Page 72 of The Stone Initiation
“Yes. That’s right.”
Her frown deepened. “Basque…” She shook her head and smiled. “Romi. Basque. I’ll find it, but I can’t take the files out of the room. I can read them and…Oh, I’ll have to find the files first, and the time away from here…”
“What is it?”
“It takes energy to stay away from this room for long periods.”
“What kind of energy?”
“I usually siphon heat from the atmosphere so that I can materialize, and sometimes I take a little psychic energy from the gargoyles in the dorm, but that won’t be enough. I’ll need a big boost for this task. It involves being able to manipulate objects. That takes concentration which drains energy fast.”
Of course, it did. “Take what you need from me.”
She smiled again and shook her head. “Even if I knock you out cold, it won’t be enough I’m afraid.”
But if she had more willing participants…
I knew what I had to do. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
I headed out of the room and across the hall to Touron. I’d planned to keep my secret for longer than this, but nothing was going to plan, and if I wanted Romi’s file. I was going to have to enlist the help of my friends.
I knocked and waited.
The door opened and Touron stood there, towel wrapped around his slender hips, hair damp and the color of wet sand.
“Cam? Where were you? I looked for you.”
“I went for a run. I needed some time.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes… No, it isn’t. I need your help.”
CHAPTER31
Sharniza and Touron eyed Melanie warily.
She waved and smiled before ducking her head.
Touron cleared his throat. “Great prank the other day.”
She peered up at him with a wince. “I’m sorry. It can get tedious being trapped here.”
“I’m sure you didn’t bring us in here just to introduce us to your ghostly roommate,” Sharniza said. “Or did you?”
“No. I need your help. Both of you. But I have something to tell you both first. Something about me that no one else can know.”
“What is it?” Touron looked concerned. “You can trust us.”
“She’s known us for three days, Touron,” Sharniza said. “She had no choice but to trust us with one secret, and I’m wagering that if she’s sharing another one with us, it’s because once again, she has no choice.”
“You’re right. I don’t have a choice but to ask for help but, I do have a choice of who I ask, and I feel in my gut that I can rely on you both to keep what I’m about to tell you, to yourselves.”
Sharniza nodded. “I promise.”
“Me too,” Touron added.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I didn’t come here just to prove a point, or to find myself, or be a part of this world. I came here to find out the truth about my brother’s death.”
