My eyes scan the paper as he holds it out for us. There are simple instructions alongside a small, detailed map with a line marking which way to go.
‘If wedoget lost? What then?’ Tilly asks with a small amount of concern in her hazel eyes.
‘Stay put and wait for me to come find you. If you’re both not out within forty-five minutes, I’ll presume you’re lost or one of the old librarians has suffocated you to death with their element.’
My mouth drops open. ‘Please tell me you’re joking and they won’t do that.’
Xavier’s lip quirks. ‘They’re scary. Like creepy old lady book gremlins.’
Tilly and I share a fearful look. ‘Death by book gremlin,justthe way I wanted to go,’ I mutter, taking the map from Xavier.
‘Be safe,’ he warns us as we start to head toward the thick wooden door in the corner. ‘And do not get separated or speak until you’re in the restricted section. They can hear your voice in the air.’
‘I love that you waited ’tilnowto tell us how horrifying they sound,’ I quip, almost wishing I’d never thought of this starsdamned idea.
Tilly’s nose scrunches. ‘Agreed. Bring on the nightmares.’
‘Tell me about it, I’m the one who has tosleepin this tower knowing they’re down there.’ Xavier shivers. ‘Now go, hurry.’
I don’t waste a single second more. Yanking the door open, I gesture for Tilly to head in before giving Xavier a reassuring smile that we’ll be fine. Yet there’s still tension lining his eyes as he watches us leave.
There are lanterns fixed to the walls that help us navigate the stairs down and into our first fork in the path. As per the instructions that I hold beneath the glow of a lantern, we take the left tunnel and pad quietly down it until we are met with three more. Tilly points to the middle one, mouthing the words, ‘That way,’ before I follow her through.
There’s another set of stairs at the end of it that takes us even deeper beneath the tower. There are fewer lanterns now, but the smell of ink and paper drifts on the gentle breeze I feel wafting by every so often, reassuring me that we must be getting close.
Just as we are about to step out of the final tunnel, there’s a flicker of golden light before a shadow stretches like talons along the stone floor. Tilly’s hand whips out to push me back against the wall. I hold my breath as I try to make myself as flat as possible and blend into the shadows beside Tilly. Slow, dragging footsteps approach. The sound of nails scraping against stone scratches at my ears right before a bare, bony foot steps into the light.
The woman who walks past is ancient looking. Frail and bent over, she carries a satchel that’s laden with fabric -bound books that look like they weigh more than her entire body. Her wispy white hair is tied back into a frizzy ponytail at the nape of her age-spotted neck.
Tilly’s head turns my way, her eyes wide and full of panic when the old lady stops, right at the entrance of our tunnel. If she turned and decided to walk down here, we’d be caught red-handed.
I reach over and take her hand in mine, squeezing it twice, and shake my head.
Just stay quiet, I try to convey to her. It’s going to be all right. Worst comes to worst, my dagger is strapped to my ankle beneath my robe. If this old woman tries to suffocate Tilly, I’ll have no choice but to stab her in the neck.
Luck seems to be on our side though, because after a wheezy breath that sounds like it rattles her bones, she continues walking.
We wait for several seconds before I nod to Tilly to keep going, but when she hesitates, I take the lead. I keep hold of her hand and poke my head out of the exit to make sure the coast is clear. Once I’m sure no one else is going to pop out of the shadows, I lead us both around a few corners. When Xavier said it’s easy to get lost down here, he meant it.
We weave through several more turns, until finally, we find ourselves at a dead end, with a tall wooden door standing proudly in front of us, pulsing with magic.
‘Do you feel that?’ I mouth to Tilly, raising my hand to hover over the door.
Her brows furrow, she shakes her head. I’ve been looking into what Professor Fern mentioned to me about beingMagnus Intueri.There isn’t a lot of documentation on it from what I’ve found, but one passage mentioned that mostMagnus Intuerikept their abilities to themselves. A few hundred years ago, the people who possessed this gift were exploited. Used basically as hounds to find the most powerful of stones or even used to find the most powerful of people. As my hand hovers and I feel the pure power within the door, I shiver, wondering if that’s how potential students like Corvin are scouted to be brought into Valmora Academy.
I reach forward to grab the door handle before Tilly’s arm snaps out and stops me. Her eyes look frantic as she mimes for me to stop andwait. I have no idea what she’s doing but suddenly she’s diving into her pocket and pulling out a small vial with deep crimson liquid inside.
I watch in part-fascination, part-horror as she uncaps the vial and proceeds to tip the red substance, which I’m certain is blood, all over her fingers and palm. It drips onto the floor at our feet, but she pays it no mind as she reaches for the door handle and grips it tightly.
The magic within the door flares, like flames being doused in gasoline. A resounding dull click reaches my ears. Tilly’s shoulders drop as if she was holding in a breath the entire time. I feel the thickness of the magic drop, as if it’s thinning out to let us through. Granting us access. She pushes the door open and we both step inside. Tilly closes it behind her with another small click.
‘I can’t believe that worked!’ she gasps, wiping her crimson -stained hand on her robe.
‘What was that? Or should I ask,whoseblood was that?’
‘Headmaster Zain’s.’ Her words hit me like a cement block.
‘Excuse me?’ I squeak. ‘You just happen to have Bartollo Zain’s blood lying around, did you?’
