30. Aster
Chapter 30
Aster
“ A ster, wake the fuck up!”
I shoot upright, blinking to focus on Crash. “What’s wrong?” I look around the room. “Where’s Hudson?”
“That’s why you need to get up.”
I’m off the couch in a flash as Otto runs in circles, whimpering with worry. “Where is he?”
“The astral plane, dude.”
Those words stop me cold. “What?”
“I couldn’t get to him to make him stop. By the time I heard what he was doing, he drank that stuff Wilder left. I think he’s planning to confront the Horror.”
“Jesus fucking Christ. Why would he do something so reckless?”
“No idea, but if you want him back in one piece, you better get over there.”
“Where’s his physical body?”
“Attic.”
I run up the stairs two at a time, practically tripping over my feet. I find Hudson slumped on the floor near the stairs, the vial clutched in his hand, and eyelids fluttering wildly.
My heart races with panic. I can’t believe he did this. I kneel and pry his hand open to get the potion. A fresh wave of panic grips me at the coldness of his skin.
“Why is he cold?”
“Side effect. You were cold too. You just didn’t know it.”
“Oh. So he’s okay?”
“I don’t know, Aster.” Crash’s voice is unusually soft. “I can’t go there. I could be dragged back to the Below. I’m sorry I can’t help more.”
“You helped a lot. Thank you.”
He nods. “Before you go, maybe set up your banishment circle. If you’re able to grab the Horror, you want somewhere to bring it.”
“Right. All I need is salt and a sigil, right?”
“Right.”
“Handbook.”
I call up the page on sigils, locating the banishment symbol. It’s pretty simple—two intersecting lines with one extending downward on one end. I hurry down two flights of stairs and into the kitchen, frantically opening cupboards and the pantry until I find the salt and get busy creating the circle, even as my hands shake and my mind conjures images of Hudson being hurt.
“Done.”
“I’ll keep Otto clear of it,” Crash says.
“Thanks.” I blow out a breath and then tip the vial over my mouth, catching a few drops of bitter liquid on my tongue. I just hope I’m not too late.