Page 74 of Architecti
“You’re fucked now,” Midnight says, pulling her bone-like scythe out of her hip holster.The pair of us circle him.
“You better start talking,” I snap.
“The Societas will not stop hunting you.You will be taken, and she will be resurrected.”
Thalia comes surging out of the Great Library.“What the hell is going on?”
Malifax freezes, his skin grows clammy.
“I may not have secured you, but the Societas will resurrect her.Omnia mors aequat.”
The threat is punctuated with a crack, and then yellow foam fills his mouth, his eyes roll back and he drops to the ground like a stone.
“What the fuck?”I say.
Thalia jogs over, takes one look at Malifax and shouts, “Medic!”
Verrill’s head pokes out of the library door and ducks straight back in.
But I can’t get over Malifax.He was all out for attack and then he just stopped.It was like something terrified him.
“Are you okay?”Thalia says and wraps her arms around me.
“I think so,” I say.
“Go, get back to House Inferos.Midnight, will you escort her?”
“Of course, Professor,” she says and gestures for me to follow her.
Father runs into the courtyard as Midnight guides me out.He slows to a walk and then halts to stare at us with narrowed eyes as we pass by.
My throat thickens.What is he thinking?What does he know?Midnight keeps her distance and her hands to herself.Neither of us says anything.But Father follows us at a distance.
As Midnight reaches for Inferos’s door handle, her fingers trembling, my father’s cold eyes are still on us.
It doesn’t open.She growls at it, shaking the handle and slams her fist against the wood.
“Gently,” I say.And twist the handle.
She pouts at me, as if opening a door isn’t the easiest thing in the world.
“I swear the campus hates me,” she says.
“Of course it doesn’t.”
I glance at Father as we enter House Inferos.
Midnight’s mouth thins as I close the door behind us.
“This isn’t great,” I say.
“No.The Societas had a mole, and they’re after you…”
25
Lucy
Midnight closes the door and patrols around the penthouse, checking the windows and the front door about fourteen times before she’s satisfied.
