Page 119 of House of Malice
Galia didn’t bother answering her. She turned her back on them and placed a hand over a small notebook. She mumbled a spell Alecto couldn’t make out, and the notebook slowly came to life.
It floated into the air and then expanded with a loudpop. The old pages were free now, and the leather cover flapped as if the Book had wings.
“High Priestess,” the Book said to Galia and then whirled around in the air.
“Did the Book just…curtsy?” Jolene asked, blinking.
“I think so,” Alecto said. “That is one polite Book.”
“I didn’t know they could speak,” Jolene said, rubbing her chin. “Why doesn’t ours speak?”
Val rolled her eyes at them.
“Book.” Galia acknowledged the Book with a nod. Then she turned to them. “It is what makes ours special. It has its own character and personality. Which is a blessing and a curse at the same time.”
“I can imagine,” Alecto said, smiling. “What if a Book isn’t in the mood to give you access to spells…”
Jolene laughed. “Tough luck.”
Galia crossed her arms. “Are you done already?”
“Show us the spells,” Val instructed Galia. “How many does he have anyway?”
“Quite a few,” Galia said. “He has one protection ward around the whole house that alerts him if anyone trespasses. He has granted permission for some people to enter whenever. I’m one of those people.”
Val nodded.
“Then he has another protection spell cast over his windows and his doors and any other crevices and nooks that could be used for entrance. There is an invisible barrier that has to be removed with magic. And, of course, there is an alert spell placed on top, which alerts the Dean if that happens.”
Val nodded once more.
“Then there is a separate protection ward around his home study,” Galia said. “That one is a combination of the two previous spells. He only ever gives temporary permission to enter the study for others. Me included.”
“Fucking Hel,” Jolene said. “That is a lot of spells to work through.”
“Clearly he has a lot to hide,” Alecto said. “And tons of enemies if he’s so protective.”
“I thought so too,” Galia said. “He is really protective of his study, which means that there are valuables there.”
“Like his art,” Val said. “Okay, so we have three spells altogether. Do you know if the artwork is protected as well?”
Galia shook her head. “As far as I’m aware, it isn’t. When I was there yesterday to meet him, I inspected the art when he left for a moment to take a call. There wasn’t anything around the pictures.”
Val narrowed her eyes. “Seems suspicious. But alright. Jolene, is there a spell that can break any protection ward in an instant?”
Jolene pursed her lips, thinking about it for a moment. “I think so, yes. But it requires a lot of energy. Even blood magic might not be enough.”
“How about a demon’s blood?” Val asked.
Jolene nodded. “Should suffice.”
“Are you serious, Val?” Alecto asked. “That would alert him, and it would very openly start a conflict.”
“It would only be the worst-case scenario, if we get inside and there is a damned protection ward placed around the paintings,” Val said. “And anyway, the moment we have the artworks, we will be openly defying him and his plans.”
“Can I ask where you have demon blood from?” Galia asked, frowning. “That is strictly forbidden.”
Val rolled her eyes and waved her hand. “Oh, please. And breaking into the Dean’s home to steal shit is not forbidden? Everything about this is outside Venefica’s and Inathis’s laws.”
