"What are you even supposed to do with the knife?" Lily said, picking up the blade and turning it over and back.

"You are supposed to prick yourself with the knife and see if the blood that oozes is green," Lenora said.

"What kind of backwards test is that?" Smokewell said.

"You see, since those that are bewitched are infected by the spirit of darkness, it affects their blood and gives it a darker tinge than the pure blood," she said.

Smokewell rolled her eyes. She was probably getting tired of listening to the term 'spirit of darkness' being repeated over and over.

"There is one more thing," Lenora said. "When the spirit of darkness sucks on mortal blood, it covers up the teeth marks with some kind of enchantment. That enchantment comes undone when you use the soap that was also provided by the Internal police."

"That's not how enchantment works," Asmod said in a voice that was tight with restrained annoyance.

I held back a groan and rubbed my forehead. "So you are using a soap other than the one you originally used?" I asked.

Lenora nodded. "That's why the teeth marks on my arm got revealed when I started using that soap. Because the enchantment came undone."

"That's it, I'm fed up with this." Smokewell hopped upon my shoulder to get face to face with Lenora. "It's about time we got something out of the way. Woman, you aren't cursed."

The woman's face was skeptical.

"Don't give me that look," Smokewell said. "You know you aren't."

"How would you explain my neighbor dying from my wish of her death?" Lenora crossed her arms.

"You said that lady was old. She sounds quite old since she had a lot of time to gossip and spread rumors about others," I said, "It's very possible that the woman's heart gave out or she had a stroke. You just happened to be at the wrong place, thinking the wrong thing."

"What about these teeth marks?" She lifted her sleeve to show the spots on her skin.

"You just said you were using a new soap. And it's issued by the government. We don't know what they made it with in order to make it capable of 'detecting the bad blood'. Your skin is just showing a reaction because the soap probably isn't made with good materials," Smokewell said.

"And let's not forget the fact that we are still alive even when we are in your vicinity," Lily said.

"I haven't wished death upon any of you," Lenora said, her voice uncertain.

"Why don't you do it now?" Asmod stepped forward. "I'll volunteer to get cursed. Go on, do it."

Lenora shook her head, bewildered. "No! I won't risk it."

"How about this, if you do manage to put a curse on Asmod, we won't blame you," Smokewell said.

"Do it," Asmod said again.

Lenora looked torn. I could see a glimmer of hope in her eyes but also fear of actually being someone who could curse someone to death.

"Do it," Lily said. Smokewell repeated it. And so did I.

"Alright then," Lenora said. "I'll do it." She turned to Asmod and with an uncertain look she clenched her eyes shut and muttered something under her breath. We all watched her as she went about coming up with a curse in her mind. A minute or two passed. Lenora opened her eyes.

Nothing happened.

"See?" Asmod said.

"No..." the woman took a step back. "It's probably because I don't hate you as much as I hated my neighbor."

"Lenora, stop." I took a step forward. "Just accept that you are perfectly normal. And maybe...it's something else that scared you. Something else that brought you to that clock tower. Something else that made you want to jump and end it all for good."

"Maybe it was someone who was going to prick you with a knife to see whether you deserved to live as his wife." Lily shrugged, poking the tip of the stiletto blade with her finger.

"That's a thought worth considering," Asmod said.

"I think our work here is done," I said and took the knife from Lily and put it back in its box. Then I took Clyde's diary and held it under my arm. "If you don't mind, we'd like to borrow these for a bit."

"Later then," Smokewell said as my companions and I turned to leave.

*****

Back in Asmod's apartment, we were in the sitting room. Lily was lounging on the sofa with her feet over the armrest. Smokewell was in her usual window. Asmod was down in the shop. I sat cross-legged by the coffee table and perusing Old Elsa's journal.

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"What exactly are we going to do about Hopper?" Lily said. The stiletto knife was in her hand, her finger kept poking at its tip.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," I said as I flipped through the pages.

The girl groaned and turned to the cat in the window. "Madam, why is the government doing this? Are they really this scared of us?" she said.

"No, Lily," Smokewell said, gazing out the window. "They aren't just scared of us. They are scared of anyone they can't control. Truth be told, in their situation it does make sense."

"But...does it?" Lily sat up on the sofa. "I mean, when was the last time some coven did something truly terrible? Or even a magic user who did something terrible and didn't sign the agreement?"

"You don't actually have to do it, you know?" the cat said. "The fact that you are capable is what worries the government. Law is fragile like that. Everyone needs to agree upon it and follow it in order for it to mean something. The funny thing is, it doesn't mean anything even after you do all that. There's always going to be someone who breaks the law and defies it in a multitude of ways."

"I guess that's true," Lily said. "You know, Miss Elsa, before the Inquisition formed the witch hunter division, there was the news of this one man trying to blow up the temple of the Steam Elemental."

"Did he succeed?" I said, keeping my eyes on the page.

"He did!" Lily said excitedly. "I only heard rumors of it, but they say the explosion was glorious. Some speculate he was a fire mage. I think he must be a warlock. They are mighty nimble, aren't they?"

"That's one rumor I can actually believe," Smokewell said. "And even that's because of the current state of the law and order regarding magic."

Lily collapsed back on the couch. "I miss the days before the Steam Elemental shook hands with the non-users. We could just walk around with our pointy hats and no one would say anything. Well, some were still uncomfortable around us but at least we didn't have to constantly live in the fear of the Inquisition."

That caught my attention. I kept my face nonchalant. If the world was like that before the steam elemental then why did I remember Old Elsa being jumpy and always cautious. Was it for some other reason?

"I wish you could've experienced it, Miss Elsa," Lily said, turning to face me with a gentle smile. "You are always so cautious and careful. And that was true even before the witch hunters made the burn list."

I pursed my lips. "It's okay, Lily. Sometimes life is a bit unfair."

"I guess it is. Don't worry, though." She propped herself on an elbow. "It's only until we are done with this man, Hopper. After that, you and I and Madam and even Asmod, we'll all party at the Volcano lane."

I raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"It's a street in the neighboring city. The entire stretch of the road is nothing but barbecued meat restaurants and that's not even the best part. All the restaurants are run by drakes!"

"I wonder if they've signed the agreement," I said.

"Probably not," Smokwell said, "I'm sure they are an establishment similar to that run by the liches."

"It's called Skeleton Crew, madam. And you need to admit that it was the best place you've seen since you turned into a cat," Lily said.

"That's it," I said, closing the journal. "I think it's about time we dug up something substantial on Hopper." I went over suitcase to get my ritual knife and Clyde's diary.

"What are you going to do, Miss Elsa?" Lily said.

"You can come along if you want," I said.

Smokewell came along with Lily. I led her down to Asmod's shop and made him open the secret door to his workshop for us.

I came back to the empty spot when I'd carried out the Liberation ritual on Amelia's mirror. I drew a pattern on the ground and placed Clyde's diary at its center.

Lily watched with equal parts curiosity and excitement. "This is the same ritual that you summoned that giant man with, right?" she asked.

I nodded.

"Hm, I'd been wondering where you learnt to do that," Smokewell said.

"In one of the books of Dark Arcana," I said, and it wasn't really a lie. When I'd accessed more memories about the Liberation ritual, Dark Arcana was the book that Old Elsa had referred to.

"So, how does it work?" Lily asked.

I explained the basics to them as I wiped the grit off my knife and prepared to slit my palm.

"Wait, if you could extract information like that, then why didn't you use the ritual on Clyde while he was still unconscious?" Lily asked.

"No," I said, "An abyss can either be extracted from the mortal remains of a person or their belongings. Clyde's body and soul are still fused together. I can't extract his abyss from his body while he is still alive."

Lily nodded. I finally cut my palm and dripped the blood onto the pentacle. The air around us turned cold. There was a whisper as the black mist whirled in front of me. I wasn't surprised as the mist remained shapeless and didn't take any solid form.

"Identity yourself," I commanded.

"Clyde Desmond," the voice said. It sounded much firmer than the previous abysses I'd extracted. But that tone of servitude was still there.

"I don't have much time so I'll keep this short," I said, "Tell me whatever you know about General Lloyd Hopper. Other than the fact that he likes his tea with a dash of lemon."

The voice was quiet for some time. I could feel Lily and Smokewell’s uncertain gazes burning holes into my back. "Answer me!" I said sternly.

"My recollection is rather weak...but I remember the general as man of...little courage."

I raised an eyebrow. "What is that supposed to mean? Elaborate."

"I've fed a lot of officers of various ranks. But if I had to compare General Hopper to the previous one in his position, I would say Hopper is the first man in uniform who seems genuinely afraid of witchcraft. It makes him anxious."

I scoffed. "Is there anything else you can tell me about him?" I asked.

"I'm afraid not," the voice said after a brief pause.

"Then we are done here. Go away now. I liberate you,"

"Thank you..."

The mist disappeared. The coldness was gone.

"So the General is scared of us," Lily said.

"I'm not surprised," Smokwell said.

I turned to the two of them with a grin. I couldn't help but feel smug, "This is it then," I said. "If the general is really that afraid of witchcraft. Then we will put a stronger fear in him. Tonight, we'll commence my plan."