Page 89 of A Dose of Agony
She nods, her expression somber for the first time since I’ve known her. “She always knew it was a possibility.”
“Can’t we—is there anything we can do?”
“You could try to follow him. Convince him to stop. Although, he doesn’t seem to be in a listening mood now. You could drop yourself into the pit with the nightmares and hope he decides saving you is more important than his revenge.”
Nausea rolls through me.
She shrugs. “Or something else that might distract him. You wouldn’t happen to have a key of his, would you?” Her eyes flit over my body like she’d be able to tell if I had one in my pocket or something.
“No—but I—”
Oh. The house.
If anyone ever passes through this portal, I will feel it.
The house. If I could get back into the house, would that be enough to distract him from his hunt for Bea?
“While you figure that out, I’m going to make myself scarce for a while.”
I swallow.
Entering his house without permission is a betrayal. Seeing what is hidden there would hurt him… That’s what he said.
“He might be displeased by that as well,” she says, “but it could just work out best for both you and Bea if it plays out right.” There’s a massive crash in the background. Magic pulses through Elite Hall.
I flinch.
“Quickly,” she says in a hushed voice.
I blink, and she’s gone.
I don’t have time to think this decision through. All I know is guilt and panic and confusion and one chance.
One chance to get the answers I’ve been craving. One shot at saving my only access to infiltrating the Cosmic Council.
I have to try.
39
The Truth I’ve Been Seeking Is Finally At My Fingertips
I rush into Jarron’s room and pray the key is back where I’d found it the first day. I rustle through the loose papers and pull out the small key, heart hammering.
I swallow. Entering this house without him is a betrayal. But it’s also the only way to protect Bea. My heart hurts. My lips tremble. I have to do it.
Hurting Bea is wrong. I feel it deep in my bones.
So I sprint down the hall, key in hand, and waste no time to slide it into place. The door clicks open.
My heart thuds, praying that somehow, someway, this will save Bea.
I can’t breathe when I enter the surprisingly small and very dark room. I don’t even bother to try to find the light—I just rush forward until I feel the shimmer of magic.
This time, what lies beyond may be life or death for someone who might not be a friend but is definitely someone I need.
* * *
Tears blur my vision as I stand on the loft of an open beach house with white walls and big windows.
