Page 129 of A Dose of Agony
My shoulders relax slightly.
“So,” she begins, clasping her hands behind her back like she’s a girl boss CEO beginning an important meeting, “there’s an assembly planned in the capital of Oriziah today. With what’s happening now, I don’t know what that will look like.”
I frown. “An assembly?”
She nods. “It’s the distraction, pre-planned and the reason the council set the meeting for this particular day. They don’t like to bring the whole group together unless there is something larger happening at the same time. That should help keep Jarron’s attention from what you’re doing, but you’ve still got to be on guard. One wrong move and it’s my life.”
I nod. “I understand.”
“But I’m still willing to take the risk. I can’t keep living like this.”
“Me neither.”
“As I understand it, there was one other thing you needed from me.”
“I do, but I have a question first. One more puzzle piece to fit in place before I know if this idea is sound.”
“Okay. Ask away.”
“How, exactly, does someone give away their place on the council?”
56
Let A New Game Begin
I sit cross-legged on the ground in front of the mirror in Bea’s dusty old room, knee bouncing anxiously. My thumb absently twists the silver ring on my forefinger.
Lola is unnaturally still on my right shoulder. Thompson is reclined casually beside me, watching the mirror like it’s a K-drama about to begin.
Janet bites her nails while pacing behind me. Manuela stands, arms crossed, glaring at Thompson, who doesn’t seem to notice in the slightest.
Inside the mirror, the other world shimmers and moves like water.
The room beyond the mirror is a large Downton-Abbey-esque, old-English dining hall, with yellowed wallpaper and a huge wooden table decorated with candles and white flowers. Along the far edge of the room is a table with wine and other tonics set out, waiting for the powerful beings to arrive.
A human man in a pristine tux stands with his head high and arms behind his back, ready to serve the Cosmic Council.
I’ve been fighting nausea the last thirty minutes, watching the quiet room. Soon, my enemies will fill this room.
Soo, so soon, I will get my revenge.
In the last thirty minutes, two of them have arrived. A small witch, with eyes so golden they almost look like they’re glowing, and a massive man, with one large eye in the middle of his face. He looks exactly how I’d imagine the goliath from that bible story. All muscle and veins. This guy has got to be on steroids or something.
The difference is, I know he is not all brute strength. He has powerful magic as well.
“What is that thing?” Janet says, staring at the giant of man.
“Sparky sparky boo man,” Thompson mutters.
I snort. “He’s a cyclops. He’s as strong as a giant but with magic almost as powerful as an Orizian.”
Even from across a portal, I can feel the power building in the room. And that’s with only two of the council members.
The thought of me—a magicless human—attempting to killthat thingmakes my palms sweat. How could I? How could I kill all of them?
I am so small.
I am nothing. No one.
