Page 67 of Runes To Rain
“I have a few acquaintances who are attempting to learn weather magic in order to strike back against the angels. Malam has been guiding them.”
I watch as Chiron’s eyes narrow slightly. “Humans?” he growls.
“Yes.”
“How well do they speak our language?” he asks, and the unkindness is clear in his voice this time.
“I don’t believe they do.”
“Well then, there is nothing I can do. Those who might help them don’t speak their language, so we are at an impasse,” he says as he begins to turn away.
Some memory, likely one of Malam’s, pulls at me, and I respond to his back as he walks away, “But you speak the language and I suspect you know weather magic.” I modulate my tone carefully.
He freezes, and I see his body tense. A laugh that is certainly not kind bursts from his throat. “You are a crazy one if you think I will get involved with humans.”
I ignore the attempt at an insult and say, “Perhaps that’s how your people got to this point.”
He reels back like I slapped him, and glares at me.
I maintain eye contact, silently begging whatever deity is available at the moment for help with this. Suddenly, as though someone literally speaks to him from above, he closes his eyes as a shudder runs through his body. When he opens them, most of the anger and disgust is gone. “You make a valid point,” he says more quietly.
He remains quiet for a few moments as he seems to consider. “I will help, but I will not have them summoning me at all hours. If they are committed to doing this, it will be on a regular schedule. I will arrive promptly at ten each evening and stay for as long as I like. You will informthem of this.”
I nod, silently thanking the deity.
“Get dressed,” he says roughly.
I carefully and slowly pull on my clothes. Once I’m dressed, he walks out of the room and I follow. I hesitate when he continues past the path I remember, which leads to the lift.
Seeming to sense my hesitation, he says, “I’ll take you.”
I nod and continue after him.
As we walk into a small clearing, he stops and turns toward me while holding out his hand. I step forward and take it without pause. “Show me,” he says.
Without needing further instruction, I close my eyes and picture the street in front of the boys’ mansion. A moment later, I open my eyes to shadows and the sound of wings in flight wrapping around us, and then, just as suddenly, it fades and reveals the side of the boys’ mansion.
Chiron releases my hand and takes a step back. I look at him, and he meets my eyes. “Ten sharp, tomorrow evening,” he says and then disappears in a slithering cloud of shadow that is both like and unlike Malam’s.
With that, I turn and head into the mansion to my bed. It is well past time for me to get some rest.
DIO’S JOURNAL - ENTRY 339
Annum:5615
Entry 339 - tueor
So much has happened that it feels like it’s been a year when actually it’s only been a busy few days. I didn’t sleep well last night after Malam disappeared like that. The inability to achieve even the same level of magic we have been just served to unsettle me further. My dreams were horrifying, death and destruction featured strongly.
After that night, I knew we needed to make some real progress today. We started the summoning ritual a little early to give us plenty of time with Malam. I think we were all anxious to learn more about what happened.
Other than Reem, who was fussing and fretting about our upcoming record release, I don’t know what the others did to pass the time during the day. Iwent for a run that ended at the boxing gym. Nothing better than fresh bruises to distract me from my emotions.
When I got back from boxing, I actually took a shower and ate some food. Thanks to the run and the resolution of the prison situation with Chaosta, I had an appetite and felt better after eating.
Then the time arrived, and we went to the ballroom to prepare the magic circle and instruments for his instruction. Time stretched on, though, and Malam didn’t show. We checked our ritual and couldn’t find anything wrong. We were all starting to spiral, but because my mind was clearer again, I was able to be the voice of reason. As they all spiraled, I brought up asking Chaosta, after all, she is close with him. We discussed our options and decided that either she might be able to summon him for us or maybe she’d have another idea.
Fem elected himself to speak with her despite Lent wanting to be the one to do it. I could tell Fem wanted an excuse to check on her. I guess I hadn’t registered just how close he’s been watching her since she got out of the treatment center until that moment.
