Strings of Fate by Kit Bryan
Chapter 168

Strings of Fate

168–Books and backrooms

Uh, hi? Late for what?” I ask, a little confused. Did we make plans that I’m not aware of? I look at Bellamy to see if he knows what’s going on but he’s just as confused as me. Cam shrugs at my confusion.

“Friend of yours?” She asks. I nod.

“In that case. Hey, I’m Camille. You can call me Cam.” She greets her. Amber nods.

“I know. I’m Amber. I used to be Ryann’s boss. Now I’m just here for the show.” She introduces herself with a wink. Cam seems delighted.

“Lovely, I can get behind that. Let me get you a drink.” She dashes off.

“Amber? Not that I’m not glad to see you, and I know HOW you know to be here, I was just

wondering why?” I question.

“Well, I missed out on drinks and meeting people last time. I didn’t want to miss out again.”

She explains. So she’s here to meet Cam? It doesn’t take long for Cam to return with another drink for Amber. Her drink is as unnaturally bright red as her hair and it looks… fizzy?

“Perfect, my favourite.” Amber beams. Cam tilts her head in confusion.

“What do you mean? I’ve never made this one before. I’m testing new drinks on you guys tonight. How can it be your favourite?” She asks. Amber just shrugs and starts drinking so I

take pity on Cam.

“Amber is an Oracle. She tends to know things she shouldn’t. It’s easier to just roll with it.” I

recommend. If Cam is surprised, she doesn’t show it. I’m starting to think there isn’t anything that can ruffle this girl. Amber nods her agreement.

“Yep, I’m special like that. Now, not that I’m not loving this, but we’re only one person away from this being a real party.” She leans on the bar and swings her legs, kicking the barstool.

“Is someone else coming?” I ask. Before she can answer Cam lets out a slight groan. Harry

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168- Books and backrooms

struts up to us and hooks an arm over my shoulder. Ah. That’s why. Cam plasters on the kind of smile that you see on retail workers and salesmen. Completely fake, and you KNOW it’s fake, but you have to respect the effort either way. Bellamy is glaring at Harry’s arm over my

shoulder and Harry appears to be either completely blind, or ignoring him.

“Hi there Harry.” Amber greets him. Harry doesn’t even pause, he plasters on a flirtatious smile and releases me before turning to Amber.

“Hello beautiful. My reputation precedes me, I see.” Amber just laughs.

“Oh Harry, we both know this isn’t going anywhere. Don’t waste your flattery on me when I’m not the one you want to follow home.” She lectures. Harry looks momentarily confused,

but I can see the moment when it clicks in his head.

“You’re Amber.” He confirms.

“Yup.” She nods.

“Well, in that case, it’s lovely to meet you in person. Also it’s not flattering you if it’s true.” He chides. Amber grins at him pleased. I throw a sideways glance at Cam. I want to see if she looks jealous. Nope, she still has her polite customer service smile plastered to her face. At worst, I would say she looks bored. Why do I get the impression that she would absolutely clean us all out at poker? Then again, I’m pretty sure the rest of us are far more

demonstrative with our emotions. Except maybe Aaron. Okay, Cam and Aaron would be deadly in a casino. Cam drops a drink off in front of Harry that looks strangely… thick? Also it’s kind of…smoking? I would definitely not be tasting that if I were him. Harry acts like he

doesn’t even notice how awful the drink looks and downs it in one go with a smile.

“Well… now that we’re all here, not that I knew we were actually expecting so many people, would you be able to answer some questions about magic for us Cam?” I ask. She nods.

“Of course, one second.” She waves over another young woman who is also bartending and lets her know that she is taking a break for a little while. The other woman confirms and then Cam ges

gestures for us to all follow her through to a small back room. It’s filled with every type of alcohol and mixer I can imagine and there is what looks like a Witches magic circle in the corner of the room. There is also a caged metal shelf that is full of what I assume are potions. As Harry approaches the doorway she stops him with a hand on his chest and glares at him.

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“Touch. Nothing. Do you understand me?” She stares up at him. He nods along but his smile is gleeful and his eyes are darting around the room. There’s mischief in his gaze and I cross my fingers that we make it through this without Harry turning himself into a llama or something.

I explain to Cam about the spell the psychos have been using to hide their scents from the Shifters. Bellamy chimes in a few times with other details he’s noted about it and anything. that the guys have reported about it. Cam tugs on a strand of her hair thoughtfully.

“I have a couple ideas about what it could be. Let me double check something.” She goes to the locked cage and with a hand over the lock and a few whispered words she opens it. She rummages around and pulls out a tightly bound leather book from the back of the shelf before closing up the cage and returning to the little table slash workspace that we’re all standing around. There aren’t chairs in here, but there wouldn’t be room for them even if there was. It’s a small price to pay for the privacy.

“What’s that?” Harry asks, standing far too close to Cam and leaning over her shoulder. She snaps the book shut and ducks out and away from him.

“It’s my grimoire. Not something for you to read.” She says primly. Harry opens his mouth to argue but I lean over and poke him in the arm. Hard.

“Leave it

likely I warn. We need this information, besides, intruding on her privacy is not

likely to help him win her affections or trust. Harry reluctantly steps away and begins to wander the room, looking at the shelves.

“Hands in your pockets Harrison.” Cam orders without looking up from her grimoire. Harry rolls his eyes but complies to her demand. After a few minutes of flicking through pages Cam smiles and closes the book with a soft thud.

“Okay, so it looks like it’s probably a spin off version of a basic stealth spell. Instead of hiding a person’s presence WHILE they’re at a place, it hides it afterwards.” She explains. Pride and satisfaction in her voice for replaceing the correct spell.

“Is there anything about it that we could use to replace the caster?” Bellamy prompts. Cam

considers and her face falls a little.

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“Well… it’s a spell that technically any Witch or Warlock could cast… but it isn’t a super well

known variation. Most people who use stealth spells are worried about being seen, heard or smelled WHILE they’re actually at a place, less concerned about afterwards. It’s not a variation someone stumbles across by accident, they would have had to go looking for it.” She explains. Hmm, that’s really not especially helpful. Of course the psycho murderers went looking for a spell like that, it’s right up their alley.

“So you could order the spell from anyone? Do you know anyone who might be selling

them?” I ask. Cam shakes her head.

“Oh no, that wouldn’t work. This spell can’t be attached to an object or developed in potion.

form. It has to be cast in person.” She explains.

“Oh, so at least one of the psychos is definitely a Witch or Warlock.” I confirm.

“Without a doubt.” She agrees grimly.