Page 87 of House of Pain
“We’re going to shoot two birds with one stone,” Val said, glancing at each of them, her eyes flickering. “You follow me?”
It took Alecto a moment to catch up, but when she did, a smile broke over her face. “Genius.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Andro growled, rolling his eyes. “You greedy bastards.”
“You don’t seem to complain when it’s time to revel in the fruits of our labors,” Val shot back, and that seemed to shut Andro up.
“We can’t just dump the girl outside in the middle of the night, can we?” Blaze asked.
“We won’t,” Alecto assured him. “Boys, get the most comfortable armchair from the living room and place it as far from the House as possible. We’re going to put a spell on her and settle her comfortable in the seat.”
Val glanced at Blaze and Andro. “Move.”
They didn’t need to be told twice, and soon only Val and Alecto were left. The girl, still deep in her sleep, had no idea what was coming.
“How do you feel about putting on a little Sleeping Beauty action?” Val grinned.
“You mean cast a spell that needs breaking instead of a simple sleeping spell?”
“Is that a little bit too much for you, Black?” Val questioned, tilting her head to the side. “I can understand if your mortal side says it’s too cruel, too dangerous.”
Neither do they have it in them to be cruel or merciless.
Once again Alecto was reminded that Val didn’t think she had it in her. That Alecto wasn’t their equal, always someone beneath.
“Nothing like that,” Alecto said, her voice firm. “I hope you have a spell on hand.”
Val’s smile turned predatory.
“I have just the spell.”
The old floor cried out with each step they took, but the girl didn’t break out of her sleep. Val settled on one side of the bed, while Alecto took the other.
Suddenly, the girl shifted, muttering something under her breath as she rolled on her back. They went still, not daring to even breathe for a moment, but the girl didn’t wake.
Alecto glanced at Val and a black bag of bones resting in her palm. Ready. From the way Val’s eyes flickered, it was clear she was enjoying herself. Alecto arched a brow, determined not to let it show how hard her heart was hammering against her chest right now.
“Deleresco ignatios,” Val started the chant, and Alecto joined her.
After a moment, the girl shifted again, her nose scrunching. A warm wave rolled off Alecto, shielding the girl in an invisible white blanket. After a few more moments, the girl went completely still.
Not even her chest rose as she breathed.
Val’s lips curled. “Get that, motherfuckers.”
Alecto chuckled, shoving her bones back into her boot.Her magic was gone, but the excitement still buzzed underneath her skin, making the whole world feel more alive.
Val went over to the desk perched by the window and checked the drawers. From the first one, she took a notepad, fishing out a pen from the third one, and then Val hunched over the desk, scribbling something on the paper.
After a moment, she turned to Alecto, holding the paper up with a rough sketch of a crown. It wasn’t the best indication as to what kind of spell had been cast on the girl, but it was a clue.
“Let’s take her,” Alecto said and went around the bed to grab the girl by her arms.
Val took her ankles, and they scurried out of the room. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Blaze and Andro were just coming inside from the garden.
To Alecto’s surprise, Blaze took the girl into his arms. They let him carry her outside.
The leather armchair was perched at the very end of the property, right by the main gate, and he sat the girl in the armchair, folding her carefully in the leather. Val hurried over, folding the paper as she walked. She shoved it in the girl’s small palm before returning to the House.
