Page 133 of Architecti
Bastien sobs, one guttural cry from deep within his chest.
Oh gods.She’s replaying a memory.This isn’t the first time he’s resurrected her, I recall.She slaughters everyone but him.He stands among the broken bodies and bloody pools, wide-eyed and trembling as he forces her back through the Veil.Then he’s all alone.
The ribbon of magic holding her collar bursts.Bastien is frozen in a looping cycle of memories.He’s choking.We’re going to have to intervene.
I call magic from the walls and bind her again.But she’s strong, far stronger than my magic can sustain.I’m no resurrectionist, I don’t know all the proper spells to keep her trapped.
“Bastien, get a fucking grip,” Midnight says through bared teeth.
But he’s stuck in the past, and screaming at him isn’t going to help.Not this time.
I slide my hand over his shoulder, thinking perhaps he needs coaxing out, a gentler form of encouragement.“You’re not alone anymore.We’re here for you, Bastien.”
He blinks, shaking his head as if ridding himself of her hold.He touches my hand and squeezes and then focuses on what’s left of his sister.
“I am sorry I called you back then, it was a mistake.Will you forgive me?”
She throws herself forward, smashing against the circle and tumbling back.As she crashes to the ground, it seems to snap her back to more shade than wraith.
She hauls herself up.“I forgive you, but the wraith… it’s stronger than me.”
Bastien scoots forward, his hand outstretched.
I grip his shoulder, pulling back.“That’s close enough.”
“What can you tell us about these runes?”
Her head twists left and right so far it makes me queasy.
“Let me out, and I will,” she rasps.
“I can’t do that,” Bastien says.
She screams, bends double and then jerks back, bursting the bindings I made and sending me hurtling.I smack my head against the wall and slide to the floor, my vision spotty.
Midnight darts across the room, kneeling to check me, but I’m fine.Just bruised.Her expression softens, the anger fading, though it still simmers beneath her skin.
I reject her outstretched hand, not out of spite, but because I am okay, I can help myself.But her eyes darken, her teeth clench and she marches away.
“I didn’t—” I start, but what’s the point?
Maybe it’s better to let her be angry with me.
Calyx throws herself against the salt circle, over and over until a piece of her forehead cracks and necrotic ghost skin flies around the room.It splatters against the wall, making a vile squelching sound and turning my stomach.
“I love you,” Bastien says.“And I’m so sorry.”
Calyx stills.Her bright expression going cold as she collapses to her knees.Her maw hangs open; a piercing sound erupts from the void.The walls rattle and rumble, and I thank the archdemon I found an empty room with reinforced Veil structures.
Giant necrotic tears fall from her cheeks.“I can’t.It won’t let me,” she says, her voice finally returning to a soft lilt.
“Okay,” Bastien nods.“Okay, go and rest in peace.”
Her expression contorts and twists and morphs.Her shoulder cracks, her spine snapping forward and back as she fights for control.
“It’s coded,” she says breathless.“You… You need a codex to unlock the words.”
He sits up, so do Lex and Midnight.Finally, we’re getting somewhere.
