There weren’t any signs directing us through the labyrinth, and without any identifying features, there was no way to figure out where we were going, nor where we’d already been. It was just endless white halls, apparently leading nowhere.

  With no color or sensory stimulation, my mind started to play tricks on me as random and sporadic thoughts suddenly invaded my mind.

  Was I even really ‘here’ at all? Was this some sort of astral projection of my soul self? Or was I actually here, in the flesh?

  Regardless, I had to get out. We had to get out.

  Thinking of how in the world we were going to find our way back out of this maze of corridors, I glanced down at the bottle of Mystic Veil, and caught sight of my watch. I had to study it for a few seconds, because the face had completely disappeared. There were no hands or numbers. The watch was as blank as the corridors around me.

  “How is that,” I started.

  “Don’t ask what’s possible and what’s not in a veil,” Wanda answered as she continued forward and I followed her, both of us turning another corner. “Everything is possible.”

  I nodded, although I didn’t like the sound of that. Wanda looked like she was just about to say something more when she paused and stopped walking, standing right next to me. She frowned and cocked her head to the side like she was thinking hard about something.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked.

  “Look up.”

  She took a few more steps and craned her neck upward as I followed her gaze. I gasped at what appeared to be a bright red bloodstain on the ceiling.

  “There’s no sign of what or who caused it,” she said, scanning the corridor behind us and shaking her head.

  A memory suddenly interrupted my thoughts—a flash back to the bloody room in Betanya’s house. It couldn’t be a coincidence that blood was here, too. We turned another corner and stopped short when we spotted another blood smear—a bigger one. Following the stretch of the red stain, we ventured into the hall where the stain skidded down one wall.

  Tiptoeing forward, I quickly took note of another stain as soon as we turned the next corner—on the floor this time. A puddle of blood darkened the white surface, and the puddle was so wide it was nearly impossible to step around it. Bloody footsteps led away from the puddle.

  “Whoever left all this blood is or was moving deeper into the maze,” I said.

  Wanda nodded.

  The footprints, meanwhile, led to a T-intersection and veered to the left. The hall to the right was just as white and unblemished as was the rest of the maze. The hall to the left, though, was one grotesque crime scene of blood. The red stuff was smeared everywhere—on the walls, across the floor, and even splattered across the ceiling.

  Wanda and I stood at the intersection, measuring the landscape.

  “We should go back,” I husked. “Whatever is in here must be dangerous.”

  “I don’t know that we can go back,” Wanda responded as she turned to look behind her. Then she looked at me. “Do you remember which way we came?”

  “Well, away from all the blood to begin with.”

  “And beyond that?”

  I chewed my lower lip. “I’m not sure.” I cast one glance down the hall before us and shuddered. “If we head that way, though, who knows what we’ll find.”

  She looked over her shoulder toward the other fork of the maze and when she faced forward again, she didn’t appear any more excited to traipse into the bloody corridor than I did.

  “Let’s go that way.”

  I didn’t argue. We turned our backs on the blood and made our way to the right-hand corridor, entering the immaculate white expanse again. I let out a shaky breath as I thought about how in the world we were going to find our way back to our entry point.

  “What do you think made all that blood?” Wanda asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

  “I don’t know and I don’t want to think about it.”

  I turned the corner and my toes rammed into something solid. A split second later, I glanced down and screamed when I found a human body sprawled across the floor.

  Wanda pounced on me and clapped her hand over my mouth. “Quiet!” she hissed.

  I nodded to let her know I’d gotten control of myself and we both took a step back from the body. The woman’s unseeing eyes penetrated the ceiling of this awful place and it took me another second or two before I recognized her facial features and the salt and peppered black hair as belonging to Mrs. Nicholson, Henner’s housekeeper.

  Blood caked Mrs. Nicholson’s clothes and saturated her hair. It also smeared every inch of the corridor beyond the place where we’d found her.

  “Yikes,” Wanda said and frowned as my gaze settled on a gaping, ragged hole in her throat. It looked like she’d been attacked by some wild creature.

  “We have to get out of here,” I whispered as I realized whatever had killed this poor old woman could still be inside the maze.

  Wanda surveyed the area. “Easier said than done.”

  At her words, I realized she was right because it dawned on me just what this place was, what this maze was.

  “Betanya trapped something in here,” I said as Wanda continued to scrutinize the maze with sharp eyes.

  “But…”

  “The beast escaped,” a voice I didn’t recognize announced from directly behind us.

  With my heart in my throat, I turned around at the same time Wanda did. Before us stood a tall woman with dark black hair. I recognized her immediately—from the pictures Wanda and I had discovered when we’d researched the women mentioned in Betanya’s journal.

  “Florence!” I gasped as my mouth dropped open. “Are you Florence Wilson?”

  If she were surprised we knew who she was, she didn’t show it. Instead, she worried her lower lip as her fingers creased the hemline of her dress, which would have been fashionable in the seventies.

  “You shouldn’t be here.” Florence spoke in a wooden tone.

  “We don’t have much of a choice in that matter,” Wanda answered as she swallowed hard.

  “Florence, is this place a cage?” I asked, wanting to immediately detect the current threat level. Florence nodded. “So what in the world is in it?”

  Before Florence could respond, Wanda interrupted her.

  “Roscoe.”

  Florence looked at her. “Yes.”

  Wanda then started nodding as if something was starting to dawn on her. “This was Roscoe’s prison—or it was supposed to be his prison.”

  “Betanya trapped him here,” Florence replied in that stony way of hers that reminded me directly of… Libby.

  “Florence,” I said, wanting to get to the most important point ASAP. “Is Roscoe still inside the maze? Could he attack us?”

  Florence looked at me and shook her head. “He escaped.”

  “Then he’s inside the house?” I asked as I looked from Florence to Wanda.

  I turned back to Florence as something else dawned on me… if Roscoe was still alive, then...

  “Florence, what happened to Betanya?” Wanda asked, apparently on the same thought trail I was.

  Florence looked at Wanda and matter-of-factly answered, “Oh, she’s in here… in the maze.”

  “Betanya’s alive?” I insisted, just to make sure.

  Florence nodded as Wanda looked at me and gave me an enormous smile. Then she turned her attention back to Florence. “We need you to take us to Betanya, Florence.”

  Florence worried her lower lip again and the expression she gave us said she wasn’t sure if she should trust us. And I didn’t blame her—as far as she knew, we’d just randomly appeared in this maze she’d been imprisoned in for decades. Not to mention Roscoe escaping and then the death of Mrs. Nicholson. Of course she didn’t trust us.

  “We are friends, not enemies,” I said as I faced Florence. “Wanda is a Blood Witch, just like Betanya, and I’m a gypsy. We only want to help Betanya and stop Roscoe.”

  It took Florence another second or so before she nodded and then beckoned us to follow her. She crossed the puddles of blood in our way and led us through bright white corridor after bright white corridor, winding this way and that. She turned so many corners, I lost track and was fairly certain I’d never find my way back if left to my own defenses.

  Along the way, Florence answered our rapid-fire questions, and we learned exactly what had happened that had led to Roscoe escaping. Apparently, the maze was created to keep Roscoe away from the mortal world, but in order to keep him here, Betanya had to also imprison herself. So she created a constantly expanding maze that would allow her… and Florence… to hide from him.

  But, one day, roughly a week or so ago, Roscoe found them. At that time, Agnes and Imogen had also been alive (or as alive as zombies can be) and Roscoe killed them. Then he harmed Betanya ‘dreadfully’ as described by Florence.

  With Betanya’s power weakened, the void was also weakened, and Roscoe managed to break through. As soon as he crossed over into the real world, Florence believed the first person he came into contact with was Mrs. Nicholson. And he murdered her.

  “That would explain the blood in the bedroom,” Wanda said as she then frowned. “But why did we find Mrs. Nicholson’s body inside the maze?”

  “Because Roscoe brought her back here,” Florence answered.

  “Why would he bring Mrs. Nicholson back if he’d already escaped?” I continued, shaking my head. “Especially when he killed Mrs. Nicholson in the upstairs bedroom… inside the house.”

  Florence nodded. “I believe he was confused.”

  “Confused?” I repeated.

  “Roscoe is not… rational,” Florence continued. “He lost any ability to reason long ago.”

  “Because of the blood bond,” Wanda supplied.

  Florence nodded. “I believe he didn’t understand what happened when he broke through the void,” Florence explained. “Regardless, once he got out and killed the housekeeper, he brought her back into the maze to feed on her and bolster his own strength. Then he escaped through the void again and we haven’t seen him since.”

  “Hold it,” I said as I held up my hands and faced Wanda, then Florence. “Would Roscoe happen to be a short, dumpy looking guy with hair combed over his bald head?”

  “Yes,” Florence replied. “That describes him.”

  “He’s the one who’s been peeping through everyone’s windows,” I said as I faced Wanda in disbelief.

  “And the red stains all over him—”

  “Were Mrs. Nicholson’s blood.”

  “Then he’s much more dangerous than we previously thought,” Wanda said as she then looked at Florence again.

  “Roscoe is even more dangerous than you know,” Florence said.

  “Why do you say that?” Wanda asked.

  Florence stopped walking and turned to face us. “Because he’s been inside this veil for so long.”

  “So… what?” Wanda asked.

  “This veil is powered by Betanya’s magic and anyone within it soaks in that magic.”

  “So… Roscoe has basically been absorbing Betanya’s magic all this time?” I asked as my mouth fell open.

  Florence nodded. “Hence why he is so much more powerful than an average vampire.”

  “But, why would Betanya allow that to happen?” Wanda insisted, shaking her head. “If she knew the veil would only empower Roscoe, why would she keep him trapped here?”

  “Betanya didn’t know Roscoe would absorb the magic of the veil,” Florence answered. “And once she learned such was the case, it was already too late for we all were locked in the veil together.”

  Florence then took another corner and led us into a larger hall. The hall widened into a rectangular room, with the same stark white walls, ceiling, and floor. In the center of the room was a woman sprawled on the floor

  “Betanya,” Wanda whispered, her voice revealing her shock and concern.

  Betanya’s dark red hair spilled across the floor in a carpet of scarlet. Her face was pale and I could make out the blue veins beneath her skin. She was mostly covered by a long velvet black cape. The three of us rushed to her, and Florence kneeled down to touch her arm, but Betanya didn’t respond.

  “She’s very weak,” Florence said, as she looked up at us. “Her life power is hanging on by a thread.”

  “We need to get her to a doctor,” I responded as I faced Wanda. “Clearly, she needs a blood transfusion.”

  Florence shook her head. “If she leaves the veil, she’ll die. Her power is enforced by the power within these walls.”

  “Can you do anything for her with your magic?” I asked Wanda.

  “The only power that will work here is Betanya’s,” Florence answered as she shook her head.

  “Then we’ll bring a doctor here,” I said.

  Wanda frowned at me. “Tell me one doctor you could convince to come through a magical veil into another dimension to resurrect a Blood Witch who’s been drained by a feral vampire.”

  I thought fast.

  Then it hit me. “I do know of one person who would do it.”

  Wanda frowned at me. “Who?”

  “Lorcan.”

  “Poppy, Lorcan’s a dentist.”

  “Dentist, doctor,” I started and waved away her concern. “The point is… Lorcan possesses incredibly strong and powerful blood… blood that would heal Betanya.”

  “Regardless, we have a bigger problem.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “How are you planning on getting out of here?” Wanda asked, frowning at me.

  I turned to face Florence. “Can you show me the way out?”

  Florence nodded. “I can show you the place where you entered the veil, but as far as summoning the rift—”

  “We have a potion for that,” I answered, turning to face Wanda as I held the bottle of Mystic Veil up to her eye line. “Well?”

  Wanda nodded. “I’m going to wait here and keep an eye on Betanya. Can you get Lorcan and bring him back?”

  “Are you sure you’ll be safe here?” I started as Wanda nodded.

  “As long as Roscoe remains on the outside,” she answered.

  “Okay, I’ll go find Lorcan and bring him to you,” I started. “But before I do that, I need to get Roy to look after Astrid and Finn. I don’t feel good leaving them with Libby and Darla, especially with a maniac vampire on the loose.”

  “Good thinking.” Then she motioned to the vial of Mystic Veil still clutched in my hand. I handed it to her and watched as she opened the bottle and dropped one droplet of the potion onto her palm. She reached for my hand and taking it, rotated it so my palm was facing her. After anointing my palm with a dropperful of the potion, she clasped our hands together so the two droplets touched.

  “With these drops shall we never part, but be joined in mind and in heart. As I will it, so mote it be.”

  A shiver traveled from my hand, up my arm, and vanished the moment Wanda dropped my hand. She looked up at me and explained.

  “Now we’re connected, so once you leave the veil and reenter, you’ll be able to find me.”

  I nodded and then turned to face Florence. “Can you lead me back to the breach, Florence?”

  Florence nodded and started walking away. I hesitated a moment and turned to face Wanda. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  Chapter Nine

  I stepped into the laundry room and found myself alone.

  Marty and Henner were gone.

  That didn’t matter—at this point all that did matter was getting Roy over to Wanda’s to babysit Astrid and Finn and getting Lorcan to come back to the Tayir Mansion with me. And while I was at it, I thought it would be a good idea to get Olga Fischer, estranged witch who was now living in Haven Hollow, in on the plan, as well. The more magical fire-power we had, the better in my book.

  I raced through the kitchen and down the long hallway, through the living and dining rooms, and past a library until I reached the foyer. I found the front door open and darted through it, spotting the guys standing by Marty’s hearse, where they appeared to be talking in low tones and worried expressions graced their faces. They both spun around in surprise to see me.

  “Poppy!” Marty rushed me, his eyes wide. “Where in the hell have you been? Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

  “We both were,” Henner corrected Marty, then gave him a look.

  “I’m all right,” I said as I tried to catch my breath. Before I could, Marty pulled me into a sudden hug. I wrapped my arms around him in return, but then pulled away because we didn’t have time for happy reunions.

  “Marty, we need to leave right now!” I nearly choked on the words. “We have to get Lorcan.”

  “Lorcan?” he started to question, but I shook my head.

  “I don’t have time to explain.”

  “Where’s Wanda?” Henner asked.

  “I don’t have time to explain that either right now, but when I get the chance, I’ll explain everything.”

  “Is she okay?” Marty asked.

  I nodded. “We need to leave right away to get Lorcan, and I need to get on the phone with Roy and then Olga Fischer.”

  I looked up at the sky and frowned. It was getting dark, which didn’t make any sense because prior to going into the veil, it had been late morning. I looked at Marty and asked, “What time is it? How long was I gone?”

  “It’s nearly six-thirty,” he answered as my mouth dropped open in shock.

  “Six-thirty?!”

  He nodded. “It’s been almost seven hours since the veil sucked you in.”

  “That’s impossible,” I answered, shaking my head.

  “Oh, it’s possible alright, because it’s true,” Henner said.

  “I thought I was in there for forty-five minutes tops!”

  Henner shook his head. “Other dimensions are notorious for creating time distortions. It could have been a lot worse. You could have been gone for a hundred years.”

  Thank the heavens I wasn’t gone for a hundred years. But, then I remembered how long I had been gone and that was enough for my stomach to drop down to my toes.