On the other side, Miria and the others arrived near the castle under cover of night. Asher gathered everyone behind a thicket.
"Listen carefully," he said in a low, firm voice. "We can't all attack head-on. We split into three groups."
He pointed quickly:
"Group 1: me, Miria, Gale, and Diana. We'll go where Miria was held last time.
Group 2: Bryan, Alix, Axel, and Marlie. You'll search the east wing.
Group 3: Eiden, Kira, Ray, and Isabella. You'll take the west wing.
We meet in the center as soon as we have news of Klaus. No unnecessary heroics. We get him out of here alive."
Everyone nodded. The groups formed and scattered into the darkness.
In the dungeons, Klaus was chained, guarded by two minions. Suddenly, two hooded figures draped in black burst in. They knocked out the guards with surgical precision. One of the strangers picked up the keys, opened the cell, and unchained Klaus.
Klaus rubbed his wrists, wary.
"Thanks… but who are you?"
The two figures removed their hoods. It was Léana and Draven.
Seeing Léana, anger rose immediately in Klaus.
"You… what are you doing here?"
"Listen," Léana said in a calm voice. "Believe it or not, I'm here to save you. I feel I owe Katrina. I want to be even. Okay?"
She turned without waiting for an answer.
"Follow me."
Klaus hesitated a moment, then obeyed. As they moved through the corridors, he asked in a low voice:
"Your companion next to you… who is he?"
"Vareck's right-hand man."
"What?! Isn't he going to betray us too?"
Léana gave a crooked smile.
"Even if he wanted to… he couldn't."
"Why?"
"Because I possessed him."
Klaus stopped dead, surprised.
"What? What do you mean?"
Before she could answer, Léana stopped in front of a door and entered, followed by Klaus and Draven.
"Where are we?" Klaus asked.
"Vareck's bedroom. And we have to be quick."
Léana headed straight for the familiar wardrobe, pulled out an old book bound in dark leather, and held it out to Klaus.
"What is it?"
"Vareck's spellbook. I think it's a grimoire containing spells."
Klaus went pale.
"Do you think it's *the* grimoire?"
"No. Otherwise he wouldn't have kidnapped Miria or kept pursuing her. I think it's a second grimoire… created this time by the founders *and* Vareck. The real one was created only by the founders."
Klaus took the book, still wary.
"And what do you want me to do with it?"
"Keep it to give to Miria. My intuition tells me she'll know what to do with it."
Suddenly, an explosion rang out, shaking the entire room.
"What was that?" Klaus asked.
Draven glanced quickly toward the balcony and came back.
"We're under attack."
"It's probably Miria and the others," Léana said. "Let's hurry and join them."
They left Vareck's bedroom at a run.