Page 116 of Bound By the Sleeper’s Harp

“Think of it this way, Elle. They can touch you when I command them to. But you can’t do anything about it.”

My stomach dropped. I tested the zip tie, tugging as it cut into my wrist. My other hand was free. But there was nothing I could do without something to cut my binding.

“Don’t bother,” Marsh said, noting my movements. “In fact, how about I send someone to keep you company? Bastian!”

I sucked in a breath, my heart dropping. From the cluster of bodies hauling boxes, Bastian appeared. My mouth fell open.

“Bas?” He didn’t acknowledge me, didn’t even look at me. Instead, he walked right up to us, a blank look on his face. Everything about him was completely normal, aside from the fact that he seemed unresponsive, his expression and eyes empty.

“Guard her,” Marsh barked. “If she tries to break free, knock her unconscious.”

With that, he walked away.

Bastian walked over, took up a wide stance five feet from me, facing me, and stared off into the distance. Like I wasn’t even here.

“Bas!” I hissed, trying to get his attention. I waved my hand in front of his face, snapping my fingers. He didn’t flinch, didn’t respond. He was just out of reach, and I knew if I tried to touch him, my hand would go right through.

“Marsh’s gone,” I said, keeping my voice low. “Help me get this zip tie off.” Bastian still didn’t move, looking through me.

“Bas, please! It’s me! Your mate. Remember?” I pulled at the zip tie while I said this, trying to put enough force behind my movements that it might snap.

“Stop doing that.” His voice was a low command, eyes flicking to the motion I made as I pulled. When I stopped, his gaze went distant again. The back of my neck prickled. This wasn’t Bastian. Marsh was right. Whatever fell within his orders was all he was programmed for.

I deflated and leaned against the shelving rack, studying the rest of the activity taking place. Minutes ticked by, and boxes were carried out. A roar of an engine sounded as a semi-truck pulled up. The back was opened, and the boxes were loaded.

How much time had passed? Had it been two hours yet? I thought of my instructions to Vivi. Soon, she’d be calling Christian. The cops would come and this whole mess would be sorted.

Hopefully.

The semi left and Marsh appeared, walking toward the open space in the middle of the warehouse.

“Bastian, remove the zip tie and bring her here.”

I glanced between them, then saw what Marsh held. My heart leapt. The harp! He held it casually, like it was little more than a regular object and not some ancient thing of power. I was vaguely aware of the zip tie snapping with magic—Bastian must have retained his magical abilities in this form—and a hand wrapping around my wrist. He didn’t pull me the way Barbara had.

“Come,” he said, when I hesitated. There was something gentle in his voice. Was… Was part of him still in there? Fighting?

I licked my lips, but complied. He led me to Marsh. My eyes zeroed in on the harp in his hands. If I could just get it, could I find a way to reverse this?

Marsh chuckled. “It’s rather a work of art, wouldn’t you agree?” He asked, as if reading my mind.

“How does it work?” I found myself asking, curious, yes, but also eager to distract him.

“Ah, I thought you’d want to know. The trick is in the strings. There are twelve total. The first five, put a person to sleep, depending on what type of supernatural they are. You must be within hearing distance when the chord is struck. So, you see, it was rather annoying, but I managed to sneak onto Bastian’s back patio yesterday. He has quite the security system, but alas, it isn’t soundproof.”

My muscles tightened.

“Oh, don’t worry. It won’t work on you. It doesn’t work on humans, unfortunately.”

I cleared my throat. “What… What do the other strings do?”

“Ah. The next set of five pulls the specter from the body. The last two are…” He hesitated, contemplating, then said with a shrug, “simply ornamental.”

I snorted. “You don’t expect me to believe that do you? Like, what about waking up the bodies? Controlling them?”

He grinned. “Now, why would I tell you that?”

I rolled my eyes, trying to appear nonchalant. “Because you’re probably just going to kill me?”