Page 31 of House of Pain
Gill cursed them in a language Blaze wasn’t familiar with as they disappeared into the back room.
“They scare me shitless,” Andro whispered.
Blaze couldn’t hold the laugh back. Val joined him, leaning her forehead into Andro’s shoulder.
“How many lungs do you think a witch needs to survive?” Gill asked after they returned a moment later.
Blaze shrugged, guessing, “I’m fairly certain one would be enough, isn’t it?”
Gill’s wrist flickered so quick none of them registered it until Blaze was toppled over, heaving as the pain in his chest burned through him.
“You’re right,” they said, face blank. “So why don’t you volunteer your lung for me, Leveau, huh? I’ve got a new spell I’m working on that needs a witch’s lung. They’re hard to come across.”
Copper taste filled Blaze’s mouth, and he closed his eyes, riding out the wave of pain, trying to stop himself from inhaling the air his lungs were desperate for.
Somehow, he managed to huff a cough, blood trickling down his lip onto the hardwood floor.
A moment later, the pain stopped.
Blaze straightened and brushed blood from his lip with the back of his hand.
“Here is the spell for the best protection ward I’ve got in my shop,” Gill said, placing a golden card holder in front of them on the counter. “It’s new, this year’s making, so don’t fuck my brain.”
“And it’s gonna protect against physical and nonphysical treats?” Val asked, picking up the cardholder and slipping it in her pocket.
Gill’s eyes were not too kind. “As always, High Priestess. But it’s gonna cost you more. You know, the better the spell you require each year, the more work goes in, the higher the price.”
Val smirked.
She fished out a checkbook from her other pocket and swiftly penciled something in it. Without a word, Val turned the checkbook for Gill to see.
“Add one zero to that” was all Gill said.
One of the perks of being part of the House of Snakes was money.
“Pleasure doing business with you. As always,” Val said and turned to leave.
“See you next year, Gill,” Blaze called over his shoulder.
“Fuck off.” Gill’s voice carried to them right before the door slammed shut.
13
“Red,” Matias guessed. He sat on one of the desks, legs swinging. His mouth was lazily working a piece of gum, eyes intently watching Alecto.
“Guess again, pretty boy.”
Matias hummed.
Alecto had been laboring over the books in this library for almost a week now, and she couldn’t be happier that it was almost Friday.
The good thing about her detention was that she had time to actually think about what she was going to do to get back at Blaze for leaving her in trouble. Last year, Alecto would have left it alone. She would serve her time and then pretend it didn’t happen.
For the sake of their House.
But it was not about their House. It was about Alecto standing up for herself.She was done playing nice.
If she didn’t show Blaze that she was not to be messed with, then Blaze would think that he could do whatever he pleased with her. And with that boy, there were no limits. Alecto was sure of it.
