by Alicia Rades
“I wondered the same thing,” I told them. “The M.O. doesn’t match up. But I know what I heard.”
Priestess Charlotte spoke up. She was as old as the others, but her long red hair hadn’t started to gray. I noticed the skull tattoo on her wrist. “Perhaps we need to consider the possibility of a third missing child. It could explain the timeline of the deaths.”
“But no others have been reported missing,” the fourth and final priestess stated. Priestess Stella was the youngest of the four, but she had this look about her that suggested she was very wise. I couldn’t see her tattoo, but I knew she was a Seer.
“Then let’s assume it’s just the two for now,” Priestess Margaret replied. “The first thing we must do is enact safety measures to ensure the children of the coven are safe.”
“What about catching the perpetrator?” I demanded.
Margaret shot me a look of sympathy. “With all due respect, Lucas, we don’t know what we’re dealing with yet. Our number one priority is keeping the children who are alive safe.”
“Doesn’t that start with explaining what happened to the others?” I demanded. It frustrated me that they weren’t launching a murder investigation immediately.
“We will absolutely investigate,” Margaret promised me. “The Miriamic Police Department will be informed of what you’ve told us as soon as we’re done here.”
“Is there any way I can help?” I asked.
Margaret frowned. “I’m afraid not—not unless you know anything else.”
“That’s all I know,” I replied, regret twisting in my gut. I wish I knew more to help them. I didn’t want anyone else getting hurt. I didn’t want to listen to another child die. That was something I was determined to prevent.
“There must be something I can do,” I insisted.
“I’m sorry, Lucas,” Margaret said. “Unless you’re a police officer or an investigative journalist, I don’t think there’s anything you can do.”
An idea struck, and I shot to my feet. “Well, maybe there is something I can do. Thank you for your time, priestesses.”
I left the Imperium headquarters and rushed back to school, inspiration sizzling in my bones. If the Imperium Council thought there was only one way to help, then I was taking it. I wasn’t here just to sit around and wait for people to die. I could do better to serve the coven.
And I would.
I marched down the hall, through one of the classrooms, and straight to Professor Carlisle’s office. He was hunched over his desk, catching up on grades, when I entered the room.
“I’ll do it,” I announced.
Professor Carlisle looked up from his paperwork, a delightful smile on his face. “Mister Taylor. It’s a pleasure to see you. What, may I ask, is it you want to do?”
“I’ll take that position on the school paper you offered me last year,” I stated.
His face fell. I’d never seen him look so pale before. “I’m sorry, Mister Taylor, but The Epitaph is no longer in print. No one joined the newspaper club this semester.”
“Then we’ll bring it back,” I said confidently.
Professor Carlisle laughed, like he thought I was joking. “And what? You'll write the whole paper? You’ll be the only club member?
I shrugged. “If I have to be.”
He kept on laughing, like the idea was hilarious. “It would never work. We’d never have enough content.”
“Then I’ll start my own publication,” I said simply. I hadn’t even realized I came up with the idea until I said it. “I guess I won’t need an advisor."
I turned around and started to leave, but Professor Carlisle stopped me. “Mister Taylor, wait!”
His laughter had completely died. I turned to face him.
He eyed me curiously. “What exactly is it you’d like to report on?”
“I want to investigate the missing children,” I told him.
He adjusted his glasses. “Well, that is quite a heavy topic. Are you sure?”
“Absolutely,” I said.
He cocked and eyebrow. “And you’d do this on your own?”
“Yes,” I said, my mind made up.
He sighed. “That will be unnecessary, Mister Taylor. The school already has printing resources available, and I must say I’ve missed advising on the paper. Let’s bring The Epitaph back.”
“Really?” I asked, hope surging in my chest.
Professor Carlisle nodded. “Really. Let me know as soon as you have something worth printing.”
I nodded. “I will.”
I left the room feeling like I’d seized some sort of power back from the perp who did this. Two kids were gone, and nothing was going to change that. But we could stop it from happening again.
Whoever murdered those kids better watch out…
Because I was coming for them.
Continue The Reaper’s Shadow to solve the mystery!
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About the Author
Alicia Rades is a USA Today bestselling author of young adult paranormal fiction. When she’s not getting into magical mischief in fantasy worlds, she’s either baking cookies, snuggling her cats, or spending time with her family. She has an unhealthy obsession with psychic characters and writes with a deck of tarot cards next to her computer.
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