the night and the forest that held the secret doorway into Mythlandria. Through the invisible veil between his world and mine. Only his scent remained.
    I inhaled deeply. It was better this way. I might never have found the strength to let him go otherwise. He always said he was the weak one, for insisting on having me in his life. But he was wrong. I was the one too greedy to let him out of my sight for even a night. I stared into the darkened forest and sighed. He’d be back. I knew that he would. But I couldn’t shake the sensation that our temporary solution wouldn’t last. Things weren’t as simple as they seemed, and as I made my way into the house the quote from my Shakespeare lit class replayed in my head like an unsung melody.
    â€Something wicked this way comes.”
    This night had been exhausting on so many levels. I curled up on the couch in the den, staring blankly at the TV screen I’d yet to turn on.
    I didn’t realize I had drifted off to sleep on the couch until my phone buzzed on the table across from me. Staggering upright, I stubbed my toe before grunting an irritated “hello?”
    The voice on the other end wasn’t familiar. I looked at the clock, 11:30 p.m., way too late for Abby to be calling. Rubbing my eyes, I tried to focus on what the voice was saying.
    â€œMs. Alundra? Lorelei Alundra?”
    â€œYes?”
    â€œWe met at the vocal competition you performed in. I understand you’ve been trying to reach me.”
    â€œI’m sorry, who is this?” I mumbled absently, not fully awake and nursing my aching toe.
    â€œMy name is Mr. Peterson. And I may have information about your aunt.”

 
    Chapter Three
    Â 
    Peterson. The man who spoke to me so cryptically on my birthday, greeted me like an old friend.
    We weren’t.
    â€œLorelei, are you there? Do you remember who I am?”
    My hand trembled slightly as I spoke. “I remember you,” I said, questions lining up in my mind. He was as impossible to forget as his phone conversation that had irked my great aunt that morning.
    â€œI trust you are well. The time will soon come for us to meet again. We have much to discuss, you and I.”
    â€œDo you know where Camilla is?” I blurted. I’d never make a good detective; no time to play it cool, I just wanted answers. The last time he’d called, he’d made Camilla furious and then he’d asked to speak to me, mentioning something about my needing to get her to come into the city for some mysterious reason. It had been all cloak and dagger, no detail and none of it made much sense.
    That was then.
    Now, after my journey into another realm, it seemed highly unlikely that Camilla’s absence was an innocent impromptu vacation. Not with the way her house had been pulled apart.
    â€œI do have information regarding your great aunt. But it will necessitate a trip into the city. Are you prepared for that?”
    Against all common sense, I mumbled a hasty yes, and scrounged for a scrap of paper and a pen to jot down his instructions.
    â€œI suggest you come without his accompaniment. They can detect their kind and won’t take kindly to it.”
    â€œWho’s ‘they’?” By his , I assumed he meant Adrius, but I didn’t get the chance to ask.
    The phone clicked and his voice was replaced by the hum of a dial tone.
    ****
    One day later, Abby, Brianne and I were on our way to Lynchbrook. I made the mistake of mentioning my trip to Abby, and she’d invited herself along. Brianne’s company was forced on me. Under normal circumstances there was no way I’d have agreed; it was hard enough keeping the truth from Abby, but I wasn’t really given much of a choice. Davin had a basketball game out of town this weekend and he insisted Bri and I spend some ‘girl