“Of course.Any clues as to where he’d take her?”Lex asks.
I shake my head.“Somewhere private.He’s all about reputation.He wouldn’t want anyone knowing that he’s keeping his daughter locked up somewhere.We need to know where she is and if there are any easy ways to break her out.And if you can find out what he wants from her too, that would be amazing.”
Bastien slaps the table like he’s ready for action.“Let’s start in the private faculty wings.There are some penthouse rooms that are rarely used.”
Lex closes her books and grabs her jacket.“Then we should try the dungeons.”
Bastien groans.“There’s like thirteen sets of them on campus, each one more vile than the last.”
“Which is why no one goes there.And why they’re super private…” I say.
Lex and Bastien glance at each other.
“We’re starting with the dungeons, aren’t we?”he whines.
“Hundred percent.”Lex laughs.
More moths flutter into the apartment and zoom straight for my head.They’re aggressive little fuckers this morning, smashing into my ears and neck.I wave my hand at them, but they won’t stop.They never do.Not until I’m on the road heading towards the job.
“Go,” Lex says, waving me off.“We’ll find her.”
They slip out of the apartment door, and I let the moths land on me.I’m sucked into a vision of a woman.She’s nasty.Scruffing a kid by his collar and kicking him across the room they’re in.
Oh, yeah.I’ll enjoy reaping this one.She spits on him and throws a mop at his feet.I wonder what she made a deal for.Wealth, riches or power no doubt.
Well, too bad bitch, time is up.
The next one is a wealthy old man.I can’t discern what he wanted from his deal, but he looks miserable.Perhaps his desires weren’t worth it after all.
Vision after vision streams through my mind until I’m exhausted from watching all the lives I’m about to take.
Bastien’s words replayyou’ve seemed pale as fuck lately.He’s right, I do feel off.Tired in a way that goes beyond.I’m just not sure beyond what.
I swing around to head in the direction of the first reaping, the woman, grateful it’s at least a well-deserved one.I’ll enjoy this.
The moths disengage and flutter away, and I follow them out of the flat door.
I find my bike at the back of the cloisters; she’s not been ridden nearly enough.I flick off a couple of crumpled leaves and wipe the tank of nature debris.It’s a crying shame that a beautiful bike like her has gotten dusty.Though when I parked her up here, I wasn’t sure she’d ever leave.I didn’t think I’d be leaving.
I pull my helmet on, jacket next, and zip it up tight.It’s going to be a long day and probably a longer night by the looks of the new swarm of moths flying towards me.
I swing my leg over the bike and when the engine roars to life, a calmness descends.This is my happy place.
I’m not giving up, though.Lucy might fucking hate me.She can blame me all she wants, but she fucked up too.And getting her out of the underworld to begin with was the only way to sort this mess out.
Besides, I won’t rest until I get her out from under Ignatius.In fact, I won’t rest until I take that motherfucker out once and for all.
The problem is how?Ignatius is practically untouchable.Even with Lucy’s magic, even if I’d had training and could wield it, I’m no match for him.But that makes me think… Lucy.
Lucy has power.Maybe if I can get her out, we can figure this out together.I was always supposed to help her out of her contract with Ignatius.
What if I can help her get out of it permanently?We just need to use her power to do it.
I rev the bike, and the back end kicks out as I hurtle towards the campus gates.I’m coming, Ora.It’s been a while my old friend.
As I exit, the sight of what must now be over a hundred people outside campus takes my breath away.All of them are Societas members.They chant and sing about the end of days and the end of fate.
It’s weird and creepy.I don’t understand what they have to gain by ripping the fabric of our realms apart, but I can only assume Interitus has promised them untold pleasures under her new system.
