His tongue clicks. “Your basement?”
There are rumors about that place. It wouldn’t be the first time it was my escape room from the dark things I do business with. I hum. “Yes.” A bubbling laugh escapes. “You don’t think I’d keep something so valuable out in the stacks, do you?” My fingers are numb, but I don’t complain.
Dimitar’s jaw clicks. “Lucas will stay up here while you get it.”
“Naturally.” My smile widens. “Lucas and Valen will stay here… and I’ll go down.”
His eye twitches. “I’ll accompany.”
“Of course.”
My glee is throwing him; he can smell my deceit. His gaze flicks to our joined hands. Our magic sealed the deal. I must give him the grimoire. His yellow eyes bore into mine. He also knows I’m a slippery creature.
I go to step around him. “Shall we?”
His tight hold on my hand prevents me from moving far and he forces me back before him. He leans down and that growl is back in his voice. “If you fuck with me, I’ll shred Lucas slowly, piece by piece, and send Valentin to his father without a heart.”
I hum seductively. “I love it when you talk dirty to me. Follow me, Amur. I have what you need in the darkness.”
I’m enjoying myself too much. We may die in the next few minutes; might as well play with my food beforehand. I pretend to smell him, stretching up on my toes. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of one weaver? You’re so…” my eyes dip down, my head tilting, “big.”
His eyes flash and his lip curls in a snarl. He can’t figure out where the trick is and his anger is my catnip. I smile viciously and hold my ground.
His voice is deeper, rumbling unnaturally. “We’re all going down with you. Lucas, the fucking Bauer spawn, my men, and the box.”
I pause like I’ve been caught out, letting him think he’s achieved the upper hand. “Alright, then. If you’ll follow me?”
Dimitar releases my hand and I step around him. I refuse to look back at Valen or Lucas. Their opinions don’t matter now. I’ve made my choice.
I make my way to the back room, my fingers flexing as I fight the urge to slip my hand inside my pocket to confirm that the Amulet of Acerabus is still hidden within. The doorframe comes in handy as I squeeze past the ghouls, my hip tilting so that the wood presses the shape of the amulet against my thigh.
I hold my breath, but it’s no use. The ghouls’ putrid stench is everywhere, especially in the small room where they were waiting for me. I gag and press the back of my hand to my mouth. Fucking ghouls.
For the first time in a week, I step before my basement door. Instead of its usual scan of me, it shudders under all the extra protections I placed on it. The chains glint in the magical window’s light, the blood still fresh like I only recently strengthened the magic. My fingers tremble before I curl my hands into a fist.
I pray thatThe Arachnomiconisn’t sitting directly on the other side, waiting to eat me the moment the door opens. I’m making a massive gamble, one that has to pay off or we’re all fucked.
I glance back. Ivan is behind me, his brown eyes trying to warn me not to do anything stupid. He’s always been professional with me, and it fostered a mutual respect. I appreciate that about the magician. Dimitar is with Valen and the ghouls are with Lucas. The iron box is last, and I only let my gaze linger on it for a second.
I’m coming, Jinx.
The seal ripples free and the chains click apart. The iron stings my palms and I heave the heavy door open. The darkness of the staircase is painfully familiar, but the stale air prickles my senses. Fear chills me, but I force my feet to move. I pray to each deity worshipped in the city, my eyes flicking to every shadow. I nearly trip down the stairs.
I pause, turning and hopingThe Arachnomicondoesn’t attack me. “Keep the door open.”
Dimitar’s eyes narrow. “Shut the door.”
I wish I could apologize to Valen and Lucas. They’ll be buried alive down here if I die. Only Jinx or I can lift the seal. My hands tighten. “You sure? Only I can open it.”
His eyes reflect in that eerie way animals’ do in the night. “Keep moving.”
The lack of giant, fleshing-eating spider begins to unnerve me. I expected it to be creeping along the ceiling, hunting us by now, but there’s nothing. Not even a flicker of movement or a hint of a web. If I get to the bottom of the steps and find a spider-themed book sitting in the middle of the room, I’m going to lose my fucking mind. The Amulet of Acerabus weighs heavily in my pocket and I resist the temptation to slip my hand in to squeeze it.
A ghoul stumbles and slams into another. It nearly takes all of us down, but Dimitar throws it back. The smooth floor of the basement greets my foot and it crunches with ash. The records are singed, a whole row burned. My heart aches and it’s physically painful not to dive for them to find what’s salvageable.
All eight of us pool in the basement. Lucas is tense, eyes slowly scanning the ceiling. Valen can’t seem to take his gaze off me and our eyes meet. Concern. Fear. Determination. Love. All flicker between us. My lips part so I can breathe easier, pressure building behind my eyes and I count the seconds.
Dimitar growls, “Witch.”
