Mistaken Consequences

Chapter 5: Week ten

Vera was fuming. She'd been relying on those stupid, overpowered mutts to complete the circle tonight. She didn't know why she was surprised when they didn't show, they didn't respect her, but she had thought she could count on them in instances where the theft was involved.

Instead, she'd been forced to call in as many last-minute replacements as she could manage to meet the required power needed for the incantation to work. It had, of course, everyone other than the wolves jumped when she called, but she was still furious and disciples hurriedly moved out of her way as she left the room.

"Miss Drake, with me," she called, not looking back to be sure the girl followed.

Vera headed straight for her desk, splashing a bit more bourbon into the fake plant beside her desk as she passed, before grabbing the bottle of water she'd left there as well and taking a long drink.

She was just setting the bottle down when Alyssa peeked into the room with a forced smile. Vera rolled her eyes at the innocent act. "Where are they?" If anyone was aware of the fools' actions, it would be Miss Drake.

Alyssa shut the door behind her. "I don't know," she said softly, hesitating before adding, "Jack hasn't been answering his phone."

"Wonderful," Vera muttered. She leaned back in her chair. "I always knew they were going to try to run again at some point." Granted, she hadn't expected it to be until after they'd found a way to retrieve Miss Bathory from hell. But maybe they thought they had a better chance without her calling the shots...or rather, restraining them, as Randall Carpio so often whined.

"I don't think they ran," Alyssa said.

"Then where are they, Miss Drake?"

Alyssa stepped forward, pulling something from behind her back. Vera instantly recognized the components of a tracking spell. "I tried to track them. All of them. I got nothing."

Vera shrugged a shoulder, waving her hand dismissively. "A concealment spell."

"Nobody would have taught them a concealment spell," Alyssa insisted. "Even without knowing that they were involved in the Vault theft, nobody trusts them that much. Their tutors wouldn't have agreed to that."

She closed her eyes, pressing her fingers against her temples. Maybe Alyssa was right. Their tutors had seen how the wolves had strained against them, even without their memories. They wouldn't have risked it. Which meant, once again, the blame had fallen on her. Once again, she'd underestimated Hamish Duke's ability to outplay her. Because three weeks ago, she'd left him alone in the Reliquary full of advanced level incantations, thinking he was too shocked by her pregnancy to get into any trouble.

"Jack wouldn't have run without telling me," Alyssa continued. "He would have given me some way to contact him, at least."

"So what are you saying?" Vera interrupted. "They're just..." She waved a hand, "...gone? People don't just disappear for no reason."

"I was hoping you'd try," she said, practically shoving the items at her.

Vera automatically retreated. "And what makes you think I would have any better chance than you? It's a simple spell. The practitioner's individual abilities hardly matter."

"Then maybe you know another one? Something stronger?" Alyssa asked hopefully.

Vera sighed. "Possibly," she relented. She did need to find those wolves before they did something stupid. "Go to the Den and find something personal-"

"I've got-" Alyssa started, lifting her hand to show Vera something that was undoubtedly Jack's. Vera glared at her and the girl went silent.

"Something personal for each of them," Vera continued.