“I don’t understand.”
“It’s simple, really. A compulsion spell is only in effect temporarily. The stronger the necromancer, the longer the spell. If he wanted to control a person for an extended period of time, he’d need multiple spells.” Oliver swung his head side to side, his face grim. “But that’s not even the worst of it, El. A compelled victim won’t be able to tell when they’re possessed . . . and nor will we.”
It was only moments after Oliver explained the horrors of an amulet to me that a steward came to fetch me. Madame Marineaux had arrived and so I dismissed Oliver and met the Madame in my room.
Her visit was as wonderful as I had hoped. The perfect distraction to the thoughts—and fears—
roiling through me.
I had to tell Joseph about the amulet and the compulsion spells. I also had to figure out what I would do—what Oliver and I would do—as soon as Joseph learned about the demon.
But all those worrisome thoughts faded into the background the moment Madame Marineaux arrived. We drank delicious French wine on my balcony and talked about the ball the next evening, the places I wanted to see, and . . . well, I could not remember precisely what else. The wine must have clouded my head at that point. Either way, I awoke the next morning feeling alive, alert, and ready to take on the day.
I could face Joseph. I had to face Joseph, and in the end, wouldn’t I rather the truth come from me than from Jie?
However, as I descended the main stairwell, my jaw set and my stride determined, I was accosted by outraged bellows from the floor below. My resolve instantly shattered.
“I can’t believe it!” Daniel roared. “You didn’t consult me in this at all.”
I paused on the middle landing and craned my neck around. Through the lab’s open door and curtains, I could see Daniel standing beside his crates, waving a crowbar wildly. Jie was nowhere to be seen.
Joseph sat on his stool, his back rod straight. He lifted his hands. “I do not need to consult you, Daniel. I am in charge, and there was never any question of her joining us or not. Her skills are an asset to the team.”
“Skills?” Daniel shoved the crowbar into a crate top. “What skills? Necromancy? Lying?”
I gulped. They were discussing me . . . but did they know of Oliver?
Joseph began ticking off on his fingers. “She fought an entire cemetery in Philadelphia. She helped us at Madame Marineaux’s. Yes, she has a great deal of self-control to learn, but she is undeniably powerful.”
They don’t know what Oliver is yet.
“I have never seen anyone with so much natural magic,” Joseph continued. “Once she learns my methods, she will be incredible.”
“More like disgusting,” Daniel spat. “You’re letting a necromancer into the group. Just think about that.”
Fury cramped my gut. Daniel had no right to say such things, for he had no idea what I had been through. No idea.
“She has stopped,” Joseph declared. “She fights the call of black magic—and ultimately, Daniel, it is none of your concern what magic she uses. I am in charge, and I say she is in the group. I expect
Marcus to arrive any day—any moment—and we need her power, no matter what form it is in. As such, when she arrives, I expect you to control your temper.”
A strangled cry came next, but other than that Daniel made no more sounds.
I dug my palms in my eyes and waited until the normal murmur of conversation picked up. Then, my hands shaking, I strode as steadily as I could down the remaining steps and into the lab.
“Ah, Eleanor,” Joseph said with a tired smile. He waved to a stool. “Have a seat.” The butler’s corpse still lay on the farthest table. And though the windows were all opened, it wasn’t enough to kill the body’s stench.
“Where’s Jie?” I asked.
Joseph glanced at me sidelong. “We assumed she must be with you. She left a note”—he gestured to a slip of paper on the windowsill—“that said she was going out.”
“But that was yesterday afternoon,” Daniel said gruffly.
“And she has not come back yet?” I gaped at them. “Aren’t you worried? We should look for her!”
“It’s Jie,” Daniel said. “She can take care of herself.”
“One does not simply ‘go out’ for an entire day,” I snapped. “Not Jie, at least.”
Joseph scratched his neck. “I will send out one of our new patrolmen to check for her.”
“Please,” I begged.
“Yes. I will do it the minute I leave the lab.”
My shoulders sank. I had not even realized I had held them tensed. Perhaps I was overreacting—
Jie could take care of herself, after all.
“So,” I said to Joseph, “I suppose you received the patrol force you wanted?”
Joseph bowed his head in acknowledgment. “We did. And did you learn anything about contacting spirits?”