Fire and Ash (2)

*One day ago in Soloma*

Lavi and Anna blink at each other in surprise. Nine is sitting in front of the fire, her eyes unfocused as she shares everything she knows about the Black Jacks. They are sitting in the middle of the forest, resting.

“Moira’s body?” Lavi questions her. “Her real body? How is that possible?”

“It is,” Nine says. “Moira is a witch and a very powerful one at that. She conducted a body switching spell. The day she entered the castle, she realized that Phillippe’s real mate was one of her own maids. The maid sensed it and so did the Emperor but before he could meet her, she ran away. Phillippe was betrothed to the heir of the Morales family. A mere maid can’t be his Empress!”

“So she went to tell her mistress,” she goes on. “Before Phillippe could find her, Moira cast a spell and switched her body with that of the maid and put the latter into a deep sleep.”

“Where is her body?” Lavi demands.

“With Two,” Nine reveals. “He’s hiding her real body.”

“How come I do not k