A coffee shop two blocks down the street becomes our choice for lunch as we order and sit down at one of the tables to wait for our food. Diana looks to be a step away from collapsing as she sits down across from me, her jaw clenched to the point that she may be doing it to keep her teeth from chattering.

She tucks her nose down into the collar of her coat as she stares at the tabletop in front of her. It had taken her a couple of tries to relay her order to the barista and it didn't take much for me to realize that her voice was slurring. I watch her for a moment, concerned as to whether or not it's safe for her to drive and I wonder then how she even managed to leave her apartment this morning.

"Soo...," Tessa says in a low voice, "Kara actually is on to something, Finn's ghost is still around and he might have been friends with this Heartwood girl."

"Because she saw a photo online of the two of them together, but the photo disappeared since we couldn't find it," Astrid murmurs as she sips at her fountain drink.

"But the ghost you guys contacted last night, who we know is likely Finn, did spell out 'Heartwood' and then 'danger'," Tessa points out as we fall silent, knowing what the next discussion is going to lead to.

"And all of this ties back to 'Hallewell'," Astrid says at last and I wince as I think about my conversation with Ava.

"But Clayton and Eleanora are locked up," I assure her, though I wonder about Clayton's wife.

Astrid shakes her head at this and sighs, "They aren't the only Hallewells, there are a lot more out there and not everyone is going to have the Hallewell name, my father is Clayton's brother so of course I have the Hallewell name, but their sisters don't because they've all married."

"What if Clayton is getting out? Kara's been seeing Luke, though we're not for sure if he's actually there, but what if Clayton and Luke are breaking out somehow? Or Eleanora?" Diana suggests, her voice muffled from its place inside of her coat. "Hallewells' have always been powerful."

"Clayton is powerless, his powers were taken away," Astrid reminds her slowly as she shares a brief glance with me as if to say her brain really is fried right now.

Diana shakes her head, "I know, but what if someone from the outside is helping him get out?"

We fall silent at this as we think over her implications and I decide to voice Ava's concerns.

"What if his wife is helping him?" I suggest casually.

"It could be possible, though I've hardly seen Aunt Magnia, she's kept herself locked up in that house of theirs since Clayton's trial," Astrid points out, "I can vaguely remember a couple of friends of his, businessmen and a parliament member or two when he'd come over to Britain for parties, I doubt any of them could help him with them being that far away," Astrid says as she tucks in her bottom lip and gnaws on it.

"That's true," Tessa agrees, "can you remember if you ever saw anyone with him while you were going here?"

Astrid shakes her head, "No, I was only here for a week or two before everything went to hell, remember? We can maybe stop by my Aunt Magnia's before we head back to the academy," she says in a low voice.

"As long as you're comfortable with it," I say and she clenches her jaw before she lets out a short laugh.

"I don't think I can ever be comfortable around 'family' again," she admits as a waitress suddenly drops off our food.

Diana looks down at the salad in front of her, her face blooming into light shades of green as she coughs suddenly, the noise painful and abrupt as she turns away quickly. We watch her, bewildered by the change as she covers her nose and mouth. Her eyes well up with tears and glimmer in the corners as she finally gets herself under control and shakes off the coughing.

"Sorry," she mutters as she reaches for a napkin and dabs at the corners of her eyes, "I forgot how much I hated pepper, it always aggravates my sinuses. But are you sure about going and seeing your aunt?"

There's concern in her voice and I can't help but feel the same way. It could be dangerous for her, but most of all likely uncomfortable. But Astrid looks determined as she nods.

"I haven't seen her since the trial, it can't be any worse than seeing her now," Astrid replies with a shrug. "I'm just hoping that she hasn't moved."

****

When I had first heard Astrid say that her aunt lived in a big house, I had expected something along the lines of a large home that would be seen in a golfing community. What I hadn't expected was something that fit the description of a Hollywood celebrity's mansion.

After having an Uber drop us off a block away, Astrid leads us down an empty cul-de-sac which is where we pass through the veil that surrounds the home.

A light-colored, cobblestone driveway stretches far ahead of us and loops into a circle drive where a fountain burbles with pink water that is overflowing from its marble bowls. Lilies of some exotic species bloom in the flowerbeds that are nestled next to the enormous, black doors, a set of twin lion-head knockers the size of my head beckoning to us as they offer golden rings in their mouths.

Astrid hesitates for a moment before she reaches for the knocker and taps it against the door. Some level of magic must be at work because I can hear it echo loudly within the house as the eyes on the lions begin to glow. A voice floats from them and even though I look, I can't see a speaker.

"State your name," a feminine voice replies.

I can't tell if they're old or young as Astrid clears her throat.

"Astrid Hallewell," she says, even though her voice wavers.

I reach down and squeeze her hand as she wraps her fingers tightly around mine, the breath pausing in my throat as we wait. There is silence for a moment, like the person on the other side of the door is taking long to make their decision.

At last, there's a click as the door opens slowly to reveal a hint of enormous, white tiles.

"Come in," the voice says and we obey before she can change her mind.

Astrid continues to hold onto my hand as we step over the threshold, Tessa making a low, uneasy noise in the back of her throat like she's ready to protest, but instead she follows us at the last moment.

"Astrid," a voice croons as the clack of high heels underlies their words, "I was hoping you would come."

I realize then that there are no lights on as watery daylight streams in from the windows and I search the dim, wide entryway for the owner. I don't get to search for long though as the door suddenly shuts behind us and locks.