Chapter Seventeen #2
“I don’t even know where to start. It stands to reason though that in a life as long as his he made some enemies. Maybe one of them wanted him dead and it was completely unrelated to us?” Maverick suggests.
“It would explain why they didn’t try anything with us although Sage did think that we were being followed at one point.” Levi says.
“It was nothing I think I was just jumpy from what happened with Monty. I didn’t know daggers could do that.” I say.
“Me neither. I wasn’t even aware that it was possible and I’d assume that we’d get taught about them at the academy since it would make our job a hell of a lot easier and less dangerous. Assuming you could accurately through a knife of course.”
“Your shadows would’ve come in handy whilst we were escaping.” Jax comments.
“I know. I was trying to use them but they wouldn’t cooperate and I couldn’t reach them.” Levi says sounding exasperated.
“That’s normal.” Kysen starts, “As your other gifts grow in strength you’re probably going to start to find your weaker ones harder to reach. They won’t disappear completely but they will be harder for you to reach.”
“I suppose that makes sense.” Levi muses, “Annoying in that situation though. Especially when I’m not entirely sure what my other gifts are.”
“Do you think he knew?” Maverick asks sombrely.
“Huh?” Kai says eloquently.
“Monty, do you think he knew he was going die?” Maverick clarifies.
“He said that if this was to be the end then he may as well have some fun but then again he could’ve been referring to the end of his task for Nyx. He must’ve had some emotional connection to the task he’d been guarding the letter for centuries.” Kysen suggests.
“Yes but he also said to me at the end that although it was unlikely he hoped we’d meet again and I got to know the real him.” I reply.
“I guess we might never know.” Jax says, thoughtfully, frowning. “What were you going to say to him just before he got shot?” He asks me.
“Oh. When Nyx handed him the envelope in the vision it looked heavy if that makes sense? Like there was something more than just paper inside. When he handed it to me it was lighter, still heavy and thick with the contents but not like it looked in the vision.” I explain.
“Where is the envelope?” Kysen asks.
“I’ve got it.” Levi says holding it out to me.
“I almost don’t want to open it.” I say and Kai squeezes my thigh.
“You’ve got this, Beautiful.”
“Ok here goes.”
I turn the large envelope over in my hand and study the broken wax seal.
“It’s been opened the seals broken.” I say holding it up so the others can see.
“Something was definitely removed from it. No doubt Monty sold it or something and figured no one would realise even though Nyx was obviously keeping an eye on him since she put him in his place in the shop when he threatened to play a game with us.” Maverick says.
“Come on Little Star, open it. I’m so damn curious.” Jax mutters and I smirk amused, almost tempted to drag it out for a bit longer.
“Alright, chill out.” I grin.
I carefully open up the letter, and gently pull out the thick parchment paper from inside. I am acutely aware that this is centuries old and there are probably scholars back home that would be cringing in the least that I’m not using gloves or even opening it in the first place.
I pull out a thick wedge of sheets, all of the corners have a pretty vine like design with tiny runes similar to the ones on the warrior mark on everybody’s shoulder.
I’m aware I’m generalising.
I flick through all of the sheets.
“They’re all blank.” I say confused. “Wait somethings starting to appear,” I announce bringing the paper closer to my face.
“Read it out loud, Sweetheart.” Hunter implores and I nod in agreement.
“Ok.” I agree, clearing my throat and I start reading the words as they appear. “Ok so it’s coming up as dialog. I’ll read it like that too rather than do he said. She said;
“Hey, Daughter. If you’re reading this then we’ve met now and I am so glad that we have.”
“Nyx, you can’t be so casual. It’s supposed to be ominous and serious.”
“Who says!?”
“Nyx!”
“Oh fine, I’ll start again. Spoilsport!”
“Then it reads normally again and she says, Don’t tell them that I left that in, I figured you could do with a smile. Now for the serious stuff.” I finish reading and raise my eyebrow a giggle escaping me.
“Does it seriously say that?” Maverick asks his eyebrows in his hairline.
“Yep, I told you she was an odd mix of scary ass goddess and super casual.” I reply.
“If I couldn’t see it myself. I would never believe that the goddess is like that. But then again where’s the rule to say she has to be miserable and scary.” Kysen comments.
“Oh she can be damn terrifying. She looked fierce as hell going after Creep in that nightmare vision. I think maybe Sage is the exception to the rule.” Kai interrupts.
“Interesting hypothesis.” Mav replies.
“What does the serious bit say!” Jax suddenly interrupts and rather loudly, we all stare at him and his cheeks tint. “I’m sorry but whilst it’s all fascinating that the goddess is quirky and its pretty damn cool I want to know the serious.”
“Fair enough.” I say looking back to the paper and unable to hide my smirk.
I glance up briefly as Kai speaks.
“Breathe.” He says smiling and placing a hand on Jax’s thigh.
Jax smiles back softly before predictably they pull apart!
“Ok so where was I?” I say scanning the part I’ve already read. “Now for the serious part. You’ll find what your searching for in a place that was dear, approach with caution because death resides here. Caspiumscriptor.”
The room falls silent as I finish reading.
“The Cursed City.” Kysen says.
“I thought I heard the name before.” I say.
“I remember you saying now that it used to be named after one of her men, since it was his favourite place.” Hunter says.
“I bet she’s pissed as fuck that the Order are keeping the abducted Centre’s and Bonded mates there.” Kai smirks.
“Undoubtedly.” I reply, still staring at the script on the paper. “Hang on more is appearing, P.S don’t throw away the empty pieces of paper there’s some goddess shit, I mean magic going on.”
I chuckle when I finish reading.
“She is definitely unique.” Levi grins.
“Kind of reminds me of someone else.” Jax smirks, raising his eyebrow at me.
“I don’t know what you mean.” I chuckle. “I guess there are worse things to be compared to.”
“I think there’s more written on the paper.” Maverick, suggests.
“I can promise you that’s all she’s written.” I say handing it over to him.
“No, I mean I think that it will appear just like that writing appeared when we need it.”
“I guess that would explain the witchy voodoo thing she was talking about.” Kai says wiggling his fingers.
“She didn’t exactly say it like that Dude.” Hunter chuckles.
“Fair enough. My point is still valid.”
“I guess we just keep checking the paper to see if anything else appears?” Kysen suggests.
I shrug and nod the others copying me.
“I think I love Nyx by the way, she is fucking awesome.” He chuckles.
“Dude, me too.” I agree a giant yawn overtaking the majority of my face.
The yawn quickly makes its way around the room and I grin, I’ve always found it fascinating that yawns are infectious.
“Alright, we can puzzle this out more tomorrow. There’s no point moving on until we have a plan. Lets get some sleep.”
I don’t need to be told twice and we’re soon all in bed, falling asleep.