“It’s aspeciallibrary.”
“What’s so special about it?”
“I can’t tell you.”
Yiran didn’t know how to respond. He wasn’t very good with kids. They required patience, and right now, his was wearing thin. It was time to check on Rui and Zizi.
“Why don’t we go talk to the nice concierge lady?” he said. “I’m sure your brother’s somewhere inside. The concierge can help you find him. I’d go search with you, but I’m not a guest of the hotel, so I’m not allowed in the facilities.”
Seven giggled. “Neither am I.”
“Sorry?”
“I can’t go inside.” Seven lowered her voice conspiratorially. “You see, I have to be invited.”
“Invited?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Seven held up the rose. Except it was no longer red. Color drained from its petals, leaking down its stem like rivulets of blood, pooling in thepalm of Seven’s small hand. When she looked up at Yiran again, her irises had faded to a light gray and her hair was turning translucent.
He jerked out of his seat. “Who are you?”
But the question that came to his mind first was,What are you?
“I told you. I’m Seven. You must have a poor memory.”
The pool of red in her palm seeped into her flesh. A flush returned to her skin. Her hair was once again a pretty dark brown and her eyes glittered with life. The circles under them were gone. The gray rose crumbled to ash, and Seven flicked her fingers absently.
“What kind of magic is that?” Yiran said, his voice strained. She was just a child. How was this possible?
She smiled slyly. “It’snotmagic.”
“What do you mean it’s not—” His phone rang shrilly. Yiran smacked it to his ear.
“Yiran? Are you with Rui?”
“Ada?”
“I checked both your rooms, but no one was there, and I can’t get hold of Rui. Come back to campus right now. Something happened—”
“Slow down, Ada. What’s wrong?”
“There was an ambush during the Hunt. Exorcists are hurt. Are you with Rui?”
Yiran’s stomach did a flip. Ash was part of the Hunt. “Yeah, I’m with Rui. We’ll head back now.” He hung up and ran a trembling hand through his hair. The night suddenly felt rife with secrets and violence.
Seven’s voice spoke from behind him. “It was nice meeting you, Yiran. I do hope your brother’s okay.”
Yiran froze. “I never told you I had a brother.”
Heart thumping, he turned, not knowing who or what he would see.
But the little girl was no longer there.
31
Rui
