Page 143 of Architecti
I rush to get it and as I bring it back, the same symbol on her shoulder forms on the page.
“Whoa, you really are a codex,” I say and lay it on the coffee table in front of us.
The rune dissipates from her skin, appearing on the paper and then reforms itself into words.
Severance Clause:
This contract is binding for eternity unless Architecti is released.
I read the sentence over and over wondering why it jars.And then I understand.
“Why does it say ‘released’?”I ask, my tone a little colder than it should be.
Lucy doesn’t answer.She blinks at the contract, mumbling the wording over and over.I get up and pad to the kitchen to get us some water and put my shirt back on.I settle next to her, tugging her under my arm.Aftercare is important no matter what is going on.
“Do you understand what this means?”I ask and place a kiss on top of her head.I recognise that perhaps I shouldn’t be providing such intimate care.She was clear—we’re in a contract, nothing more.No matter what I want.No matter what I think she wants.Why am I torturing myself by being this close?
Lucy’s puts her head in her hands.“There’s something I have to tell you.”
I stay quiet, giving her the space to open up.
“This is… it’s the one piece of information I’ve held precious since I discovered it.Telling you… it requires quite the level of trust because it’s my only leverage against my father.And you arehisreaper.”
“You don’t trust me?”I say, trying not to sound hurt.
“That’s not… I didn’t mean it like that.I’ve just spent so long fighting my father on my own, I don’t know how to do this with someone else.I asked you for help, and I recognise I’ve been resisting accepting it.”
“What did I say earlier?You’re mine.I am not letting you go no matter how hard you resist.You can trust me because you are the only thing I want in this life.Even if that life only lasts another eleven days.”
She swallows, her eyes dropping away from mine.It stings.
“I didn’t think it would be relevant.”
“That what wasn’t relevant?”
“Architecti… she’s… she isn’t dead.”
“What are you talking about?Of course she’s dead.”
“No, Midnight, she isn’t.Or not exactly, anyway.I don’t know what she is now.”
“You’re not making any sense,” I say.
She takes a deep breath, trying to focus her thoughts.“My father tricked her and imprisoned her.She’s in some kind of purgatory, I guess.I don’t know how he did it, only that she isn’t actually dead.So, the Societas are wrong.They don’t need to kill me to resurrect her, because she never really died.She’s just trapped.”
“Fuck me,” I breathe, running a hand through my hair.“He tricked the entire city.We all thought we were safe.”
“That’s the thing, everyone is safe while she’s trapped.What did it matter where Architecti was?She was gone and that was the point.It’s why I never told anyone.”
“And you have the gall to call me naive.You took the side of a man who lied to millions of people.Made them think he was their fucking saviour when really?—”
I stop dead and glance at the contract, the words in dark ink on the parchment.Heat flashes in my cheeks.“Oh gods, he used you.”
“What?”she says.
I point at the contract, my head swimming.“Don’t you see?He usedyou.He trapped Architecti.This contract is between him and her and inked on your body.And the Societas are convinced you’re the key to resurrecting her.This contract is the key, I don’t know how, but I think the Societas are right.They’re just wrong about resurrection.”
Her eyes widen as she turns back to the parchment.
