Page 83 of Unruly
“A tour of what?”
“The underworld. You could introduce me to spirits or whoever runs it.”
“Hades. You want me to introduce you to Hades?” I chuckle. “I cannot. I have never seen the man myself.” It’s time to try a new tactic. “Couldn’t you just give it to me because it’s the right thing to do? I could end this for you too. Release you from the responsibility of it all.”
Calex waves his hand dismissively. “That’s hardly enticing. I never do things for the greater good.”
“There’s a first time for everything.”
“It’s not even bothering me. It left.”
“What’s to stop it from returning, hmm? What prevents it from using you for its gain? Because I promise you, Calex, it is stronger than you know. If it chooses to attach itself to you, your life will be ruined. You’d be in danger.”
“My magic will protect me.”
“As it has so far? You yourself said the Horror is immune to you. I’m sure you could slow it down, but stop it? No, you can’t. Only I can. Give me the heart, Calex.”
Calex rises abruptly, leaning across the table and laying his palm on my forehead. I stay still, aware that he’s using his ability to read me. His eyelids flutter for a few seconds before he pulls his hand back and moves away from me.
“You speak the truth.”
“Yes. I need to stop this. Someone could get hurt.”
He slides the small box toward me. “You may have it on one condition.”
“What?”
“I want something special. Something only you can get for me. Knowledge, artifacts, anything.”
I sort through my mind, seeking something I could give without compromising my duties and responsibilities, and one pops into my mind. I could give this and Calex could not do anything dangerous with it. In fact, it might even inspire him to do better.
Closing my eyes, I call up the item in my mind, drawing it closer to me, and with a flick of my wrist, it appears on the table before me.
Calex’s dead gaze moves to it right away. “Is that what I think it is?”
“It’s an ancient Egyptian book of dead rites.” It’s a replica, but he doesn’t need to know that. “Very rare. There are only three surviving copies in the world. This comes from the Library of Knowledge.”
He takes it, smiling as he flips the pages. It’s full of hieroglyphics, drawings, and practices that are vague and benign. Even with his magic, he couldn’t cause any real damage.
“This is amazing.”
“The library is available to souls who are not banished for evil doings. In it is all the world’s collected knowledge. One could spend an eternity there and still not finish.”
“You mean, if you’re good, you have access to this?”
“That is exactly what I mean. Treasure it, as it may be the only thing you ever experience from that source. If the rumors are true.”
“I’m simply carrying on family tradition.”
“I am no judge.”
“I could lose my magic.” He lightly touches his eyes. “But I could regain my true eyesight. We lose it when our magic matures—a trade my ancestors made for this power. I can see, of course, but there’s a thick gray film over everything. No colors, not many details. I wouldn’t mind seeing the world as it is again.”
“As I said, I am not a judge, nor do I deliver any justice. I’m merely explaining what’s to come. The place darker souls go, the Below, is not pleasant. There is no knowledge, no joy, no autonomy. Should one manage to escape, they are hunted, and their subsequent banishment is worse than any fate your mortal mind can conjure. This particular Horror has a nightmare waiting for him.”
I scoop the box up and press it close to my chest.
“You’ve done a good thing today, Calex. Thank you.”
