Page 102 of House of Pain
They walked through the forest, Blaze occasionally glancing back to where they came from to check if they were still able to see the edge of the forest.
He also stole glances at Rogue, who was silent as they made their way, his shoulders relaxed as if he was on a casual stroll in a park.
Maybe Val was onto something.
Having a demon to watch your back did make things easier for them, it seemed.
Should have thought of it sooner.
Soon, they reached the edge where the forest started going down the hill, which meant that they were getting closer to the crimson lake. The slope was barely there, but Andro stopped, looking around.
There was not a single sound in the forest, no birds, no bugs, not even a single branch moved, despite it being windy when they left the House.
It was as if they had entered a whole new world the moment they stepped foot in the forest.
Since starting at Venefica, Blaze would often find himself wandering here. It wasn’t his first time. But he always came prepared, and somehow, tonight, he felt anything but.
Andro continued his stroll, and they walked in silence, only the branches snapping under their feet, moss crunching.
“So,” Andro said, clearing his throat. “Did you see the wound in Alecto’s palm?”
Blaze could feel his friend’s eyes on him now, but he didn’t turn. “Mm-hmm.”
“That’s some nasty cut, and she refuses to tell anyone how it happened,” Andro continued. “Jolene guessed it was one of the other Houses, probably trying to pull a prank using her, because some still believe she’s the weak link of our House.”
“Oh, why is that?”
“You know why.”
Oh, yes, Blaze knew.
Because Alecto was a half breed, some believed that made her weaker.
Blaze believed it too up until recently.
Now, he wascertainthat Alecto was as vicious as any of them.
Believing she was weak was dangerous.
“I didn’t tell Jolene that I don’t think it’s someone from the other Houses,” Andro mused.
“No? You sound so sure.” Blaze’s pulse picked up the pace.
“You see, Jolene gave me the knife that she found in Alecto’s palm the night of the incident.” Andro paused, and there was a click as the knife snapped open. “Doesn’t this look familiar to you?”
Finally, Blaze turned his eyes to his friend, a black pocketknife resting in his palm.
Hispocketknife.
The one Blaze slipped into Alecto’s pocket the night he brought her to this forest to teach her a lesson.
Also, theonethat Andro gifted him for their ten-year friendship anniversary because Andro was sentimental like that.
It was one of a kind, another little gift from the mortal world.
Blaze sighed. There was no point in denying anything to Andro.
“What do you want me to say?”
