RIDDLE ME THIS

35

"Isaurelia Florentine Achlys Nightlock." Matteo read. "born on the 13th of February 1928."

"how old would she be now?" i'd never been good at maths.

"sixty eight," Tom replied half a second later.

"then there's no way she could've been our mother," i frowned. "surely she'd be too old—plus Mrs Hailer said she'd died young."

"maybe," Matteo said. "but we both saw that portrait on the stairs, and the things from Mrs Hailer, plus that pair's reaction." he jerked his head at the ruined house.

"this is giving me a headache," i closed my eyes. "you said something about a curse, Tom?"

Tom nodded. "i don't know much about it, i just overheard Father saying he put a curse on us."

"on us?" i echoed.

"there's probably quite a few," Tom shrugged.

"what does this one do?"

"it kills anyone who tells us anything about our mother."

"so she is our mother?" i rubbed my temples.

"seems like it," Tom nodded. "though i don't quite understand how."

i sighed deeply, numerous wheels turning inside my brain.

we wouldn't be able to find out any more without risking lives.

a gasp pulled me out of my thoughts.

"what?" Matteo was instantly at Pansy's side.

the girl had turned as white as a sheet.

"Mrs Hailer!" her voice has risen several octaves.

"shit," Draco rose quickly.

"we need to get back to London." i collected up our birth certificates and handed them to Tom.

we ran back to our Grandparents' neighbours house which we had used to enter the town.

the residents were on holiday, giving us full access to their home.

Pansy stood in the fireplace and threw down her handful of flue powder. "Hailer and Daughters!"

she was gone in a flash and Matteo went after her.

Tom was next, leaving Draco alone for the first time since he'd given me the ring.

"thank you for coming with us," i squeezed his hand as i climbed into the hearth.

"of course," he tipped some powder into my hand. "i'd follow you anywhere."

i was silent for a moment, wondering if he had any idea what he was saying.

"i don't deserve you," was all i said.

"you know you do Lols." he kissed me. "go on, i'm right behind you."

"Hailer and Daughters," i spoke loud and clear, opening my hand and dropping the powder.

*

Tom waited for me in the little room where Rosie told me i would find the package.

"Pansy wouldn't wait and Matteo wouldn't let her go alone." he explained.

i nodded, looking past him and hoping Draco hurried up.

"listen, Lo." his voice lowered. "there's so much you don't know."

i scoffed. "like why you're a psychopath who's intent on killing his family?"

he shook his head. "things Father tells me... the things he can make me do—make all of us do."