Chapter Nineteen
"You sure he's fine?" Jared asked Crimson when the vampire came out of the kitchen the second time. His first instinct had been to go after Silas the moment he'd left the living room, but Crimson had asked for a moment alone with him. Jared had granted it, knowing that Silas needed friends now, but still, he couldn't help but worry.
"He's doing his best," Crimson said. They stood in the corridor outside the kitchen, both of them waiting. The others were still in the living room. Vlad hadn't left yet. Jared overheard him and his siblings talking, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
If Silas didn't come out in another five minutes, he was going to go in.
"I can't even begin to guess how the Seeker Stone activates," Crimson said, "but it can't be easy."
"What makes you say that?"
"If it were easy, Nicolai would have used that gem to find me, but he didn't. Think about it, that stone can supposedly locateanyone, and Nicolai had it this whole time. So why didn't he use it?"
Jared glanced back in the direction of the living room. "You think it's not safe?"
Crimson shrugged. "I don't know what to think."
Fortunately, they didn't have to wonder about things for much longer. Drizzit came out into the corridor, and then, a minute later, a canary flew after him. They were headed for the back door. Jared stared after the pair. He'd never seen Silas in his animal form, had only heard about it from Luke and Aldrich. By the time they'd brought him here, he'd already turned back. There was something weird about looking at a bird and knowing that it was the same man he'd been kissing earlier, but in a way, Silas's spirit animal suited him.
It was good to see him spread his wings.
Without another word to Crimson, he went after the dog and the bird and opened the door to the backyard. The canary paused his flight in mid-air, then sat on Jared's shoulder and chirped.
Jared gave him a smile. "Go on." He nodded at the open door. "You wanted out, didn't you?"
The canary peered at him, looking thoughtful in a way Jared never knew birdscouldlook thoughtful, and then he chirped again.
"I'll be waiting for you," Jared said.
The canary hopped off his shoulder and flapped his wings. Jared watched as he flew up toward the sky. A smile formed on his lips as he watched the bird go higher and higher, testing his new-found freedom. But at the same time, there was a tightening in his chest too. A twinge of worry.
Silas was going to be back, wasn't he?
He wasn't just going to leave Jared?
Jared turned and went back into the house, knowing that this wasn't for him to decide. There was really only one thing he could do—leave his window open tonight.
* * *
"He actually did it." Crimson grinned at Jared when Jared made it back to the kitchen. "He left a message telling us how to activate the gem."
"Thank you for your help," Jared said.
Crimson shook his head, studying the message Silas had left behind for them. "I didn't do it to make him do anything. I just want to be his friend."
"Thank you for that too."
"You really don't need to thank me." Crimson's brows furrowed as he read the letter. "We need to tell the others about this."
"They're still in the living room."
"They're not going to like this."
"What does it say?"
Crimson offered the piece of paper to Jared. Silas's letters were big, but some of the lines were jagged, as if his hand had been shaking while he was writing. Jared had to squint to read all the words, but eventually, he managed.
To activate the Seeker Stone, one must sacrifice the memories he holds most dear. Press the stone to your forehead and think about what you want to know. Then think about your sacrifice. Can't be worthless. Knowledge will come to you. Everything you seek.
