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“You aren’t just after my family’s heirlooms.”
“No. I came here to reclaim what’s mine, to take back what was taken from us when we were forced to sign that pathetic peace treaty.”
“The Codex Magica.”
“Call it whatever you want. In signing that treaty, my family gave up its most potent artifact, the seat of our power! The Engine enabled us to bind the spirits we were born to rule and use in whatever way we saw fit. It’s somewhere behind that door, and I want it back. If you don’t tell me how to get in, we’ll just have to blow a hole in that wall.”
I shook my head. “That won’t work.”
He angled his head to the side. “Won’t it? I’m sure I could bring enough explosives to send this place into a different dimension if I wanted to.”
“Unless those explosives can get you into the Ether, you aren’t getting your engine back.”
“The Ether…” he paused, trailing off.
“That’s what those markings mean. And I wasn’t lying, I can’t open it because it’s not a door to be opened.”
Mason suddenly grabbed me by the neck and pinned me against the wall. “So, what you’re telling me is the amulet you gave to your brother is the only way into that vault,” he breathed against my face.
Shit.
I was hoping he wouldn’t make the connection, but I’d just put Max in danger, and myself in even more.
Mason’s red eyes darkened. “Where is your brother?” he snarled.
“I don’t know!” My mind rushed through every possible thing I could say to fix this, to make sure he didn’t just snap my neck and go searching for Max.
“Liar.”
“I gave him the amulet and sent him away. He could be anywhere right now.”
“But he’s not anywhere. He’s somewhere—a safe house, or something. Somewhere he was told to go in case of emergencies.” His hand tightened around my throat. “Where is he?”
“I… don’t… know,” I choked.
“Open it!” he barked.
There was a moment, an instant, where I felt like an opportunity had presented itself. I felt my own power surge inside of me, my magic begging to be released. Mason was behind me, but I could tell he was enraged; hopefully too enraged to notice if I decided to turn my power on him instead of directing it at the wall like he was hoping.
His men were standing by the foot of the stairs. I knew, if I did anything to Mason, if I managed to injure him—or even kill him—my life would be over an instant later. I had chosen fight, though, and my instinct to attack him, to take him down, to avenge my parents, was strong.
So strong.
I felt like I came close to making that decision before reason won the day, and I stood down. There was nothing I could do to the vault door, and if I turned my magic on Mason… well, I didn’t want to die. Killing him wasn’t worth it if it meant I was going to follow him into the grave only a few seconds later.
“I can’t do it,” I finally said. “I don’t have the amulet.”
Mason shoved my cheek against the cold, stone wall. “Then I really don’t need you anymore, do I?”
“Max doesn’t know how to use the amulet,” I groaned, “you still need me.”
Mason’s grip loosened, but only slightly. “We used the amulet to get into your house, what makes you think we need you now?” he said against my ear.
“Because there are protections in the vault. Anyone who’s not an Ethera won’t get out alive.”
I honestly had no idea if that was true or not, but I could only hope he believed me.
“Listen very closely, Ethera. You’re going to help me find your brother, we’re going to get that amulet, and when we do, you’re going to retrieve our Infernal Engine.”
