I was just reaching for my towel when I heard a muffled thump from my bedroom. My fingers froze and the hair on the back of my neck prickled. In scary movies, this was always the part where the naked girl cal ed out, "Hel o?"or "Who's there?"or something equal y stupid. But this naked girl wasn't announcing her presence to anyone. Instead, I soundlessly pul ed my towel off the rack and wrapped it around me before creeping to the door and pressing my ear against it.
Other than my own heartbeat, I couldn't hear anything. I rol ed my eyes as I grabbed my robe from the back of the door. Clearly, the bath-and thoughts of Chaston-had spooked me. If there was anyone in my bedroom, it was probably just one of the army of servants fluffing my pil ow.
Maybe leaving me a chocolate mint.
Knotting the robe's sash around my waist, I opened the door. My room was empty, and I blew out a long breath.
"Way to be lame, Sophie,"I muttered as I crossed the bedroom to the dresser. This place was like the Prodigium version of Fort Knox. The idea that anyone would be in my bedroom, being al nefarious, was completely-
I heard the sound again-another thump, this one a lot louder. And then I realized that it was coming from my nightstand.
Blood pounded in my ears as I ran over to the smal table and yanked open the drawer.
Sure enough, the gold coin was thumping around in there like it was alive. How the heck did this work? Archer had said he'd use it to find me, but it suddenly occurred to me that I had no idea what that actual y meant. Maybe the coin was a type of portable portal, and he was about to poof into my bedroom in a cloud of smoke or something.
That thought-Archer literal y putting himself in the middle of a whole bunch of people who wanted to kil him-was too horrible to contemplate. I closed my fingers around the coin, drawing in a sharp breath at how hot it was.
Suddenly, it was like a screen fel over my eyes, and I could see the abandoned corn mil . The alcove that led to the Itineris. Archer was sitting there next to it, in the low windowsil .
Waiting for me.
Dropping the coin on the bedside table, I turned toward the dresser. I'd grab a pair of jeans, that long-sleeved black shirt I'd brought. If I were quiet enough, I could probably get out of the house without even trying to come up with an excuse-
Then I thought of Dad, pale and serious, tel ing me how important it was that I never see Archer again. I thought of how proud of me he'd been today, of what might happen to him if anyone caught me sneaking out to see an Eye.
Of Council Headquarters, burning down with seven Council members stil inside.
I reached into the open dresser drawer, but instead of my jeans, I took out my nightshirt. Once I'd slipped it on, I climbed into bed and flipped out the light, fumbling for the coin in the darkness. As I clutched it in my fist, I saw Archer again. He was standing up now, pacing and rubbing his hand over his jaw. He kept glancing toward the door.
Tears wet the hair at my temples.
At least I knew he was alive. At least I knew he hadn't been trying to kil me. That was enough. It had to be.
Archer waited for me a long time. Longer than I'd thought he would. It was past midnight when he gave one last look at the door, then final y disappeared into the alcove. I held the coin even tighter, but as soon as Archer was gone, it went cold, and the vision faded to black.
Five a.m. came very early the next morning, especial y for someone who'd spent most of the night crying. And when I had slept, it had been fitful y. I kept jolting awake, sure someone was in the room with me. Once, I even thought I caught a flash of red hair, but I must have been dreaming.
My head throbbed, and I practical y had to pry my swol en eyes open when my alarm went off. But despite that, I felt better-lighter-as I went down to meet Dad. Yes, it stil hurt to think about Archer, but I'd done the right thing. I'd put Dad and Jenna and, heck, pretty much al of Prodigium society ahead of what I wanted, and if that wasn't showing "leadership ability,"I didn't know what was.
So I was pretty proud of myself by the time I made my way up the library steps and over to the bookcase.
Dad, sadly, was not feeling the same way. "I said five,"he hissed as soon as I rounded the corner. "It is now five-fifteen."He looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep either. His suit wasn't wrinkled, exactly, but it wasn't as pristine as usual. Also, he hadn't shaved, which freaked me out almost as much as the intensity in his eyes.
Surprised, I blinked at him. "Sorry-"I replied, but he held up his hand and whispered, "Keep your voice down."
"Why?"I whispered back. We stood on either side of the bookcase, Virginia Thorne's grimoire looking every bit as ominous as it had that first day.
"What are we doing in here?"
Dad glanced around like someone might be listening to us, before saying, "We're going to open this bookcase and remove the grimoire."
Now I wasn't surprised so much as shocked. "No way,"I shot back. "This thing is enchanted to hel and back-maybe literally."
Dad closed his eyes and took a deep breath, like he was having to physical y restrain himself from yel ing. "Sophie,"he said slowly. "I can't do this alone. The magic sealing this case is too strong even for me. But if both of us were to try...wel , I think we could do it."
"Why?"I asked. "You said yourself that the grimoire is fil ed with the most ancient, darkest magic in the world. So what do you want it for?"
Another deep breath. "Academic reasons."
Anger rushed through me, and I felt my magic start to rise up. "If you want my help so much, tel me the truth."
"This is extremely dangerous business, and I think it's better for you if you know as little as possible. That way, if we're-if we're caught, you can honestly say you didn't know what I was doing."
"No,"I said, shaking my head. "I am so sick of people lying to me, or only tel ing me half of what I need to know. You said yesterday that it was time I started learning about the 'family business,'and I gave up Ar...a lot for you, and for the Council. So tel me what's going on."
Chapter 12
It was Dad's turn to look surprised. For a moment, I thought he might just cal the whole thing off. But then he nodded and said, "Fair enough. I told you that the Council had been trying to raise a demon for hundreds of years before Virginia final y located this book."He gestured to the grimoire.