Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Evander’s eyes widen. “I don’t wish death and destruction on my family line, but knowing I’ll be dead by then almost brings comfort. Which is fucked up, I know.”
“It is, and I think that’s why Julian did it. Three hundred years gives us time to either die or figure out how to actually kill the Horsemen, which is what Osiris says he wants to do. And if he can’t kill them, it seems like he’ll keep them locked up.”
“That’s great. It’s like they’re back where they were, only in a different Hell.”
“It would be great if Lucas wasn’t a Horseman,” I say slowly and wave my hand over the salt on the floor, magically sweeping it into one pile.
“Of course that’s what I meant,” Evander rushes out. “Did Osiris have any advice on how to fix that?”
“No. But I did find out that without a rider, the horse morphs back into its true shape. Kinda like a familiar, but programmed to bring about as much death and destruction as possible.”
“Then you really need to think about getting Lucas off the horse.”
“What?” I grip the scarab tight in my hand.
“If pulling Lucas off means Famine will bleed into the world, then we need to really think twice, Callie.”
“Oh.” I stare at Evander incredulously, able to read between the lines. He thinks I should leave Lucas and move on. “I’ll figure something out.” Grabbing the velvet bag, I put the oracle back in. I’m certain it’s not cursed now, but was used incorrectly. Still, I’d rather be safe than sorry. If this thing can communicate with the Underworld, it means anything in the Underworld can communicate with me—or maybe even escape from Osiris’s watch. “Thank you, Evander. This worked just like you said and I’m a little closer to getting Lucas back.”
“He knew what he was doing,” Evander says, repeating something several of my friends have told me recently. “He wouldn’t have gotten on that demonic horse if he didn’t know it would buy you time and keep you safe.”
“Buy me time?” I question and the tiniest amount of panic crosses Evander’s face, like he said something he hadn’t meant to say.
“Speaking of time, I do need to get to class. The end of the year is coming up and it’s hard to get the students to focus.”
“Yeah. They’ll be done before the summer solstice.”
“Best way to kick off the summer, as you remember.”
“I still remember my first.” I push my hair back and my fingers get caught in a tangle. Did I brush it this morning? I honestly can’t remember. The morning is foggy thanks to waking up a million times in the middle of the night to take care of Juliet. “And I should go find my daughter.”
I clean up the rest of the salt and gather up the rest of my stuff and then go to the library. Devon is working again and looks up from behind a desk when I walk in.
“Hey,” I say with a wave.
“Good morning, Callie,” Devon says back. I know who he is just because he’s in the library a lot and I’ve utilized the books here more in the last few months than I did my last year at Grim Gate. He was a year below me in school, but like most of the coven, he probably knows more about me than I realize. “If you’re looking for the youngest member of the coven, I believe the High Priestess took her to one of the staff lounges. And good luck getting her back. It seems your daughter is following in your footsteps and already has a fan club.”
Yep. He definitely heard many stories about my time here. “Thanks. And she is really freaking cute. I can’t say I’m surprised at the fan club.”
Devon chuckles and I notice the stack of books he’s carrying are all about portals. I created a portal using Satanic magic from my mother’s own book to get out of Hell. Would the same method work to get in and out of the Underworld? In theory, yes, but I have no idea how to execute it.
A light gray shadow passes me on the way to the nearest staff lounge and I stop, recognizing the familiar right away.
“Hey, Olive,” I say and crouch down, waiting for her to shift into the white rabbit form she takes. “I’m going to need you to come over and help with my plants I forgot about—again.” Running my hand over her sleek fur, I look down the hall and see Kristy and the twins heading my way.
“Callie!” Kristy exclaims with a wave. I give Olive another pet and stand, waiting for my friends to catch up. “I thought I saw Binx and Freya in the Great Hall. What are you doing here?”
“Is the djinn back?” Nicole asks, eyes going wide.