Page 40 of Compass Points
“I hate to interrupt,” cut in Luc, who didn’t sound like he hated it at all. His voice turned serious as he continued. “Rose and I want to speak to you about the shadow we fought a few days ago. It’s a formation of the mist, stronger than anything we’ve yet seen.”
“You fought something in the mist? You were in the mist and didn’t succumb to it?”
Rose tried to cover her curiosity with her hand at her chin, her fingers moving across her jaw. How much would Luc tell his brother?
“Yes, well.” Luc nodded stiffly. “How about we describe it to you and see what you decide to call it.” They tucked into the couch just to the left where Aaron had been reading and told him their story.
“Well…” Aaron seemed to hesitate. “While ‘mist monster’ is certainly fitting, I think I came across something relevant to this story just last week.” He stood up and grabbed a volume off the shelf behind the chair. He flipped to the index, found what he was looking for, and opened the book to a specific page as he set it on the table before the couch.
Before them was an image of a terrifying figure, tall and broad, skeletal looking. The illustrator captured that the figure was not quite solid and wreathed in shadow. Though a black and white illustration, it was clear that there was a gleam in the beast’s eye. Above the illustration was a name, Nebulus.
Rose read the definition on the accompanying page. The Nebulus was described as shadow and mist taking physical form. And to her utter triumph and horror, it was listed as an agent or affiliation of the god Zrak.
Too shocked to speak, Rose nodded as her hand touched the image in the book. She couldn’t believe how like the monster from the island it was. She couldn’t comprehend that there was knowledge about it in this Suden library. She looked at Luc, who seemed to be processing better than her, but not much.
“The Nebulus are the harbingers of the mist? I guess I’d assumed they were responsible, but…” Luc stopped his sentence as his eyes locked on Rose, concern rising as his thoughts seemed to switch tracks.
“So if they would have struck you if your sword hadn’t stopped its swing….” Luc didn’t finish a sentence, but she understood, and agreed. If she hadn’t been able to defend herself against its sword swing, if the sword had struck a blow to her body, she believed she would have fallen like the rest of the living dead in Bury.
Rose had collected herself as Luc seemed to be losing it. “Are we going to say nothing about the fact that the Nebulus is listed as an agent of Zrak?”
“We were getting there,” Luc choked out. She caught him fighting to suppress the red rim of his irises as he considered how close Rose had been to succumbing to the mist plague.
“Do you two need a minute?” Aaron asked. His gaze flicked from Rose to his brother. Rose was unsure what he saw in either of their faces.
“No, sorry. This is just a little shocking,” Rose tried to explain.
“Probably about as shocking as you two saying that you were in the mist and didn’t succumb to its endless sleep,” he replied dryly, giving Luc the time he needed to calm himself.
“Touché,” Rose replied.
Aaron looked to Luc. “You didn’t tell the other Compass Points that you were in the mist, did you?”
“Not yet,” Luc hedged.
Aaron laughed loudly. “Do you plan to, then?”
Rose noted Aaron’s eyebrow raise as Luc’s gaze darted toward her. “I don’t know.”
“What does the mist being an agent of Zrak mean?” Aaron asked.
“Aaron…” Luc didn’t seem to know what to say as he let his brother’s name hang there.
“Fine, fine,” Aaron said as he got up from his chair. “I’ll leave you two to it.” Disapproval hung heavy in his gaze as he looked at Rose for another moment.
“It’s not her fault,” Luc said.
Rose had no clue what was going on.
“I didn’t say anything was anyone’s fault.” Aaron lifted his hands as he walked away. “I am glad you’re both okay. But Luc, if what you’re saying is true, it’s probably time to talk to the other Compass Points. I know you don’t trust them, but this is literally what the Compass Points are for. They uphold balance. That means both balance between human and fae”—he gave Luc a meaningful look—“and the balance between the gods and the continent. If you suspect this mist to be related to Zrak, you can’t keep them in the dark.” Aaron seemed to catch his own wordplay, rolling his eyes at himself. “No pun intended.”
Luc sighed deeply, putting his forehead in his hands and running his fingers through his hair.
“Aaron, wait,” Rose said as she stood to bring him back into the conversation.
This couldn’t be good. Would Luc have told the Compass Points about his mist plague survival without their deal? She hadn’t thought of that. Since he’d been on a mission without their knowledge, she assumed that his findings would also be a secret.
Luc interrupted her thoughts. “The balance on the continent has been steadily declining as long as I’ve been the Suden Point.” Aaron turned back toward them as Luc continued. “Simple decisions by the Compass Points require far too much discussion and ultimately come down to votes instead of a natural best-course solution.” Luc shrugged.
