Page 117 of Vesuvius

‘I wouldn’t . . . ’ Loren sighed, but patted Felix’s side. ‘Empty.’

‘Damn.’ Felix’s breath came in shallow, slow pants. If he dipped into sleep, for only a moment . . . He dug his nails into his palms, the bite keeping him conscious. ‘I liked that one. Wood and iron. The little etching. Valuable. Could resell it.’

‘Keep talking.’ Loren stood and disappeared. ‘I’ll find something. Gods, this room is creepy. So many strange items.’

‘He’s a collector,’ Felix murmured. ‘This is where he keeps his collection. His things.’

‘About that.’ A clatter rose as Loren sorted through a box. ‘You did a bastard thing. I don’t know what deal you made, but—’

‘Two horses for the helmet.’

‘There’s more to it than that.’

‘In exchange for me, then.’ Felix’s eyes had shut again, a detail he wasn’t aware of until rope snagged against his wrists. Loren had returned, clutching a rusty dagger.

‘You thought you could spoil the place for me. Hurt me so I wouldn’t come back.’

‘Seems I went to too much effort. Look around, the place spoiled itself.’

‘Don’t joke.’ Loren’s pretty lips flattened. Felix had kissed that mouth, licked away the pinch that appeared when Loren was frustrated oroverthinking. ‘You have all these defences to keep yourself from being hurt or used, but once you dare let someone inside, you’d give anything to keep them safe. That isn’t fair. Don’t you see? To get inside your walls, I came to know you, too. Am I meant to be flattered you gave yourself up for me? How little you value your life?’

‘Nothing to value.’ Felix’s head lolled. ‘I’m no one’s prize.’

Fibres snapped as Loren sawed. ‘Sounds like you were perfectly prizeworthy to Servius. Did your clever brain even attempt to escape?’

‘No point.’

‘No – are you listening to yourself? Felix, the point is that I’ve never known you not to have a plan, and another plan on top of that. The point is that you gave up. Why?’

The floor rumbled, tiles chattering, jostling Felix’s thoughts. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to recall his reasoning for staying. Hours ago, he’d struggled to understand it himself, but here, lost in a haze of poppy sap and stirring memories, it felt the most obvious answer in the world.

‘I’m done running,’ he said. ‘I have – something still to do. A task.’

The dagger froze. ‘A task?’

‘You told me we were meant to meet. I was meant to come here.’ Felix swallowed another bout of nausea. ‘Don’t you still believe that?’

‘You aren’t making sense,’ Loren said, though his face paled like he’d seen a ghost.

‘I always make sense. You’re the one who . . .’ Felix broke off in a cough as rope fell free. He felt delirious. Beyond himself. ‘You signed with Julia.Thatdoesn’t make sense.’

‘Don’t change the subject. I can handle myself.’

Felix stared at him as though for the first time. ‘How did you find me?’

‘Now you ask.’ Loren threw his hands, exasperated. ‘It’s a long story, but we don’t have much time. Can you stand?’

A grin twitched. ‘You’re just like those Greek tragedies you love.’

‘What, dashingly heroic?’

‘Melodramatic.’

‘You’ve lost it.’ Loren hauled Felix to his feet, slinging his arm across his shoulder.

The world lurched as they stumbled to the door. In the dark hallway, away from the suffocating hum of Servius’s charged and cursed collection, Felix picked up the sound of stones pattering the roof. The air reeked of all things burning, a rankling, sickly-sweet stench. Loren limped Felix along, searching for a way out.

‘Wait,’ Felix gasped, lungs scorched. ‘The helmet. Not leaving without it.’

---