Page 47 of Runes To Rain
Let me get back on topic, fuck the lack of sleep is clearly showing. When Fem asked Malam about Chaosta saying she’d seen trees, I was sure he was going to laugh it off. Instead, he got tense and balled up. Then he shared that she had been taken to the demon stronghold for healing, and there are trees there. I didn’t know what to say or think. Lent, of course, chimed in asking more questions, but Malam refused to answer and left shortly after. I can’t speak for all of us, but I was shocked. Chaosta? At the demon stronghold? Perhaps she’s more manipulative than even I thought. Either that or I have grossly misjudged her.
I need to figure out what she is up to quickly before it negatively impacts all of us. After hearing that she was brought to the demon stronghold, I almost hope it is “just” drugs. If she’s manipulating a demon into bringing her there, this might be worse than I thought.
SHARK WEEK
The day of The Boys’ concert is suddenly upon us, and we’re eating breakfast together in the dining room. They ended rehearsal early the day prior so they could get enough sleep, which cut into my sword practice.
Because the concert is tonight, there won’t be any rehearsing, so they can “Rest and recover before the big night,” as Reem said yesterday. That means no sword practice today either, so I’m in a foul mood as we eat breakfast.
Reem already pulled me aside this morning. He told me that the house employees are nearly all taking a holiday to thank them for their work, so I’ll be going to the concert. He emphasized to me, firmly but not unkindly, that I needed to promise to listen to orders and act thoughtfully. Despite the fact that I’m sure Dio put him up to it, I agreed. I’ve continued to feel irritated at being treated like a child, but I certainly never intend to cause a disruption to their work, and today is no different.
The boys are quiet as they eat, the room buzzing with tension. Everyone seems to be trying to focus on their breakfast except Lent, who’s reading a paper as he shovels food into his mouth.
As he reads, he suddenly stops eating, and his expression goes tight. “Look at this,” he says into the tense room. “There are more food shortages. Even bread is getting tougher to come by.”
“Yeah,” Dio says darkly, “that’s been reported for a while now. On the next page, there’s an article about the new air pollution numbers. They’re also grim. This is why our work is so important. After this damned concert, we need to get our focus back.”
Lent’s face goes pale, and Reem looks angry. Dio seems oblivious as he stares at his plate, cutting his food into neat pieces. The room is quiet, other than the swishing of paper as Lent folds the newspaper and pushes it into the middle of the table, clearly done reading this morning. The tense quiet continues until everyone leaves to do whatever needs to be done before the concert.
Ispend the rest of the day in my room, first picking out my outfit for the concert and then reading one of the books on weather magic. Finally, with hours still to wait, I sketch a bit more on some of the blank pages in the books I keep in my room. At some point, I must fall asleep because I’m woken to a knock on my door.
“Twenty minutes and we’re in the carriage,” Reem says through the door. He sounds frazzled.
I jump out of bed, cursing that I fell asleep, and quickly get ready. I freshen up in my small bathroom and dress myself as fast as I can, but I know I’m still taking too long and leave my room still fastening my corset top as I head to the front door. I shove my feet into my boots and head to the carriage with them still unfastened. I make it to the carriage and drop breathlessly onto a seat next to Lent as the carriage begins moving.
The trip passes in a blur, the energy in the carriage even more tense than it was at breakfast.
When we arrive at the venue, I follow the boys through the front door and, as is typical, down to the basement. This place is certainly not typical, though, and all the worry and tension from the boys over the past few days begins to make sense.
The space we walk into is already enormous, but on top of the massive open room with only stone pillars dividing it, there are passageways leading out at multiple points to fit additional spectators.
Unlike other venues, this place is also mostly set up. The only thing the staff are doing is setting up the instruments on the wide stage. As I look around, I note that Lent, Reem, and Fem are heading to the stage, and I begin to follow them.
However, I suddenly run into a solid form.
Blinking up at whoever or whatever it is, I slowly realize it’s Dio. I step back as he grumbles about his suit being rumpled, but I don’t know what he’s talking about. There isn’t a single wrinkle to be seen. In his neatly pressed concert outfit, he looks even more like the prick he is, every bit the spoiled rich boy.
His concerns about his outfit apparently resolved, he points behind me. “Your place is back there,” he says. His voice is carefully controlled.
I stand unmoving, glaring at him, and feel my fingers curling into fists.
“The only reason you were allowed to accompany us this time is that you promised, yet again, to listen to orders and behave,” he reminds me, a smug look on his face. “Because it was hard to believe you after the last two occasions, I took it upon myself to ensure we had a foolproof plan this time.”
I continue to glare up at him, my control over my emotions close to snapping.
He glares back at me, his jaw tight.
“Are you going to accompany me of your own accord or do I need to drag you again?” he asks. His voice is still carefullymodulated, but there’s something in his tone that tells me he’s pleased with himself.
My control finally snaps, and my instincts take over. As I glare at him, without thinking, I lean close and snarl, “If you ever lay a hand on me again, I’ll break it.” Then I turn on my heel and walk towards the back of the room where he pointed.
As soon as I turn, I see what his plan is. There’s an alcove that is free of people, thanks to a satin rope surrounding it. There are two muscular security guards present.
I hesitate as I get to the velvet cord at the entrance, but Dio steps alongside me and says to the guards, “She is not to leave this space for any reason for the duration of the concert. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes sir,” they both respond confidently, glancing from him to me.
I watch as one blushes as she looks at him, and I’m instantly concerned about her taste in men.
