Page 88 of A Kiss From Death
Her face grows red with anger, and I shrink back a step. “A DAGGER!” she bellows loudly, making the hairs on the back of my neck rise.
I nod back but offer no other words. I don’t know why I’m withholding information from her; it’s not like I care about spilling the shady side of Aeron to the world. He deserved what came to him, and I believe in a balance of actions. What hurts more is how used I felt, and I’m embarrassed for letting my walls down again just for them to be smashed to smithereens.
Mo’s features soften, and that motherly side comes back out, ensnaring me in her caring gaze. She grips one of my hands, gently stroking her thumb over the back of my hand.
“What really happened? Are you okay?” she says softly, seeing the way this conversation is affecting me.
“I was stabbed in my sleep,” I say defeatedly. Her hand tightens on mine, but her eyes never stray. “The dagger was laced with poison, but one of the Vanquishers saved me. I’m okay now.”
I think back to the raw anger that radiated off Hade when he walked into my room to find Aeron standing over my body, a dagger in my side. I’ve never seen something so lethal bottled up inside someone. He’s saved me in more than one way since that night.
“I presume the culprit was dealt with accordingly?” Mo says protectively.
A tremor racks my body as I nod back to her, remembering exactly how Aeron was dealt with. I can still smell and vividly see the state of his body the last time I laid eyes on him.
“Well, good! I’m glad that piece of shit was taken out with the trash then.” She says it harshly, which is the opposite of how I know her to be. A piece of my heart warms knowing I have people in my corner who exude such fierce protectiveness.
I smile. “Me too.”
Mo drops my hand and reaches into the pastry window, grabbing a handful of strawbana bread slices out and shoving them into a box. She slides the box across the counter to me with a toothy grin.
“To make up for all the slices you missed while you were away,” she says softly.
I reach into my pocket for some coppers, but she smacks my hand with a tsk. “I don’t need your money, sugar. Just your company will do.”
“Thank you,” I respond earnestly. She flashes me a wink, and I decide to stay awhile longer, making my way to one of the velvet chairs in the corner.
Sliding deep into the large chair, I prop my feet up on the matching ottoman, snatching out one of the slices. The vivid flavor of strawberry and buttery banana explodes on my taste buds, and I let out a quiet moan of pleasure.
The loud ring of the bell draws my attention away from my sweet treat as a tall, slender man struts through the door. He walks up to the counter confidently, slamming his hands down, alerting Mo to his presence.
“What can I do for you today, sir?” She looks impatient with the man, which is off character for her, but I would be too with the way he charged in here like he owns the place.
“I’ll take everything you have in the pastry window,” he says sternly. “And you will give it to me for free.” The air turns thick, as if magic is sweeping over the room, and I find it odd.
“I will do no such thing,” Mo retorts with a scowl and a mocking laugh. The man looks at her, stunned, caught off guard by her noncompliance.
“You will, and you will do it with a smile on your face,darlin’.” His voice is monotone but strong as he breathes the words, trying again.
“The only thing that will put a smile on my face is when my foot kicks your ass out of my shop.” The man takes a step back, stunned by her response, like he’s never been told no before. She leans forward, mumbling under her breath, “Your coercion magic won’t work on me,darling. So I suggest you take it someplace else.”
He swears under his breath, something my ears can’t pick up. He turns on his heels swiftly and storms out the door, looking beyond embarrassed and angry. Apparently, there’s bad people everywhere, whether you live in the dump I grew up in or on a magical floating rock. You learn something new every day, I guess.
I shoot Mo questioning eyes, and she shrugs like it’s just another day on the job. “He’s a Manipulant. Their magic allows them to control people, but it doesn’t work on me. Perks of my own magic.” I take in her words, wondering exactly how she is immune. I’m about to push her further on the matter when my eyes snag on the clock above her head. It’s then I realize how late it’s gotten.
“Shoot!” I rush out, jumping to my feet as a few crumbs of bread fall from my shirt. “I didn’t realize it was so late.” I trot over to the counter, snatching Mo into a tight embrace. “Thank you for the bread and caring enough to notice my absence.”
She rubs my back with a serious expression that hits me straight in my heart. “I have always and will always care for you and notice your absence, sugar. I’m just glad you’re finally back.” She sighs happily into my hair, seeming more sentimental than just missing me.
She plants a warm kiss on my forehead just before I slip from her arms and out the door, a giant smile on my face. I race back to the castle with a box full of sweets and an even sweeter heart.
Blowing out a loud breath, I slam the book back on its shelf and grab the one directly next to it. I drag my thumb across the beveled lettering on the cover spelling out ‘The Origins of Magic - A guide to harnessing its full potential’.
Crossing my legs, I lean back against the shelf behind me and open to the first page, looking over the guide in the front. It breaks down each basic elemental magic and where they stem from. I’m sure this book will be another dead end in my search for an answer to the riddle, but I will tear apart each one in this room before I give up.
I skim through the book, growing more bored by the second, until I’m sure it will be of no use. I slam it shut more aggressively than I should and toss it aside while dragging my hands down my face.
“Stupid fucking book,” I mumble under my breath.
