by Krista Walsh
Ara had tidied up some of the mess, though there was only so much she could do with the broken shelves.
“Where will you go?” she asked as Vera grabbed a duffle bag from the front closet.
Vera regretted that her favorite suitcase was still at Gabe’s with many of her best sweaters and her extra pair of jeans, but it couldn’t be helped. She headed into the bedroom to start packing, and Ara appeared in the doorway, watching as Vera moved between the bedroom and the bathroom, cramming a few belongings into her bag.
“I’m not sure yet,” Vera said, “but I have to start with someone who can help me block my thoughts from the Collegiate. I don’t trust that they won’t try to find me as well, once they’ve learned I’m gone. I was going to call Ezel this morning, but I’ll go there in person instead.” She spun the tiger’s eye pendant between her fingers. “Her charm didn’t work, but there has to be a way to keep them out.”
“At least you won’t need to go far to find her,” Ara said, chewing on her thumbnail.
It was an advantage Vera had already considered. Ezel was only on the other side of town, which would take her ten minutes by cab. The sooner she found a way to relieve the effort of keeping her thoughts hidden, the sooner she could relax and stop worrying that someone was trying to watch the world through her eyes.
“What about after you block your mind?” Ara asked her. “What are you going to do then?”
“I haven’t thought that far,” Vera admitted.
She wished Percy had been able to find out something about the Collegiate, so she could have a clear idea of where to learn more. There were many otherworldly libraries scattered across the globe, all of them with more knowledge hidden on the shelves than she could hope to read in five lifetimes, but if she didn’t know anything other than the myth and rumor behind these women, that’s exactly how long it could take to find what she needed to defend herself. Unless she was lucky, of course, but so far luck hadn’t been her friend.
“There’s always Omar,” she said. Her ghost connection in Cairo had dedicated his unlife to researching the powers that had molded the earth and created the barriers between dimensions. “If anyone has heard of the Collegiate, it would be him.”
Ara pushed away from the wall. “How will you get there?”
Irritation buzzed through the back of Vera’s neck. She knew it was unlike herself to be diving into the unknown without a plan, but she didn’t have time to create a detailed itinerary. She had to get moving.
“I’ll worry about transportation and accommodation as I go. For now, the important part is getting out of the city.”
“What about Gabe?”
Vera’s fingers froze around her bag. “What about him?”
“Are you going to call him and say goodbye? Ask him why he didn’t show up?”
Vera straightened and set her hand on her hip. “What happened to you being furious with him?”
Ara crossed her arms and leaned against the door jamb. “I am,” she said. “I want to throttle him for leaving you in danger. But now that I’ve had time to reassure myself that you’re not about to drop dead, I have to consider that there must be a reason he didn’t come. He cares about you. No matter how things ended, he wouldn’t have left you in danger on purpose.”
Vera tucked her hair behind her ear and turned her attention back to her bag. She didn’t want to think about Gabe right now.
“Whatever his reason, I can’t waste time chasing him down. We said our goodbyes. Let’s leave it at that.”
Like Ara, Vera’s perspective of the situation had changed as she’d come out of her injured haze, and a deep sense of hurt and betrayal now throbbed in her heart. She tried to push it away, telling herself she didn’t have time to be distracted by her emotions, but the nagging thoughts persisted in the back of her mind.
She tucked the file folder containing the original manuscript into the middle of her bag, making sure it was safely cushioned between her shirts. She didn’t have much, but at least the bag was light enough to take as a carry-on for any flights.
Pulling the strap over her shoulder, she turned toward Ara, who stood in the doorway of her bedroom, looking as lost as she had twenty-two years ago, when she’d stepped out of her tree. Vera’s breath caught. She wished she could find the words to make her feel better, but they escaped her. Everything about her plan rested on such a thin wisp of chance that there were no guarantees.
But she couldn’t walk out without at least assuring Ara that she wasn’t still upset with her over keeping her father’s secret. They’d been through so much since their argument that maybe she could have let it go with the assumption that their friendship was solid, but when the future was so uncertain, she didn’t want to take the chance.
“I understand why you agreed to side with Dad about the book,” she said. “Thank you for trying to protect me.”
Ara offered a soft smile, then stepped aside, as though she also couldn’t translate her emotions into speech. Vera squeezed her hand as she passed, and the two women walked toward the door.
She stopped in the doorway of the broken apartment and looked back into the space that had been her home for five years. Now she had to walk away from it, perhaps never to see it again. The ache grew so intense that she forced herself to turn her back on it before she was tempted to change her mind.
Her material well-being was irrelevant. She could always rebuild once she’d hidden the book and dealt with the threats chasing her.
The stairs creaked under her weight as she stepped down to the shop, and she recalled the last time she’d heard that noise, when the Colcex demon had dragged her down. The memory brought back the burn in her blood and the shooting pain in her arm where Rega had run his blade under her flesh. She shook off her fear, but as she crossed the room, her mission seemed to stretch in front of her like a vast canyon full of shadows.
How was she supposed to know where to go without someone to guide her? Always, her father had been there to offer advice and show her the way. Since his death, she’d continued doing what he’d taught her to do. But now she was entering new territory. Every decision going forward would be her own. The fate of The Fettered Wolf lay entirely and solely in her hands.
“If anyone can do this, it’s you,” Ara said.
At her words, Vera’s veil of stoicism weakened. Grief and loss pooled in her chest until she worried she might drown. Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her bag on her shoulder and turned around.
Ara stood in front of the bookcase by the stairs, the soft earthy colors of her outfit contrasting against the dull shadows of the shop. She looked like innocence personified amid the chaos, and yet also stronger than anyone else Vera knew.
She stepped forward and took Vera’s hand, her green eyes full of passionate fire.
“You’re smart enough to see this through and strong enough to finish it. I hate that you have to leave, but I know you’ll be home sooner than you think you will.” A hint of a smile touched the corners of her eyes. “And that you’ll come home to a much tidier shop.”
Vera tried to smile, but it required too much effort to maintain. “I hate leaving you here unprotected. Knowing what Rega can do, there’s always the chance he’ll come back and try to use you to get to me.”
Ara nodded. “That’s a possibility, and one I’m ready for. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get the opportunity.” Vera opened her mouth to argue further, but Ara pushed ahead. “As long as we both promise to be smart and do what we can to stay safe, we’ll see each other again.”
“I promise.”
Ara squeezed her hand tighter, preventing her from drawing away. “I know you probably don’t want to hear his name again, but when you get home, think about giving Gabe a call. You’ve always had a reason to run, maybe this time more than ever, but I really do believe he might be your reason to stand still for a while.”
At this, Vera had no response, and Ara smiled. She clearly hadn’t been expecting one.
<
br /> Vera breathed through the pain as it threatened to well up and choke her. This was it. This was how they would say their goodbyes, and then she would be alone. For a brief moment, she wished Gabe were here. Even though he hadn’t come when she’d needed him, she still wanted to say goodbye. She wanted one more chance to set things right.
She shrugged away the prayer before it had a chance to take hold.
Ara held out her arms, and Vera stepped into them. Her friend’s embrace was full of so much affection that she was afraid to release her. As if walking away from her sister would leave her stranded in the darkness of that canyon without being able to see her way clear.
Finally, she let go and resettled her bag on her shoulder. Time to go.
She offered Ara a last smile and started toward the door. The metal knob was cool under her fingers, and she ran her thumb over the familiar surface, hoping the tactile memory would keep the entire shop alive in her mind when loneliness threatened to overpower her. She hoped the knowledge that she would always have a place to come back to when she was ready would sustain her.
Before her courage failed, she opened the door.
Then stepped back into the room as three tall, gaunt figures filled the doorway.
“Are you going somewhere, Ms. Goodall?” Fendal asked as the Collegiate members stepped inside.
Thinking only of protecting what mattered most to her, Vera swept the bag off her shoulder and thrust it into Ara’s arms, then stepped between her and the trio staring at her from the front door.
“I thought it was best that I leave town for a while,” she said.
Fendal’s eyebrow quirked. “Why would you consider something like that in your condition? You don’t seem to have the strength to walk, let alone travel. Has something happened in our absence?”
Vera clenched her teeth and worked herself up to deliver her story. “I’m afraid the book has been taken. Rega and his men broke in last night and stole it. As you can see, they didn’t leave without a fight.” She gestured to the bruises on her face. “I’m sorry that I failed, but it was out of my power. So perhaps it’s best if you leave. If you want the book, you can go after him and claim it.”
Pride welled within her that her tone was flint and iron, but her confidence wavered when the woman’s only response was to laugh. The sound was wispy, like a draft coming through cracked shutters in an old, vacant house.
“Do not waste everyone’s time, Ms. Goodall,” Fendal said. “We know the book you showed us in your mind was not the genuine text.” Vera’s blood ran cold. “I suggest you bring me the original without fuss. I warned you there would be consequences if you chose to put the book at risk.”
Vera took another step backward. “You told me you wanted to help me protect it. Why not do so now? Let me run. Help me cover my tracks. Rega will never be able to find me.”
Before she had a chance to say anything else, a serpent of pain coiled around her head, and lights exploded in her vision. Vera dropped to the ground and writhed in an effort to escape, but the pressure on her brain only increased.
Ara called her name, but Vera waved her away, needing her to stay back. She didn’t trust what these women would do if her friend tried to step in.
She fought against them, using her own knowledge of mental control to thrust them back, and she was sweating by the time she blocked them out of her head. She knew she stood no chance of keeping them out for good, so she’d need to think fast and come up with a plan.
The pain subsided, but she felt them trying to get in. The flashing lights in her eyes receded, and she blinked at the ceiling, bracing herself when Fendal stepped forward and leaned over her.
“When will you learn that to defy us is futile? We gave you a chance to show us how you would keep the book safe, and what we find is that you’re not strong enough for the task. So we’ve come for what belongs to us, and you had better not get in our way.”
Her words reverberated through Vera’s skull. She dragged herself to her feet and wobbled as she regained her balance. Even though her head was filled with static and a jumble of thoughts, she managed to stay between Ara and the others. Ara held the bag beside her, giving the impression that it was no more than what it appeared to be — a suitcase filled with inconsequential items. Vera hoped Fendal wouldn’t see through the ruse.
The conversation from the graveyard floated through Vera’s mind. So many more questions buzzed for attention, but she concentrated on the one that had struck her the loudest during Fendal’s story.
“Why do you really want this book, Fendal? When you told me its history, you mentioned its original purpose. What is that?”
The Collegiate leader raised her chin. “That is no business of yours. You are a servant of the College, and we need not answer for the choices we know we must make.”
Vera frowned. “And if I give you the book, you’ll be able to stop Rega from whatever it is he’s planning? Do you even know what that is?”
At this question, Fendal grimaced, and Kurlow bowed her head.
“We don’t,” Nadeen said, “and that causes us a great deal of discomfort. While the signs are clear that something is coming, that some force is stirring up the dark energies of this city and beyond, we are unable to see what it might be. Too much is changing too quickly, allegiances are too uncertain. With the Justicia gone, the only guarantee is to return the book to us so that we can use it to set the balance of the world back in order.”
As though to punctuate her words, the bell above the door chimed. A dark shadow fell across the floor in the growing twilight, and Vera’s heart stopped as Rega stepped inside, flanked by Humphrey, the Colcex demon, and a human Vera didn’t recognize.
Rega crossed his arms and grinned at the trio in their black robes and hats. His long canines glinted in the ceiling light. “I would have to disagree.”
17
A moment of silence passed through the room, and Vera didn’t know who to focus on. The Collegiate had turned as one to face the new arrivals, their expressions grim, their postures closed off. Vera couldn’t tell if they were prepared to attack or were just making a show of strength.
Rega didn’t appear to think much of their display. Without giving them any attention beyond a quick glance, he shifted his black gaze to Vera. He reached into his coat, pulled out a wrapped bundle, and tossed it onto the floor. As it slid across the hardwood planks, the top of the cloth fell away to reveal the leather cover of The Fettered Wolf.
Vera worked to keep her eyes off it and remain staring at Rega.
“You’re good,” he said, with the sound of grinding rocks that grated in her ears. “But not good enough.”
“You put all that effort into it and still failed?” Humphrey asked with scorn. Dark bruises rimmed his eyes and his nose sat at an awkward angle, blood still crusted over the bridge. “That must hurt your pride.”
Vera didn’t react. Her pride longed to point out that her work had been enough to fool him, but she knew it was smarter to remain silent and allow him to interpret whatever he wanted into her lack of response. She usually found that projecting a deliberate calmness could cause people to work themselves into such a rage that they did half her work for her before she had to make a single move.
As she might have hoped, Humphrey bristled and crossed his arms.
Rega, however, wasn’t so easily provoked. He glowered at her, his dark eyes shifting like seeping oil.
“You’ve pissed off a lot of people with your games,” he said. “This is your last chance to hand over the real book. Otherwise, I’ve been given permission to…use whatever persuasion I deem necessary to obtain the information we require.”
Vera’s heart slammed against her ribs, but she maintained her neutral expression. It wouldn’t do to let him know how much his last visit had shaken her. She was a vengeance goddess, for goodness’ sake. She wasn’t supposed to be afraid of anyone. They were supposed to fear her.
But he had proved he was stron
ger than she was. For every blow she threw, she knew he would strike back harder.
A ball of terror was expanding in her stomach and threatening to choke her, but she refused to give in.
So many words flurried through her mind. She wanted to tell him he might have had more luck coming back under cover of darkness and pawing through her underwear drawer again. She wanted to tell him that even if he dragged her through the seven hells, she would never give him what he wanted.
Instead, she compiled all of her emotions and all of her determination and thrust them into a single word. “No.”
Rega’s eyes narrowed, and he tilted his head. “That’s unfortunate. For you.”
It was all the warning he gave before he threw himself in her direction. Fendal stuck out her foot to trip him on his approach, but he barely stumbled before catching his balance, using the momentum of his lurch to barrel into Vera’s stomach.
She shoved her forearms down on the back of his neck, but he hooked his arm behind her knee and they both collapsed to the floor.
As she grappled with Rega, Vera glimpsed the Collegiate backing away from the fight. Humphrey launched a red ball of glowing light toward them, only to have it bounce off an invisible wall and hit him square in the chest. He toppled backward into the Colcex demon, and they slammed into the counter. The cash register toppled off the surface and landed with a crash on the floor.
Rega swung a fist at Vera’s face. She blocked his strike with one arm and used her other hand to punch him, her knuckles cracking against the bottom of his jaw. His grip on her shoulder loosened as his neck snapped back. He brought his forehead down to slam into hers, but she slithered sideways just in time for his skull to make contact with the hardwood, and the floorboard cracked.