Page 28 of Fallen Stars

“So much for being subtle,” Isra muttered. “You could have done without the shadow theatrics.”

Elara grinned. “Now, where’s the fun in that?”

She sauntered through the room, not stopping at the bar. Once she reached the other side, she simply searched the blank black wall in front of her, Eli’s instructions still hovering in her mind before her eyes rested on a tiny golden snake laid into the panelled wood of the pub. With a small smile, she motioned to Isra.

“I need your hand.”

“For what?”

“The element of surprise.”

Isra’s eyes twinkled then, Merissa observing with trepidation.

The seer extended her hand, and Elara took it impatiently, pushing her forefinger into the pattern of the gold snake. The sign underneath her moved, writhing as the gold ink on the wood wrapped itself around her finger.

Isra swore loudly as a small pin stamped her, a drop of blood welling on her fingertip. The snake turned red as its thin body slithered back into the wood.

There was a shudder, and then the wall just…parted. A doorway, carved from nothing but magic awaited.

“You could have warned me I’d be taking a fucking blood oath,” Isra gritted out.

Elara planted a kiss on her cheek. “Thank you for doing that,” she said, pushing through the doorway. “Eli gave me specific instructions to give my blood at the door so he would know my presence. Said something about how there was some binding in there so I couldn’t use my powers against him. You’ll find out why I still need them later.”

Isra nodded. “Yes, my magick remains locked in my veins.”

Elara waved a hand. “Only for as long as you’re in here,” she said.

Isra closed her eyes, snorting slightly. “I can feel the details being written into my blood. There’s a clause agreeing that I can’t cheat in here too.”

Elara chuckled then. “I suppose some gambling lies ahead of us then. How convenient.” She checked her appearance in a mirror hanging from the wall of the small room, motioning to Merissa then her hair. Merissa waved a hand impatiently, drying and smoothing it instantly. Elara turned back to Isra. “See why it was you who had to take it? I need Merissa’s magick to look half-decent.”

Isra huffed.

Elara took another step and lost all breath. For a second the in-between felt like a vacuum, as though all air and life and light were sucked out of the small space. And then they were through, a raucous din filling their ears. Merissa’s jaw dropped.

“How the hell is this possible?”

“Castorians did invent in-betweens, didn’t they?”

Merissa frowned. “Is that what this is? A bar in a literal in-between?”

Elara shrugged. “Sure feels like it. Very clever, andveryapt for Castor, may I add.”

She looked around the packed club surrounding them, catching on the small stage where a scantily clad woman was crooning a love song, dancing seductively. The live band was filled with saxophones and trumpets, creating the sweet melody. Elara’s cunning eyes scanned first the booths on one side of the room, the men and women getting drunk and laughing raucously. Next, her gaze flicked to the tables jammed with gamblers, each with greed in their eyes as they held chips and cards in their hands.

“Want to make a wager he’s over there?”

“Seers are technically all cheats since we know the outcome to any game, so thanks to the blood oath, I can’t,” Isra retorted. Merissa chuckled.

“I need you both to stay here for now.”

“No,” Merissa said firmly.

“Mer, I don’t know how he’s going to react or what he’s going to say. If he threatens either of you, I won’t have a clear mind for the bargain I’m going to strike with him.”

“Elara,” Isra wailed. “What is it with you and your soulmate’s obsession with striking bargains?”

Elara squeezed her arm. “I’ve never wished upon a Star before, okay? It’s a last resort, but if our plan goes the way it should, I won’t need to give any payment at all.”

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