Thrane looks back at him and smiles. "Bain never said. But he loved her, that much is certain."
"And my father? Did he not know what happened to her?"
Thrane shakes his head. "As far as I am aware, he hasn't spoken of his sister. Then again, I was a child when Enver Sol walked these halls. It's nothing he would speak with me about."
But he might have told my mother. I lock the thought away for later, seeing a conversation with Sylvane is in order.
I swipe a tear from my eye. "Why put a statue of Izara down here in the dungeons?"
"She guards the Sol Room." Thrane slides his hand up to a lever on the wall I failed to notice and tugs it forward. The statue spins to reveal one more flight of steps and a door at the bottom. "During the war, Izara imbued this room with her Holy Magic. It binds demons, rendering them powerless. We've not had to use this room in quite a long time."
"That's why you said the Soul Eater wouldn't be able to harm me even if he wanted to," I put the pieces together. "He's down there?"
"Yes," Thrane bobs his head. "If you choose to speak to him, keep in mind he will do his best to get into your head. He will try to frighten you. He will look for a reaction. If he spots a weakness or senses fear in you, he will prey on it. Do you understand?"
I inhale deeply. "I understand. What do you want me to ask him?"
"She's not going in there alone, is she? You can't – " Nyx balks but before he can protest further, I wrap my hand around his wrist and squeeze, drawing his gaze.
"You won't be able to protect me from everything, Nyx. At some point, I will have to walk in my own power. And sometimes that means I have to walk alone."
"Sorry I'm late," a familiar voice from behind us calls and my stomach knots.
I turn around and find Finn bobbing down the corridor, hands buried deep in his pockets, shivering from the cold.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, only to be met with a tongue-tied Finn.
"Finn has graciously agreed to help us," Thrane inserts himself into the conversation, drawing our surprised gazes.
"And why would he be involved in this interrogation at all?" Nyx questions, eyes narrowed in protective warning.
"Your brother might try to hide what he is and what he is capable of, but I make it my business to know who I align myself with." Thrane leans against the wall, crossing his arms across his chest. "Finn and I agree, if Aurelia cannot persuade this demon to talk, perhaps your pain inflicting brother can."
"No." Nyx growls, pointing a finger at Thrane. "Leave Finn out of this."
"Finn," I protest, "you can't – "
"It was my choice," Finn interrupts, a sorrowful determination written across his face. "We need information. No one is getting through to him and we're running out of time."
"Let me try on my own," I counter, desperation seeping through my tone. "I can convince him to tell us whatever it is you want to know."
"I admire your confidence, Cousin," Thrane shakes his head. "But this demon only asked to see you for nefarious intentions, not because he suddenly grew a conscious." Thrane and Finn exchange a loaded stare. "You know what to do."
Finn places his hand on my shoulder and smiles. "Let's go."
Nyx steps between us and the staircase. His concern focused solely on his brother. "Don't do this. I don't care what he promised or threatened you with but – "
"Threatened?" Thrane scoffs. "I believe Finn is capable of deciding if and when he lends his services."
Thrane's response irritates Nyx unlike I've ever seen before. Typically poised and not easily angered, Nyx looks ready to risk his freedom to land one solid punch across Thrane's jaw.
I slip my hand over Nyx's shoulder before squaring my shoulders with Finn's. "Nyx is right. You don't have to do this. You don't have to use your magic – "
Finn interrupts, "I know I don't have to but whether we like it or not, we're now at war. If I don't use my magic, people might die, and that's not something I can live with staining my conscious. Not while I can help."
I open my mouth to protest when he firmly wraps his hand around my bicep. "Let me do this."
I shoot Thrane a nasty look over Finn's shoulder. "You shouldn't have asked Finn – "
