Chapter 240: Find The Gate
As futile as we both knew it would be, Galleytrot and I spent the next several hours searching for the Gate. I let Shaylee have full control, prodding her out of her fearful hiding only with the help of my angry demon. But even she was honestly baffled, leading us in circles from one end of town to the other.
I parked Minnie in the square and stared at town hall. "Let's think about this logically," I said, not feeling logical at all, just angry and frustrated. "The protection or supernatural feeling to Wilding Springs is roughly circular, right?"
Galleytrot nodded. "Which means the source of that needs to be the center of town. We know that, Syd. We checked the library and the rest of town hall, remember?"
"It has to be in that building somewhere." I was about to open my car door when I spotted a familiar figure approaching. I waited, frowning, as Ms. Spaft took once glance around before going inside town hall.
"What if I was right and Liam's mom isn't the only mortal Unseelie agent in town?" I was already out of the car, heading for the side door. Stay with me.
I'm here. Galleytrot's voice was loud and clear, though I could tell he wasn't happy being left in the car.
I slid in the doorway after using a thread of magic to unlock it. It makes sense, doesn't it? That Venner would be gathering his people?
The more the merrier, Galleytrot sent. He can use them as batteries, to soak up as much of the power as he can. It's actually brilliant.
Way to cheer on the bad guy, big fella. I felt like a criminal, holding my breath as I eased the door closed behind me. I was in a corridor, one leading up toward the main entrance and the other back further into the building. I heard the tap tap of heels and barely had time to sneak behind a wooden door, easing it closed behind me. I ignored the scent of pine cleaner and the slosh of a half-empty bucket of water at my feet, peeking out the crack I allowed between the broom closet and the hall.
Surprise, surprise. Guess who walked by a moment later? Looking guilty as sin? Or, at least, like a woman on a mission.
Ms. Spaft passed me quickly, the sound of her heels growing quieter, but not because of distance. I leaned out the door, watching her disappear around the corner, walking on her tip toes.
Guilty was right. My sneakers didn't make a sound as I crept after her. I reached the corner and peeked just in time to see her descending a flight of stairs.
I waited as long as I dared before darting down the dark hall, lit by one bulb, and to the top of the narrow steps. Another bulb lit the bottom, empty of Ms. Spaft at least. I crouched as I descended, trying to keep my eyes peeled for her or anyone else who might get in the way.
Where did you go?
I jumped with a mouse-like squeak of fear, clutching my chest.
Don't do that!
Galleytrot felt suitably contrite. Sorry. But I lost you.
That made me pause. You what?
I was with you the whole way, he said. Until you started down the stairs. I can hear you, know you're there, but I can't feel you anymore.
I wanted to do a little dance, heart rate rising. This has to be it. Right? There would be pretty hefty protections around the Gate.
Maybe, he said. Or you're walking into a trap. Be careful.
Right. Deep breath, Syd, and get a hold of yourself.
I'm coming in. He sounded really worried.
How do you plan to open the door? I winced at the thought of him scratching my car.
He did a very good mental eye roll. Came across crystal clear. I filed that one away for future use. I'm a magic freaking dog, Syd. I'll mask my presence and come inside. Don't go on without me.
Galleytrot was turning into as big a smart ass as Sassafras. I'm not stopping. So you'd better hurry.
Boy was I wrong. I heard Ms. Spaft coming just in time, saw her shadow returning and was just able to spin and sprint back up the stairs and in the opposite direction I'd come. My sneakers squeaked softly as I skidded around the corner, panting, trying to be quiet. Her tapping shoes touched ground floor. But instead of moving on, she paused.
Silence. Crap. Did she know I was there? I could take her if she attacked me, if she was Unseelie like Sonja O'Dane, but I didn't want to be throwing around magic, especially so close to the Opening.
I had no clue if that would adversely affect the protections around the Gate, but I was not willing to find out.
A footstep at last. But closer. Much closer. She'd been sneaking up on me the whole time. I braced myself, prepped my family magic to throw a protective bubble around me and her, to trap as much of the power as I could, begged my demon to keep her temper to herself and let Shaylee out again.
The second I did, the woman came around the corner. And screamed. Not Ms. Spaft, just a librarian. A very, very lucky librarian. I released my magic, relaxed it just in time, near giggling from tension.
"What are you doing back here?" Now that she was over her shock, she peered at me, a little angry.
"Sorry," I said at my most sweet. "I'm lost."
She hesitated before smiling. "Were you looking for the library?"
I nodded quickly, even as my eyes drifted over a shadowy shape approaching. Galleytrot was well hidden, his form disguised to make mortals look away, but I knew he was there.
Before I could come up with some excuse to resume my search, he came to stand at her side. The Fey hound drew a deep breath and breathed it directly in her face. She froze before her head tilted upward, a real smile emerging.
"I have so much work to do." She wandered off, humming softly to herself.
"What did you do?" I stroked his ear in thanks.
"Sent her a reminder of the homeland," he said. "It makes one forget anything else." He looked up at me. "I saw Spaft leave the way she came in. Empty handed I might add, and looking more than a little pissed about it."
"Let's go see if we can find what she was looking for." I pushed past him and back to the stairs. He sighed as his paws touched the top step.
"Definitely protections here," he said. "Right through the soil into the steps."
"I can't feel it." Shaylee tried, but there was nothing.
"Bare feet." He shook one paw at me. I crouched and touched my fingertips to the worn wood and gasped.
"Got it." The deep and insistent thrum of earth magic met my bare skin. "Let's keep going."
We were in a hallway, dimly lit, some kind of old storage. Big wooden racks full of books lined the walls, a few doorways leading into workshops and a large storage space, but that was all. Galleytrot sniffed every corner of the place, I myself even sliding off my sneakers so I could feel the magic and hopefully let it guide me, but after a thorough search we both sighed in frustration.
"I told you," he said, glum. "We need the Gatekeeper."
I sat on the floor to put my socks and shoes back on, jerking on the laces in irritation. "There has to be another way. Fergus is under lock and key, thanks to Sonja. And you just know she's having him watched."
"Maybe we could break him out?" Galleytrot offered his shoulder to help me stand.
"That might be our last resort," I said. "But it means exposing a lot of people to magic, especially considering we have to assume he's under Unseelie guard. Probably the nurse at the front desk, maybe even those two who subdued him. And I'm sure no matter how pure my intentions, if I do something that reckless, Celeste will use it to ruin Mom." I dusted off the seat of my jeans, at a loss. "I'll tell Erica. Maybe if we put it to the whole coven they'll be okay with it."
"After last night's little chat?" He snorted at me. "Likely. They're still in denial."
"And we have no real evidence yet."
"It's coming," he said, the vibration of his voice sliding into harmony with the hum of the Gate's power. "But it will be far too late by then."
"At least I'll get to say I told you so." I kicked futilely at a pile of old books before heading out.
***
