Page 75 of House of Malice
“Now, I do recognize this spell. It is Elder Magick, very old and very potent. Also, extremely rare,” they explained. “Wait here.”
Gill disappeared behind the curtain at the back of the shop, and Blaze was left there standing in the company of two black ravens.
He didn’t dare move while the two creatures watched him.
Finally, Gill reappeared with a silver card case in hand. They tossed it next to the memory orb.
“This is my spell to break the protection dome you have there,” Gill said. “It is in Helish, so I hope you speak it well.”
Blaze shook his head. “I don’t.”
“Well, then get someone who does,” Gill said. “Even the slightest accent can interfere with the spell. Elder Magick is untamed and wild, and unpredictable in that way.”
“Okay, I will,” Blaze said. He took out his checkbook. “How much?”
Gill’s eyes flickered. “As always, how much it is worth for you.”
This spell was worth Blaze’s life and then some. He couldn’t put a price to it. He scrambled what he hoped were enough zeros into his checkbook and handed it to Gill.
The witch seemed pleased as they slipped the check into the drawer behind the counter.
“A word of advice,” Gill said when Blaze was ready to leave. “Free of charge. It’s your lucky day.”
Blaze waited.
“Better the demon you know than the demon you don’t know,” Gill said and returned to the back of the shop, leaving Blaze alone, pondering their words.
“Blazy, are you alright?” Andro asked, tapping Blaze’s shoulder.
Blaze blinked, coming back from his thoughts to the present. He looked at Andro squatting by his side.
“The coach told us to do laps, pretty boy,” Andro said, rising to his feet. “Let’s fucking go.”
In an instant, Blaze was on his feet. He and Andro started running around the field. Blaze stayed silent, unable to stop thinking about the thing that Gill had told him earlier that day.
Why would they say such a thing? Did they know about Galliermo and the Imp Queen? Blaze felt like he was missing something. Maybe he wasn’t smart for working with the Imp Queen. What if he was too blinded by his desire to get rid of Galliermo to notice a bigger plan in play?
“Man, what is up with you?” Andro asked after they ran a second lap in silence. “You are never this quiet. Not even when you’re hungover.”
Blaze sighed and rubbed his face. “Sorry, Long Legs. I have a lot on my mind.”
Andro whistled. “What is it? I doubt it’s Alecto, otherwise you’d be a bit happier thinking about her. Or at least, have a boner.”
Blaze snorted and then smiled, shaking his head. “It’s not Alecto, but in a way, it does relate to her. Or, rather, to us.”
“You know you can talk to me,” Andro said, serious. “I am your best friend. I am your brother.”
Blaze nodded. “I know, I know. I—I just don’t know if it’s safe.”
Andro’s eyebrows hiked up all the way to his hairline, and he came to an abrupt stop. “What the fuck does that mean? What did you get yourself into?”
Blaze braced his hands on his thighs. “Nothing. It’s just that there are things that…that can be dangerous.”
If Andro was concerned before, now he was very alarmed. Before Blaze could explain more, the coach’s voice boomed through the field. “Leveau! Weir! Move your godsdamned assess! We are not here to gossip like preschoolers! We are here to train for the damned championship!”
Blaze and Andro rolled their eyes, but they started running again. The last thing Blaze needed right now was to deal with his coach in a bad mood.
Andro didn’t bother him with any more questions while they finished their laps. Only after practice was finished and they were in the lockers getting dressed did Andro bring up the topic again.
