Up ahead I saw the hedge maze that I’d skipped through as a child. Life had been hard then, too, but I hadn’t realized it. My mother had shielded me from the unpleasantness as best she could. When I was very young, teaching me magic had been a game, at least for me. Only when I grew older did she begin to reveal the stakes.
Past the maze was a wooded area with tall, majestic trees that survived the changes brought on by the Eternal Night. My mother would be happy to know they continued to watch over the gardens.
I listened to the excited shrieks of children as they ran through the maze. For a brief moment, time stood still. I wasn’t an adult with responsibilities. I was seven years old with a full belly and a head filled with glorious information. Even better, I wasn’t alone.
A woman approached me on the path. Her broad, slightly stooped shoulders were covered by an orange cloak that bore the emblem of Kew Gardens. On her name tag was written ‘Minerva.’
“Pardon me. Could I have a minute, Minerva?”
She stopped and stared down her long, narrow nose at me. “The tours are back the way you came.”
“I know. This isn’t that kind of question.”
She eyed me curiously. “Who are you?”
“London Hayes, Knight of Boudica.” I showed her my badge.
“You’re here on an assignment?”
I nodded. “On behalf of House Lewis.”
She recoiled. “How is that possible? Do they not realize…?”
I did the only thing I could think of to stop her from completing the sentence. I kicked her in the shin. Even though I didn’t see anyone within earshot, I couldn’t risk her being overheard.
The witch lifted her leg and hopped, howling in pain. I glanced around to make sure no one was watching us.
“I would advise you to stop talking,” I warned in a low tone.
The witch rubbed her shin before lowering her foot back to the ground. “Blind fools they are, but you’re an even bigger one. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“I had no intention of working for vampires. I couldn’t say no without drawing more attention to myself.” My gaze flicked over her. “How can you tell?”
“Dark hair. Gray eyes. Flecks of silver on your skin.”
“Liar.” I knew exactly how much magic to release to avoid the telltale silver glow. Not so much that I’d explode like a dying star. Not so little that I’d reveal my species.
The witch raised her chin. “A mother recognizes what she’s lost.”
I felt a pang of guilt for needling her. “I’m sorry.”
“It was a long time ago, but a mother’s heart never forgets. I was too far along when it was discovered, so they waited for me to give birth before ripping him away from my bosom.”
I’d read stories like hers. It was the kind of tale my mother lived in fear of every day—that I would be discovered and taken from her to be executed.
“And the father?”
“A former manager here. He confessed and was transferred to an undisclosed location.” She glanced away, her eyes glistening. “It was a long time ago.”
I moved off the path and further into the shadows. “I’d like you to identify this for me.” I tugged the petal from my pocket and handed it to her.
Her brow lifted. “Where did you get this?”
“Unimportant. You know what it is?”
She handed it back to me. “Of course. That petal is from an herbaceous perennial plant called Aconitum napellus.”
“Wolfsbane.”
She smiled. “Very good.”
“My mother…She was adamant that I learn about plants.”
“And what did she teach you about this one?”
I turned the petal over thoughtfully. “It was banned by ancient Rome. If you were caught growing it, you’d be sentenced to death.”
She laughed. “Not much has changed in that regard.”
“That’s because all plant production is under vampire control.”
“Oh, it’s more than that. We don’t grow it here for a reason. The vampires would never allow it.”
“Why not? I would think they would want to encourage protection from werewolves.”
Her eyes darted left and right. “I suppose your mother didn’t teach you it’s good for more than werewolf protection.”
Now my curiosity was piqued. “Like what?”
She lowered her voice. “Neutralization.”
“Isn’t that how it protects people from werewolves?”
Another furtive glance. “And from vampires.”
The flower neutralized a vampire’s powers?
My mind immediately started making connections. The wizard who melted the building also carried wolfsbane, a substance that tempered a vampire’s powers. What if he needed wolfsbane because he was holding Davina captive? If I found the wizard, I might find the princess—and possibly even the stone.
“Did that help you?” Minerva asked.
“More than you know,” I told her. “If you don’t grow it here, where can I find it?”
Minerva licked her lips. “This is important?”
“Very.”
She leaned closer. “There’s a witch called Marguerite. She might be able to help you.”
“She works here?”
Minerva shook her head. “Not anymore. She retired years ago. You can find her in Knightsbridge not far from Belgrave Square.”
“I can’t thank you enough.” Belgrave Square was between here and home. The same bus I took to Kew would get me there.
“She’s been known to help your kind as well.”
I stiffened. “I don’t need help, but I appreciate the offer.” The fewer people who knew about me, the better—for all our sakes.
“Take care,” Minerva said. “We are all prey in a world that belongs to vampires, but none is more hunted than you.”
I fought the urge to shiver. “Thanks. I’ll tuck that joyful reminder under my pillow tonight to ensure sweet dreams.”
Minerva nodded and walked away.
It wasn’t hard to locate the home of Marguerite. Waves of magic drew me to the tiny house tucked away on a quiet street. When I spotted a hawthorn blossom on the door, I knew I’d found the right place. Hawthorn trees were associated with powerful magic and their blossoms were meant to ward off evil. As a child I told my mother if humans had been smart, they would’ve planted more trees so the entire planet was covered in hawthorn blossoms. Maybe then the sun would still be shining and vampires would’ve remained shrouded in darkness. She’d only smiled and said nothing.