“No idea. I’m glad though. It’s how I found you.”
“Now we just have to hope your friends find you, or we’re both screwed.”
“They’ll look for me. There’s no way they won’t,” I say with certainty. “If nothing else, Auri will make sure to get me back.”
Rune nods, chewing his bottom lip. “I wish I knew why this was happening and how someone managed to block my magic. I’d very much like to meet the person or being capable of it. I’m sure it’s not Elvira.”
“No. She’s barely alive herself.”
“Right. Give me your hand. I want to try something.”
I do as he asks, watching as he draws shapes on my palm. I can feel them as if they’re embedding themselves in my skin, searing through my flesh to leave an invisible, lasting imprint underneath. “I can feel that.”
Rune tilts his head slightly. “Can you? Fascinating. Now, press your palm to mine.”
I do it, and as our palms touch, the intricate tattoos on his skin shimmer, flickering with light faintly. He exhales slowly, hiseyelids fluttering, then he opens them and focuses his gaze on me.
“I don’t understand how or why my magic doesn’t work on its own, but it seems to strengthen with you. It’s almost like you’re holding some of it for me.”
“How would that even happen?”
“I’ve only heard of something like this once, many moons ago, and it was deliberate. A warlock was stealing magic by taking important belongings, jewelry, artifacts, things of that nature. Did you steal anything of mine, Atlas?”
“Steal? No, of course not.” Then I remember the journal. Fuck. He might lose his shit knowing that not only do I have it, but I’ve read it extensively. It’s not like it’s private thoughts or anything. It’s notes about spells and rituals. I should tell him though. I should tell him right now. Maybe knowing that would somehow get his magic to return fully. “Uh, Rune. Listen?—”
My words are cut off by the sound of heavy footsteps, so I quickly fade into the background. The cell door opens and Elvira steps in. I study her face—the vacant cloudy eyes, and blank expression.
“Come,” she says. “We have shower for you.”
“A shower,” Rune says, jumping to his feet. “Praise Hades.”
Elvira approaches Rune, sliding a black blindfold over his eyes. I hear him mumble his displeasure at this step, but Elvira is unfazed, gently leading Rune out of the cell. She doesn’t lock the door behind her, which is perfect. Maybe I can slip out and figure out where we are.
I wait until her footsteps fade, then I peek around the corner of the cell door to ensure I’m alone. The halls are stone, clearly old, and smell of dampness and mold. There are several cells down here, which leads me to believe this is the site of a former jail. Nothing looks new enough to have been built recently.
I take a step across the threshold but slam into something unseen, knocking my nose against it. “Ow,” I mutter, rubbing the bridge of my nose. What the hell? There’s still something here blocking my exit. Smart. Dammit. Whoever is behind this is pulling out all the stops to make sure Rune can’t get out.
I shuffle back inside the room and sit on the floor, putting all my energy into concentrating on the guys. By now, they’ve probably figured out I’m gone, and at least Cassius will put it together that I went looking for Rune.
Hopefully that’ll be enough to lead them to us.
RUNE
I’m ledthrough narrow halls to a small, tiled room with three showerheads. When the blindfold is removed, it’s obvious from my surroundings that this building was some sort of jail at one point, but if we had showers all along, I wonder why it’s only been offered now. Did my stench get too much for my undead warden?
“Here. Towel.” Elvira points to a bench with a fluffy blue towel and an unopened bar of soap. A bottle of shampoo sits beside the items.
“Thank you. Why now though?”
“Why now though?” she repeats, her brow creasing slightly.
“Why a shower now?”
“Did not work before. Works now.”
“I’ll take it.”
She stands there waiting as if she thinks I’m taking off my clothes in front of her. “A little privacy, please?”
