Rudd nodded and went to leave, holding out his hand to Lily. “I bet you’re hungry.” Lily shook her head and clung to William.

“I figured as much. She never leaves his side,” Rudd said.

“That’s just fine,” the woman said, her eyes crinkling at the girl. “Miss Lily, you are welcome to stay if you’d like.”

The remaining guard brought forth two chairs and sat them before the woman. He then walked away and, crossing his arms across his burly chest, leaned on a pillar on the far end of the porch.

As William and Lily sat, the woman clasped her hands on her lap.

“I am sorry for what you’ve both been through.”

William leaned forward. “Once you tell us what you can, you need to let us go.”

“I wish I could, sweet boy. Well, you aren’t a boy anymore, are you? I know your family wants to know you’re alright. And pretty girl, I wish I knew of anywhere safe to send you. But there is nowhere safe now, for either of you.”

“I don’t even know who you are.”

She sat up surprisingly straight for someone of her age. “Everyone here calls me Blue. My eyes are the only thing about me that hasn’t dulled. Tell me, William, how much did your grandmother tell you about the Researchers? Did she ever mention a group called the Corcillium?”

“My grandmother never spoke of her work. I only know what I’ve read; that they researched unexplained disappearances.”

“She was smart not to tell you. She wanted to protect you. She’s a…” Blue’s voice trembled for a moment. “She’s a good girl, your grandmother.”

“So you’re one of them, then? Rudd said it was my grandmother who summoned him and the others to find me. Are you taking orders from her?”

She took a deep breath. “We claim her as one of us, even though she only communicates with one of our members. The Corcillium wanted her to join us, but she refused. She trusted no one. I certainly cannot blame her.”

“What is this … Corcillium?”

“It’s actually the name of this house,” Blue said, looking around. “The family who owned it considered it the heart of their family—corcillum means “heart” in Latin. Ultimately, it was inherited by one of our first members, and it became the center of the group that took its name. The Corcillium is like a council that directs the work of the Researchers. About fourteen years ago, I joined that council. But before that, I worked for the same shadow agency that wishes to take you and never let you go.”

“You mean … you worked for those men in suits?”