Page 27 of Shadow & Stars
After circling me for long minutes, the silence driving me nuts, he finally piped up. “There are two options. The first is to use the essence of time by somehow placing it inside your body, giving time a conduit. The second option is one big wish to make everything normal again.”
My glower could melt this room into liquid mud. “Fuck that.”
Darcy nodded furiously in agreement.
“Certainly,” Butterfly said with a wave of his hand. “Then we must find the right equipment for me to make this possible.”
The mini storm in the jar flashed like a beacon of hope in his hands. Would it survive outside of the glass?
I put that to the fluttery dickhead.
“We will have to be quick,” he said. “But I’m not sure of anything anymore.” His shoulders sagged, breaking his perfect posture. “This could be nothing more than misplaced hope.”
Was I supposed to feel sorry for him? “And who’s fault is that?”
He didn’t answer.
Fuck him. I couldn’t be bothered to start an argument.
“So, what brought you to this conclusion?” Xavier asked.
Butterfly lifted his head. “Whatever Una did to the device made it a powerful tool. There is still a form of magic alive inRoman. If I can get this right, we may be able to manipulate time on a grander scale through the device. Not simply moving between the two times as before.”
Yeah, or cause more chaos.
“It’s a huge risk,” Xavier said.
“Isn’t everything?” Butterfly sat down. “Nothing is guaranteed, including Roman’s safety. I will need to think more on this.” He crossed his legs, drifting off into thought.
And so began loads of waiting around to play havoc on my anxiety. I tried not to fidget too much on the outside, but my inner world screamed in frustration.
I just wanted this over with.
The ground quaked violently, breaking apart the frustrated energy of the room. I jumped to my feet, unsure of my next move.
A second rumble sent the books tumbling off the bookcases. Xavier caught three candles before they hit the ground to start a fire.
A third round of shaking followed, cracks forming in the walls and ceiling.
Oh. Shit.
9
ROMAN
“Does Shadow Guy really have a twin?” I said, catching another candle during a fourth tremor. I’d only been joking, for fuck’s sake.
“Information I have no interest in,” Darcy replied, hurrying to my side.
His movement reminded me of when he used to scurry up my body to sit on my shoulder.
He’d better not try it now.
Part of the ceiling bowed and split, dirt spilling out.
“We go back up,” Xavier said. “I have another place we can hide.” He looked at me. “I’ll get us to safety.”
He deserved another kiss for being so amazing.
