Page 85 of House of Pain
“Fuck,” said Andro.
“Who the fuck skips a party on a Saturday?” Val asked, frowning.
They stood at the edge of the property, by the main gate. It was supposed to be an easy job. The only reason why they all had to come in tonight was to break the protection spell over the property.
But with someone still home, it was a risk.
“We can still try,” Alecto insisted. “We remove the protection spell, get inside, and see whether someone is really inside or if they just left the lights on.”
“Could be that someone just forgot,” Blaze agreed.
“And what if someoneisinside?” Andro asked. “What the fuck do we do then? Turn around and run?”
They all exchanged glances in silence. Andro’s eyes widened.“Don’t you even dare think about it. We’re not burning the House down with someone inside.”
“We never suggested it,” Alecto said. “We would never.”
The truth was, Alecto wasn’t sure anymore whether they wouldn’t.
But Alessandro didn’t need to hear that right now.
“Relax, Andro,” Blaze said. “We will put them to sleep and carry them outside. Then, we’ll burn the House.”
Val nodded.
“Do you think these types of conversations happen in other universities?” Andro asked, turning to Alecto.
She smirked, shrugging. “I doubt it.”
“Get together, fuckers,” Val hissed, spreading her arms.
Alecto grabbed her bones, clenching them in the same hand she took Andro’s palm in. She almost recoiled when Blaze took her other palm, lacing their fingers together.
The fact that Blaze hadn’t gotten back at Alecto for his losing the game hadn’t slipped her attention. Blaze Leveau never forgave and forgot. Even if the two of them were engaging in rather reckless behavior recently.
“Obliteus,” Val started murmuring under her breath, and they all joined in.
Alecto conjured the image of a box inside her mind, locked without the key, and she focused all her energy on prying the lock open.
It was not coming easily this time.The House of Tigers had good security, just like all big four Houses. They’d probably even gotten one of the cheapest spells from Gill’s to protect their House.
They continued chanting, Blaze’s fingers twitching, then curling tighter around Alecto’s hand, the sharp metal of his rings pressing into her flesh.
After a few more moments, Alecto sighed. The lock rattled before the box flew open. Electric current zipped through her, and when she opened her eyes, she managed to steal a glance at the shield evaporating around the property, orange streaks retreating rapidly.
“And we’re in,” Val announced.
“Promise we’re not going to kill anyone tonight,” Andro insisted before they opened the front gate.
“Promise,” Val assured him.
Alessandro could be a real pain in the ass sometimes. It was as if he was denying himself the true nature of their kind, trying desperately to bejust. For what reason, Alecto couldn’t tell. Sometimes she envied Andro for that. It must have been nice not to worry about being seen as too weak and fickle because of your nature.
The gates creaked as Val pushed them open, and they entered the property, the gravel crunching under their feet. The path wasn’t long, and soon they were standing at the front door.
Val checked the lock.
“Mistake,” she snorted as the door opened, revealing a dark foyer.
