“There a problem?” Rafa stage-whispers from way across the room.
He’s clearly eager to come over, and there’s only so quiet he can be with me at the opposite side of this enormous space. I’m wasting too much time.
I stage-whisper back, hoping our voices won’t carry all the way up the stairs. The chamber creates a slight echo. “I think the vampires need this book for their ritual. Hang tight. I’m just, uh, making sure I don’t set anything off when I grab it.”
Total lie. I have literally no idea how to do that. But if I do screw up, I sure don’t want to take Rafa with me. Someone’s going to need to get Emma out of here!
I glance over at my Avatar of Knowledge, who usually has all the answers. He should know. But right now, he just looks like a carsick kid. His face is pale, his breath quick and shallow. Me hanging out next to the book certainly isn’t doing him any favors. But it doesn’t take an all-knowing spirit to tell me there’s no way I should leave this thing behind for the vampires to use. Not to mention, it might be exactly what I need to save Collin—which is probably why it’s messing him up.
Unless, of course, there really is some deadly booby trap, andthat’swhat’s subconsciously freaking him out.
Gah! The clock is ticking, and I’m just running in circles. The damn thing is either trapped or not! I need to either move on or I need to?—
Without letting myself pinball to another thought, Ithrust out and grasp the book with both hands. The second I touch it, an outline around the gold engraving flares a bright blue.
Oh, crap.
I twist my head back, wincing, prepared to be zapped with a million volts of electricity. Or set on fire. Or just flat-out exploded.
But none of that happens. Instead, Collin immediately relaxes next to me and says. “Oh.Oh. Right. I know what that is. It’s theRúna Diamra inna nDée Sen.”
The what now?
Doesn’t matter. Focus!
“That’s nice. Should I be worried about this blue glow?” The light coming from the symbol on the cover hasn’t stopped. If anything, it’s gotten brighter. The book’s magic doesn’t feel any stronger, though.
“Alvin, you okay?” Rafa asks tightly, no longer whispering. He starts toward me.
“I believe that’s because of me,” Collin says. “Or the watch, anyway. The magic is similar in some ways. Like feeding like. It should be harmless.”
“Still think I’m good!” I stage-whisper back at Rafa, my throat tight with anxiety. “Just give me a sec. Stay where you are.”
Collin glances up and to the right. “I remember what this is now. It is ancient druidic magic. The book contains spells to contact and form pacts with the Old Gods.” His scan freezes in place, like he’s just noticed something, and his relief crumbles a bit. “They’re mostly the ones that don’t care about humanity—the really dangerous, vengeful powers. I don’t believe it has any specific curselaid on it, though. The words themselves are so toxic, whatever magic you’re sensing is just there to keep it in check.”
Well, that sounds awful and scary. But Collin does seem much improved.
“You’re looking a lot better.”
He bobs his head, noticing the same thing. “Yeah. Sorry about all that before. This is very much not something I’m supposed to have access to. But since you’re the owner of the watch…”
“…You’re allowed to help me,” I finish. Right. Huh. I’m not sure how evil Lovecraftian-type gods figure into getting Collin free, but based on his reaction, it seems those papers Tara brought out weren’t complete BS, after all.
“I’m taking this with us,” I say for both Rafa and Collin.
Rafa chucks his chin up with silent bro approval, apparently reassured by my confident tone. (And probably also by the fact that I haven’t blown myself up yet.)
Collin nods, too. “Now that I know what it is, so long as I don’t actively try to ask questions about it, it shouldn’t affect me like before. Even when you’re not touching it directly.”
Good to know. I tuck the big book under my arm. The moment my skin breaks contact, the glow vanishes. Collin immediately looks away, but he doesn’t look nauseous like before. Instead he confidently strides for the door.
“Right, so! Grand! Let’s go save that girl!” he says as he quickly passes Rafa. Even if he’s no longer activelysuffering, the tome clearly makes him nervous. I cross back after him.
“All good?” Rafa asks.
“Yeah. This book was what was throwing the spirits off. But I’ve, uh, neutralized it. We shouldn’t have any more delays.” I say those things like I know what I’m talking about.
But it turns out I kinda do, because it’s smooth sailing for the rest of the way down the hallway. Collin confirms there are no vamps or other nastiness behind any of the other doors and, in less than a minute, we have reached the room where Emma is supposedly being held, at the very end of the hall.
