15. Chapter 15
Chapter 15
I didn’t even try to persuade Bastion to let me out of his sight; I just went straight in my bedroom to my safe. ‘Close the curtains,’ I instructed briskly as I unlocked it and pulled out the grimoire.
I stroked a finger down Grimmy’s spine but nothing happened. I pulled my athame from its ankle holster, pricked my finger and let the blood well up. When a good drop had gathered, I stroked my finger again down the stained spine. Bastion said nothing.
The book rose up, shining with a golden light. ‘Why hello, Miss Amber. And what can I—’ He paused mid-sentence. ‘You have the griffin with you.’ To my surprise there was absolutely none of Grimmy’s usual Anti-Crea vitriol in his voice.
‘I do. We have an emergency. Do you know of another way to reactivate a golem? He’s already been out for Goddess knows how long, and we’re too far away from Edinburgh’s activation chambers.’
Grimmy’s pages fluttered in agitation as he scrolled through them to see if there was anything that could help Benji. I held my breath. When his pages stuttered and stopped, my heart sank. ‘There is nothing here,’ he said finally.
I sat on the floor in despair, tears welling in my eyes. Bastion dropped down next to me and wrapped his arms around me. What was the point in magic if I couldn’t save Benji? A sob escaped.
‘Don’t despair, Miss Amber,’ Grimmy said. ‘There is nothing in my pages that will help us, but I do have an idea. There are two golems in existence at present, yes?’
I palmed the tears from my cheeks and clung to his words. If I had hope – any hope – then it was better than nothing. I’d do anything to see Benji breathing again. ‘Yes,’ I confirmed, pulling myself together. ‘David and Benji.’
‘Then, Miss Amber, you must bring me David as fast as you can,’ Grimmy ordered.
I felt sick as I realised what his solution must be. ‘You can’t hurt David to save Benji. Benji would never forgive himself.’ Saving Benji at David’s expense – Benji would rather die than that. But by the Goddess, it was tempting. Had I not just thought that I would do anything to see Benji alive again?
Grimmy harrumphed. ‘Oh ye of little faith, Miss Amber. I am burned by the insinuation that I would harm the other golem. He will not be harmed, but you need to bring him here. And Miss Amber?’
‘Yes?’
‘Do it quickly.’ Grimmy shut his pages and fell back on the bed. I hastily shoved the grimoire back into the safe and closed it with a clank.
Bastion could fly to Edinburgh and back to get David, or we could just get David to travel to us as fast as he could, or we could lug Benji to Edinburgh… But all of those options would cost us precious hours that we couldn’t afford. Every moment of deactivation meant it was less likely we’d bring back Benji. We might awaken him, but he wouldn’t be the golem we’d known.
I pulled out my phone and rang Kass.
‘Good morning, Amber, how are you?’ Her voice was strained and I could tell that today was not a good pain day for her. I really needed to finish her fibromyalgia potion, dammit, but it would have to wait until I didn’t have emergencies pouring out of my ears .
‘I need to borrow David right now. Tell him to go to the surface and stand by the sign for The Witchery. A vampyr will bring him to me. It’s an emergency. Can you do that?’
‘Of course—’
As I hung up I hoped she’d forgive me my rudeness, but I had no time to waste on idle chatter. I rang the next number and prayed the asshole would pick up. I’d spent my life making powerful allies; here’s hoping this one came through.
‘Voltaire,’ he answered, as if I didn’t know who I’d dialled.
‘I’m closing in on the evil Coven, but I need a favour, now. Go to Edinburgh, to the Witchery. Grab the golem standing by the sign and bring him to the shadows outside my Coven tower.’
There was a pause while he thought about it. ‘You’ll cut me in when you have found another evil witch?’
‘I will,’ I promised, hating myself for dealing with the devil. ‘Bring me the golem.’
I hung up and touched the walls of my apartment, stretching my awareness outwards until I could feel the walls of the whole tower. I waited for the telltale feeling of a golem, the feeling of earth and magic on an autumn morning.
I kept my awareness half in the wards even as I rang down to the concierge’s desk. ‘A golem is approaching. Let him in and show him up to Oscar’s apartment. Now!’
I hung up, grabbed Grimmy from the safe and made tracks downstairs with Bastion close on my heels. As I started down, Bastion shifted into griffin form. ‘Get on,’ he said.
I clung onto his fur and tried not to shriek as he leapt onto the railings then plummeted down to the second floor. It was far faster than running down the flights of stairs, but it sure sent my heart pounding. When we reached our destination, he landed lightly and I climbed off.
Bastion shifted back to human form and we ran to Oscar’s apartment where Benji was still standing – frozen, cold and alone.