Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
I blink my eyes open. Disoriented, I push myself up on my elbows and take in my surroundings.
The room is unfamiliar but somehow comforting in its simplicity.
The walls are painted a soothing shade of blue.
There’s a single window opposite the bed, its blue curtains gently swaying with the breeze from outside.
I’m waking up in a strange bed again.
This is getting out of hand and becoming a habit.
I can’t believe I’m alive and I feel okay—more than okay.
I cautiously check myself out. I’m back in my black jumper and jogging bottoms; the sock has been at it again.
I’m also squeaky clean and smell of vanilla soap, so the mop charm has also done an excellent job.
My smile fades as, without my permission, my mind flashes back to the hoodie, adhering itself to the gross wound on my side.
I lift the top and find smooth, pale skin.
It doesn’t twinge. There’s not even a scar.
The doctor has also fixed my arm, unless… There’s a sound, a creak of a floorboard. I drop the jumper and turn to look. How did I miss the door standing ajar and a hulking grey man sitting on the floor, leaning against the hallway wall?
He’s staring at me.
Oh.
I notice the ward crackling around the room’s walls, keeping him out. He can’t sneak in, unlike Emma. Feeling awkward, I adjust the covers and clear my throat. “Hi.”
“Hello, nothing girl. I’m glad you’re awake.” The gargoyle rubs his face. He looks tired.
“This doesn’t look like a cell.”
He drops his hand, and his lips twitch as he shakes his head. “No, it isn’t.”
“How long have I been out?” I ask.
“Four days.”
“Four. Wow.” Four days this time. It’s getting longer, although this time, it wasn’t the overuse of magic that attempted to finish me off. No, this time it was a tree.
Fuck my life.
“Once we got you out from behind the magic circle, your magic began to heal you. When we got to the hospital, it was already doing weird things, so the doctors thought it best to bring you somewhere safe.”
“Safe? Where are we?”
“My house.”
“You brought me to your home?” I squeak. My eyes flick around the pretty bedroom and then back to him. “Why would you do that?”
“I didn’t have a choice. There was no way to keep you safe in a public building.”
“Ah, I’m that bad, am I? Why would you want to keep me safe?”
“Your magic is freaky.”
I snort. I’ve heard that before.
“Your healing charm fixed you, and the cleaning charm cleaned you. The doctor peeked at you through the ward, which appeared out of thin air and had a hell of a kick. He noted that your arm fixed itself within minutes, and your colour improved after a few hours. He explained if you weren’t hydrated, you would probably be dead.
” He rubs his eyebrow and stares at the ceiling. “You’re the real deal, aren’t you?”
The real deal?
“What?” I don’t know what he’s trying to say, but I’ll try to ignore what he’s said about my magic. “Erm.” I make my eyes wide and innocent and say, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Remember, I’m just a thief.”
Remember, he’s an arsehole, Kricket.
“Yeah, sure, you don’t know what I mean.” He shakes his head and slumps back against the wall. “I’ll never live the thief thing down, will I?” he groans.
“Thank you, getting me out of there…” I nibble on my bottom lip. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know your name.”
“Soren.”
Soren. My heart flutters, and I steadfastly ignore it. Well, it’s better than calling him the gargoyle or dickhead in my head. I smirk. “Soren, I don’t know whether you came to arrest me or kill me, but you saved my life. Thank you.”
“I’m only repaying the favour. I was practically dead after the explosion, and you dug me out of the ash and brought me back with your freaky magic.”
Ah, he worked that out then. Embarrassed, I fiddle with the duvet cover. I don’t expect an apology, but an acknowledgement is kind of nice. “I didn’t bring you back, as you weren’t dead.”
“No? You sure about that?”
I shrug. I’ve no idea. “I’m not a necromancer.” At least I’ve never tried to bring back the dead. The dead are in fate’s hands, and I won’t mess with that. You do not poke at the reaper.
“So, Kricket, will you tell me about your magic? Did you find the dragon charms? Or did you create them?”
There’s an awkward pause while the gargoyle waits for me to confess, and I fidget. My stomach takes the opportunity to gurgle. He shakes his head and gets to his feet. Looks like my empty stomach saves the day—tummy monster for the win.
“I’m sorry. I’m being a terrible host. Let’s leave the interrogation for later, after you’ve eaten. Is there anything you want?”
I shrug again. I feel very flustered. I’ve only ever seen those pale green eyes angry, and now he’s looking at me with a softness I don’t understand. Be nice to the charm maker. Perhaps she’ll tell you all her secrets. Yeah, that’s about right.
“Perhaps we’ll try some soup. You haven’t eaten for days, and I’m worried your stomach will revolt.” He nods towards a door in the hallway. “The bathroom’s just down the hall. I’ll meet you in the kitchen. Whenever you’re ready.”
“Okay, thank you.”
With a nod, he leaves.
For such a big guy, he moves silently. I don’t hear him go down the stairs, but I feel his absence all the same. He’s a predator, leaving a prickly sensation in his wake.
I get up. The grey carpet is soft under my feet, and the ward dissipates into the umbrella charm when I reach the bedroom door. I pat my pocket. I’m grateful for my charms. Twice now, they’ve saved my life; without them, I’d be dead.
Am I concerned that they do what they want while I’m unconscious?
Meh, not really. While I lay dying in that cell, I decided to embrace my magic and trust myself.
Before I met Damien Hass, I was frightened to death about my magic being evil, but I’ve seen and felt the Dragon’s Eye and compared to the evil charm, I know my magic is nothing like that.
Now I need to find out what’s happening and what the gargoyle knows. I go to the bathroom, tidy myself up, and then shuffle down the stairs. I follow my nose into the kitchen.