Xan laced our fingers together. “Professor Holiday has free rein as long as he does no harm. He already walks that line.” He reached out and squeezed my shoulder. “I’m looking for bodies.”
The blood drained out of my face, and he quickly tugged me through another door. A computer graveyard mixed with debris filled the long corridor, but that was it. We finally approached the last room, which would exit back into the first. Without even a pause, he threw open the door. A blast of cool air blew my hair back. Shapes hung from the ceiling, and the sound of dripping pitter-pattered on the floor.
Three balls of mage light whizzed into the room, illuminating the scene.
My eyes stung from the sudden brightness, and I covered them while blinking, trying to adjust.
“They’re not human.” Xan let out a relieved breath. “This windowless room is a perfect meat locker. There are enough cattle and sheep to feed our family for half a year. But they’re not coming from our supply… that I know of.” He wrinkled his nose.
The shapes slowly gained details as my sight adjusted.
“What’s he doing?” Xan muttered before letting out a heavy sigh. “None of this breaks his deal. There’s nothing I can do. We have to leave him to it.”
My eyes adjusted, and the shapes took form: livestock hanging in rows, buckets beneath them catching slow drips of blood. Some were fresh, others crusted dark. The air was thick with iron. I wasn’t squeamish, but watching them sway in the dim light made my stomach turn.
As if feeling it, Xan slid to my side and pulled me under his arm. “Professor Holiday’s desperate to prolong his life. I’m sure this is just another of his attempts.” The edge dropped out of his voice. I swear, even the air around us relaxed. “Let’s hope he doesn’t cause a famine.”
Xan’s body heat seeped into me, and I suddenly realized how close we’d gotten.
As if he realized it at the same time, he quickly stepped to the side and clasped his hands behind his back.
It’s for the better,I reminded myself.
“I’m assuming, as you didn’t zombie march toward anything, you aren’t feeling a pull?” Xan’s easy smile was back, but his words made my heart sink.
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
We walked back to the big room full of shelves, and I did a slow circle, looking for even the slightest reaction in my body or magic, and got nothing.
“He’s on his way back,” Xan said, startling me. “We need to go, now.”
“How do you know?” I asked, lowering my voice.
Xan lifted his TB, covered in faintly glowing messages.
I blushed, right. TBs actually did things when you had magic. Despite his warning, I dragged my feet. “Something has to be here. Just one more pass of the rooms?”
Xan shook his head. “Not unless you want the good professor giving you a tour?”
I looked at the flesh sewn onto metal on the table, and a shiver ran down my back. “No. I just really thought this was the answer.”
The weight of the world settled onto my shoulders.
“This was something.” Xan gripped my arm and tugged. “He just hit Crown Square, come.”
This was it. Not only was I still magicless—helpless—but now my night was over.
“I need to see how Professor Holiday reacts to his door.” I followed Xan’s tug as we jogged toward the exit. “I think it wouldn’t hurt to see if I’m drawn to him.”
“I don’t like any of that.” Xan scowled. “Least of all, you feeling drawn to him.”
We exited into the cold night.
Something glowed on Professor Holiday’s walking stick, outlining his form in the dark, now halfway to us. Stars twinkled behind him in the moonless night.
I didn’t care what Xan liked or didn’t like. There weren’t really bushes we could hide in, but the gym was just up a level and to the right. I bet we could see Professor Holiday’s door from the right spot.
I seized his hand and pulled him where I wanted to go. Begrudgingly, he boosted me up to the gym level before climbing the little wall himself. I’d been right. I made a big show of hiding the much taller and wider Xan behind me in the gym doorway as Professor Holiday hobbled to his home, monologuing to the air.
