Lilly's proposal could have gone better, Christian decided. He had met Emmerich and Samir in the student center under the pretense of studying. He'd waited until they were well into it, then had mentioned in an off-hand fashion what Lilly had asked. Emmerich's reaction had been instant and explosive.
"You want us to do what?" He was incredulous. Samir sat quietly, reviewing notes for his geometry exam. "Do you know what my granddad would do to me if he knew I was making pacts with a Witch?" He paced next to the table in his agitation, turning red and then pale in alarmingly rapid succession.
"He's already mad enough that you didn't banish Christian," Samir said. "Why not add one more infraction to the list?"
"Don't tell me you're going to promise non-interference?" Emmerich's voice cracked dangerously as he turned toward his friend. Christian felt like he was watching his parents fighting, and wished he could be anywhere else.
"Don't be foolish, Em," retorted Samir. "I'm going to help her."
Emmerich dropped weakly into his seat. "Help her?"
"Of course. Look at him, Emmerich." Samir gestured to Christian. "He's been getting sicker and weaker daily. If, and I do mean if, because I trust the Witch's magic even if you cannot, but if something were to try to interfere, he hasn't got the strength to dispatch them. He's going to be wrestling enough without having to fight off monstrosities." He locked eyes with Christian. "I will not let you come to harm if it is within my power."
"Thank you, Samir." Christian meant it. Emmerich made a disgusted noise, then gave a resigned laugh.
"I'm actually beginning to like you, Christian, and Samir has a point. I'm already in a boatload of trouble. What's a little more? You can count on me."
Christian wasn't sure how he got through his final few classes and exams at all. In the grand scheme of things, they seemed pretty pointless and petty, and it was hard to give them more than a passing interest. However, he did get through them, and the morning of the seventh finally came. He was too anxious to eat or rest or gather his thoughts, and ended up spending the day wandering campus, grateful that it was quiet and half-deserted. The impending attempt to reunite himself had him more nervous than any of his exams or papers. If it went wrong, then this could very well be his last day in the world of light. He was not afraid of the Other Realm, not any more, but it could be a while before he learned the way home. He would miss June and Oliver badly, if this went awry.
And Sebastian. The thought of that potential loss really was too great to consider.
He was sitting by the fountain outside Archer Hall, watching the ripples reflect the bright sky, when Kongming came and sat beside him. They stayed that way in silence for a while.
"Are you ready, then?" Christian asked. "I thought it would be later, for some reason. These things seem to take place at night in the stories."
"There's no reason to delay. Lilly sent me for you and Sebastian." Kongming stirred the water with his fingertips. "I wanted to tell you again that I am sorry."
Christian bit back his rage, and shook his head. "There's nothing to be done for it now. Have you found Sebastian?"
"He did." Sebastian shifted nervously from foot to foot. "I'm frightened, but I'm ready."
"Then there's no point in waiting any longer." Christian stood up. Kongming caught his arm.
"We don't have to go if you're not ready for this. I mean, if you and Sebastian want a little time." There was so much of Scott in his tone, of gentle reassurance that had once guided him into being comfortable with himself, that Christian had to look away. "You have every right to be hesitant."
"Maybe, but it won't get done any faster if I drag my feet." He took Sebastian's hand. "I may not be ready, but I wasn't ready at the beginning of all this. We'll do this now. It ends now." Sebastian nodded, mute in his fear. Kongming stood up, looking grim.
"Then let us go. They are waiting."
Getting to the library's lowest basement ended up being an easy affair. Sean had set a few key wards that drew attention away from the doors and stairwells that they needed to take, though there scarcely seemed the need with so many students still in their exams. Christian's heart beat miserably with each step further down to the basement. The last narrow corridor felt old, far older than the building above it. It was dimly lit with a few odd lamps dangling from the ceiling, casting harsh shadows as they walked beneath them. Sean was at the end of this corridor, leaning against the wall by a battered wooden door. He sneered when he saw Kongming, but he stood upright as Christian approached.
"Lilly wanted me to ask you to strip down to your skin. She said you have to be as bare as the day you were born." Christian nodded, and quickly undressed. He handed Sebastian his glasses and his ring for safekeeping. Satisfied, Sean opened the door.
Lilly, Emmerich, and Samir were arrayed around the room. Christian tried not to stare. Whatever glamour or distortion Samir used to pass for human was stripped away, and he stood there in his full splendor, fanged and horned, his muscular legs ending in immense hooves. Christian had to look away, flushed, because all he wanted in that moment was for Samir to take him in front of everyone. Emmerich gave him a knowing smirk.
"Really, now, and in front of your boyfriend as well?" Lilly was wearing a simple black dress and cloak. Christian saw now what Arc had meant about her scars. Twisting marks that looked almost like brands ran from her shoulders to her wrists, and across her chest. Her bare feet were similarly scarred, and it was safe to assume that there were more under her dress. She acknowledged his look, raising her chin defiantly. Kongming came to stand at her side, also bare-foot and in a plain robe. Sean took up a position beside Sebastian. They both looked tense, though in Sean's case, he seemed to be coiled to strike.
"Now, Christian," Lilly said, taking him by both hands and leading him into a great emblem burned into the floor. "You told me you've been finding it easier to reach yourself even when awake. I need you to sit, however is most comfortable for you, and I need you to do that now."
"Got it." Christian settled as comfortably as possible on the floor where Lilly had directed him. "What are you going to do?"
"Emmerich and I are going to open the gateway for you. Right now, you're able to call through a pinhole. You need the opening to be big enough to accommodate you. I could open the gate alone, but Emmerich's assistance wil prove invaluable. The two of us together will be able to stabilize it for a longer stretch."
"And Kongming and Samir?"
"We're here to provide protection," Kongming replied. "There is a chance that something may try to break through or seize you in your weakened state. We're to prevent that at any cost."
"Sebastian and I are here to lend strength if needed," Sean said from the shadows. "This is potentially very dangerous for both you and Lilly. If she needs to draw on my strength, then I am here for her, and Sebastian is likewise here for you to draw upon." Sebastian looked pale. "If we are fortunate it will not come to that."
"Then let us begin," Lilly said. "Christian, whatever you may hear, whatever may happen, you must focus on yourself. Let everything around you slip past."
No comments:
Post a Comment