Thornwood Academy 3: For Dear Life by LJ Swallow

Author:LJ Swallow [Swallow, LJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emu House Publishing
Published: 2023-08-08T16:00:00+00:00

23

VIOLET

I stand with Rowan outside the low, green-painted gate and regard the front of the house. Ivy clambers around the wooden porch and up the dark brick, swallowing the windows of the two story building. The older Victorian style home isn’t as large as the mansions on many of the old witch estates, but still stands out as an embodiment of a bygone era where witches had more wealth. Although set on part of a founding witch family estate, most of the land was sold to humans who’ve built a modern housing estate nearby.

Not waiting, I open the creaking gate and step onto the slate pavers running through the neatly tended front lawn bordered by bushes with tiny blue flowers. I’d expect sounds from the renovations, but the only rumbling comes from passing car engines on the main road a few streets away. In fact, the whole area is quiet, save nearby warbling birdsong. Is this good or bad? Whether there’re people working on the renovations or not, we’ll take a look. If nobody’s at the house, we can sneak away to snoop. If the residents are home, we can field them with some mental magic.

Are there any remaining workers? Such as Trent. I’ll take a wander into the minds of anybody working outside, should they still have one.

We’ve looked into the resident family further, and there’s nothing suspicious about the people who own the house, or their connections. They’ve lived in the home most of their lives, and all their children and grandchildren are accounted for and unsuspicious. Although the couple are old enough to remember a time where Confederacy and Dominion battled for supremacy in the supernatural world, they’ve also no past links to the rogue Dominion.

They’re just one of the families who blended into human society and kept away from conflict.

But—interestingly—the owners recently returned from overseas, where the elderly couple had swapped the perpetual rain and gloom of England to a life in the agonizingly sunny and warm Mediterranean.

Overseas. A link to the suspects?

Naturally, my decision to visit the premises led to arguments and attempts by Leif and Rowan to dissuade me. Ridiculous. This is the biggest lead yet and although we communicated our findings to Dorian, time is running short. The witches already covered up Rory’s situation. They know I’ve seen them, and we’ve no idea how they might use Oz next. Or how soon.

Where is Rory? Disposed of?

If these renovations are a massive and unlikely coincidence, then best I discover now—by visiting. This time, Rowan comes with me and not Leif—he wants to keep away from shifters and I’ll definitely need Rowan’s magic help. The fake reason we’re using to gain entry to the premises is flimsy, hence we’ll use magic to wipe memories of the visit.

Rowan passes through the gate and along the pathway to a white wooden porch, the entrance marked by a heavy, door painted a bold green to match the gate. A large brass bell with a chain serves as a doorbell, which rings loud enough for half the street to hear.

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