“NIVELLA THE WHITE. The sixty-fourth spirit is called Nivella Kurstallos Daemonia, or Nivella the White. She is a Grand Duchess, and appeareth in the Form of a Beautiful White Beast with pink eyes, horns, and four arms bearing four crystalline talons. Her Office is to teach the Mysteries of the Occult Arts perfectly within the Æthyric tribes. Her wisdom was sought in Olde Ægypt and Ancient Greece. She can be forced to answer those questions regarding the Harvesting of Æthyric energy, which the querent may wish to put to her, if desired. She is partly of the Order of Thrones, and partly that of the Seraphim Angels. She ruleth 10 Legions of Spirits.”

I silently reread the entry twice before Lon spoke in a soft voice. “Well, there it is.”

“Yes.”

“ ‘Harvesting of Æthyric energy?’ Maybe she teaches how to kindle Heka. Doesn’t sound like much of a bloodthirsty hunter, but I guess a demon can be forced into doing whatever they’ve been commanded to do by the magician.”

I nodded my head and swallowed. “Pretty much.”

“Well, do you want to summon her and ask?”

“Not yet.”

“Why?”

“Before, when we didn’t know if we had the right one, I was going to summon any of the demons you researched to find out if they were present during the killings. Now I know it was Nivella, and to ask who originally summoned her, well, some Æthyric demons, especially the primordial ones—”

“They’re only obligated to answer truthfully one time.”

I nodded. “I don’t want to waste my only shot if I don’t have an audience. The Luxe Order isn’t just gonna take my word for it. I need them to witness it.”

He studied me quietly. “When are you going?”

“Tomorrow. Midday, I guess. It’s a seven-hour drive to San Diego.”

“I’ll make arrangements for Mr. and Mrs. Holiday to watch Jupe.”

I shook my head. “I’ve got to do this by myself. If something goes wrong, you can’t be in the middle of it—Jupe depends on you.”

His protest was interrupted by a soft crackling noise. A fine network of blue lines formed along the floor, walls, bookshelves …

“What’s going on?”

Lon sprang to his feet. “The house ward.”

The air distorted in front of us. Bits of smashed shards from the servitor’s clay doll crunched under my feet as Lon hauled me off the floor.

A soft white light appeared before us, one that quickly manifested into a wispy, floating figure. For the shortest moment, my heart leapt when I thought it was Priya, somehow miraculously reborn. Before disappointment fell, though, I realized that the being was familiar to me, even if I hadn’t seen it for a few years … my mother’s guardian.

“Scivina!” I cried out. “It’s okay, Lon. It’s just a projection from the Æthyr.”

Fragile, closed wings skimmed the shoulder tops of the Hermeneus spirit. Like Priya, Scivina was birdlike in the face, and vaguely human below. But where Priya had carried the face of a young owl with pointed ears and big eyes, Scivina’s was a hawk, fierce and proud. As projected images that never fully materialized on earth, they were both a translucent milky color, lacking color and definition.

Scivina’s halo appeared as a soft puff of cloud. She was calm, the epitome of service and decorum, as most guardians are. No emotion registered on her face at the sight of me. She blinked once, canting her head in greeting, then spoke in my head, like Priya used to.

Seléne, your mother requests your presence.

“When? Where?”

Anno IVXIX, Sol twenty-two degrees in Libra, Luna twenty-nine degrees in Aries.

“Gregorian calendar, please.”

Tomorrow night at ten thirty. The Luxe Order’s Sapphire Temple in San Diego. Do not be late. This is important.

“Yes, I’m headed there already. My parents will be there? Do they know about the council?”

I will tell them you have accepted the appointment and will prepare myself to locate you when you arrive. Do not enter the temple or approach anyone. It is not safe. Wait for me to find you, Scivina said before bowing her head.

“Wait! Tell them that I can prove their innoc—”

It was too late. Scivina dissipated without acknowledging my final words. The air wobbled and bent, then became still again.

A chilly dread began eating away at my chest. It is not safe. That warning had come from my mom. My parents were probably worried sick about me; they always were. But they didn’t know what I’d found. Didn’t know I could save them. Once they realized this, we could go up against the council together.

“Hmph,” Lon said. “I guess they do know about the Luxe mandate, huh?”

“You heard Scivina?”

He nodded. “Like I can hear people’s thoughts when I’m transmutated.”

“Maybe they’re planning to turn themselves in. I better get there a little early to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Seconds ticked by while neither one of us said anything.

“Nerves getting the best of ya?” Lon asked with a weak smile.

“I just want it to be over.”

“Stay here tonight,” he murmured.

“I need to take care of some things at my house.” I also needed a hot shower and a good, long nap.

“Then come back later tonight and stay here. Leave in the morning.” He intertwined his fingers with mine. “Please?” he amended.