Page 48 of A Touch of Brimstone

Dominic escorted me to another room. At the door, he whispered a spell, his forearm ink illuminating, the markings awakening at his command, scrolling around his arm and realigning, causing the door to open for us. The midnight-blue room had the same unsettling feeling as the spellbook room. Strong magic thrummed through it. The ominous feel of energy that wasn’t quite right and definitely didn’t appreciate me being here. There were just a few books on the shelves, and they gave me an invisible push anytime I inched close to them. It only added to what was an extensive magical deterrent for the room.

The simple wooden box that held the Trapsen opened with a similar disarming process. Dominic could keep it wherever he wanted or leave it out in the middle of a room; only he could get to it.

An object that transports a person to the Underworld should look a lot more portentous than a silver, pink, and azure palm-size triangular prism. I examined the object, turning it over, exploring the barely discernable sigils etched into it. The little ebb of light that pulsed inside it.

“This is it?” There wasn’t any way of hiding my disappointment. Part of me wanted it to be something grand, like the staff from Lord of the Rings. I’d be Gandalf, extending my mighty staff, requesting passage to the Underworld. Instead, he gave me a palm-size prism and a small pocketknife.

“What do I do with the knife?”

Smiling, Dominic took it from me and lightly pressed it to my hand, enough to feel the bite of the blade but not draw blood. He was very skilled at testing and knowing the limits of injury. The same delicate precision of movement exhibited when he showed me his claw.

“You must draw blood and close it around the Trapsen. The transport is easy. Concentrating on your intended destination is the hard part.”

“If I think of somewhere else, that’s where I’ll end up?”

He nodded.

“One quick thought about London, poof, I’m there?”

He confirmed with another small nod, an amiable smile spreading over his lips. “No worries, I’d find you wherever you go.” A look of self-satisfaction passed over his features. His hand covered the Trapsen held in my palm. His fierce amber eyes held mine, expressing the very thing that his words only hinted at. I will find you. Taking a step back, I swallowed.

“I know you will.”

“Do you?”

I nodded, huffing out a sigh. “So we’re back to this? Threats don’t work on me.”

He just made a sound. “When will you return?”

“I work until nine, but it might take longer. We have Wine-Down Thursday and it’s usually busy afterward. We stay open longer,” I told him.

“Good, I should have things arranged by then.” He stepped back, giving me an expectant look. He seemed very uninterested in my solo travel from the Underworld. I expected more: him reiterating the process, words of encouragement, a reminder to stay focused. Something. But that was it. He left momentarily to get my overnight bag and handed it to me. One mini lesson and I was traveling alone without so much as a goodbye and try not to end up in Istanbul.

I hooked my overnight bag on my shoulder. He waited several feet from me, motionless and silent, in that eerie way of his.

Using my home as the exit point from the Underworld was too unsettling, so I chose a spot that had been used before—the alleyway of Books and Brew.

Closing my eyes, I focused on the location before remembering that I needed to prick my hand close it around the Trapsen. When I opened my eyes, Dominic’s arms were crossed over his chest, giving me a view of the new reassembling of ink on his arms, looking bemused.

I got this. Pricking my finger, I put the small knife into my pocket and closed my hand around the crystal-like prism object. The electric surge of magic from it pulsed through me, my heart pounded, and my breath caught before I was plunged into darkness. Books and Brew alleyway. Books and Brew alleyway. Books and Brew alleyway. My focus was sharp on it because I didn’t want to end up in the actual store.

Instead of the alleyway of Books and Brew, I ended up in my kitchen. I wasn’t sure when that thought had gone through my mind. Obviously, my thoughts had given in to the hunger pangs.

Dominic’s insistent knock came just seconds later. I knew it was him without looking through the peephole. A determined and firm knock that was wholly him.

“I knew you wouldn’t end up in the alleyway,” he chastised with a smirk. “Despite you saying it over and over.”

Oh, you heard that? But this wasn’t just about him checking on the success of my travel; it was him demonstrating he could find me.

“Thanks for checking on me,” I provided, putting my speculation in my words.

“Of course. I needed to make sure you ended up where you needed to be.”

We settled into the discord that existed between us. His air of smugness made it difficult not to close the door in his face.

“See you tomorrow, Luna.” He turned on his heels and left.

Despite his arrogance, my elation couldn’t be dampened. This could be over tomorrow. It wouldn’t solve everything that was occurring in the supernatural world, but at least I wouldn’t be entwined in it. The conflicting interests would eventually lead to a civil war—I was almost sure of that. I had no idea whether humans would be affected. I couldn’t fixate on what-ifs, but I could address the current problem.

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