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has taken my place; my coven has fled in fear, leaving me here awaiting my fate.”
    I frowned. Serena was a very old witch; she had full blessing of the hag and a strong coven around her. She swallowed down more tears, her voice shaky as she stretched a hand across the table to me.  
    “Help me, Evelyn. I can’t leave this house.”
    I wasn’t convinced by her fragile act, but I couldn’t deny what I’d seen. Something was scaring her. I sat up straighter, ignoring her hand.  
    “In return, you tell me about the new witch and the abominations. I need to find Quin.”
    Her eyes brightened, and she smiled. “Of course, I’ll tell you everything you need.”
    I took a sip of the water as I wondered what I’d got myself into. The kitchen was getting darker; whatever it was would get me one step closer to Quin. It had to be done.  
    She settled down onto the stool opposite me and said, with far more calm and confidence than she had a few seconds prior, “I need to make a protective amulet so that they can’t harm me. I require the middle finger from a powerful witch. There is only one in this country; fortunately for you she’s in a mausoleum in the Olšany Cemetery.”
    I held up my hand. “I have to cut off a dead witch’s finger?”
    She waved off my concerns and carried on. “She was the strongest witch in all of Europe; I have everything else I need for the amulet. Go tonight, bring me back the finger, and I will give you everything you need.”
    She pulled out a crisp sheet of white paper and wrote down some details in an elegant script-style hand. I opened my mouth to ask more questions, but she held up her hand to silence me.  
    “Please, Evelyn, go now. For Quin’s sake.”
    I glared at her for bringing Quin into things, but what choice did I have? The paper gave me all the details I needed, the witch’s name and a guide to her location within the huge cemetery. She stood and looked pointedly at the front door; I knew when I was being dismissed.  

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

    Concern gnawed at me and formed a pit in my stomach; my twin was out there somewhere. The longer he was gone, the more I worried that I wouldn’t get him back. I couldn’t lose him. My mind wandered to the last guy I’d lost as the tram paused at a red light during rush hour. Unlike Quin, who’d dated multiple girls at once and charmed every woman within reach, I only had eyes for one guy. I’d fallen head over heels for him when I was just fifteen. He was my world. I thought he was ‘the one’. Until I caught him in bed with a pixie when we were twenty. He barely even said he was sorry. The pixie had taken him off to the fairy world seven days later, and a big part of me was glad.  
    Quin had been good to me through all of it, we’d gotten drunk and laughed. He’d been calm and supportive when I needed a little quiet time. He kept pointing out cute men when we were out in the city, but I had no interest. I hadn’t been with anyone other than Christian. I knew I needed to move on. I desperately wanted what Quin had, the ease to fall into bed with beautiful people and live life. I squeezed my eyes shut and reminded myself that I was going to get him back, and I was going to try and live more. For him.  
    A quick look down the busy road told me that I was clear to duck between the red and white railing to cross. Everyone just ducked through the railing. It seemed like a waste of materials. I had to assume that it made people feel better to put them there and try to encourage safe road crossing habits. The little shed-like shops were full of brightly coloured flowers; they stood in contrast to the old wall just behind them and the large shopping mall not far to their left. I shoved my hands in my pockets, lowered my head, and slipped past the flower shop down the narrow alley towards the cemetery.  
    The sun had set, and the stars were starting to emerge between the white fluffy clouds that were coming in at an alarming speed.