Page 121 of House of Malice
“Did you tell anyone about this?” Blaze asked once they climbed inside.
The carriage bolted through air, throwing them to the side.
Rogue smirked. “I didn’t.”
Blaze nodded, trailing a finger over his jaw.
“Show me the spell,” Rogue said. Blaze narrowed his eyes. “I want to be prepared before we go through with it.”
“The spell is from someone very skilled and respected,” Blaze said, pulling out the card holder with the spell he’d gotten from Gill.
Rogue didn’t argue, just smiled and took the card holder from Blaze. He opened it and slipped out the card with the spell. He quickly read through it and nodded. Then he returned it to Blaze.
“Are you prepared now?” Blaze asked, stuffing the card holder back in the inner pocket of his jacket.
“At least I know what we’re dealing with.”
“And what is that?”
“A man who has infinite resources.”
Blaze frowned. “How did you figure that out from a single spell?”
Rogue’s lips curled into a mocking smirk. “It wasn’t the spell that gave it away but your last name.”
Blaze rolled his eyes and turned to look through the little window on the side of the carriage. It was better if they didn’t talk.
Thankfully, the trip to Avalon Hills was short. Fifteen minutes later they were standing in front of Blaze’s building, in the cold and windy night.
They took the elevator all the way to the penthouse. When the elevator’s door opened and the long dimly lit corridor stretched in front of them, Blaze thought he might throw up.
He took a step forward. And then another one.
Never once in his life had he been this close to being free. He could almost smell it. And it terrified him.
They walked in silence until they reached Blaze’s father’s study. For a moment, Blaze thought the door might be locked with a spell, but when he twisted the handle, it opened freely.
Inside, it was dark and empty.
Blaze murmured a spell and lit a few light orbs. The chest was still under the glass dome next to the wall.
“I’m curious what your father intended to do with this chest,” Rogue said, walking over to the glass dome. He inspected it with curiosity, even poked it with his finger. “As far as I am aware, it contains nothing of value.”
“What does it contain?” Blaze asked, curious.
Rogue glanced at him over his shoulder. “I don’t know.”
“Then how do you know it has no value?”
“Because if it did, then there would be more creatures coming after it. Plus, the Imp Queen wouldn’t have sent a kid to retrieve it for her.”
Blaze ground his teeth and went over to the glass dome. He took out the card with the spell and read over it once more.
It was a spell that didn’t require a ritual circle. But it did require blood.
“Take this and give me your palm,” Blaze said and handed Rogue the card.
Then he took Rogue’s outstretched hand by the wrist and slashed it with his athame. Rogue hissed. Black blood spilled down his palm. Without wasting any more time, Blaze slashed his own palm and took Rogue’s bleeding hand.
