Page 86 of Death is My Ride or Die

Ace raked a hand through his colorful hair. “Getting him to trust anyone, let alone open up—”

“Is like pulling fangs,” I finished. “Oh, I know. Death opening up means all of his cryptic intentions could get exposed too. Hence, he doesn’t tell me shit.”

Feeling much more trusting of Ace, I finally told him about the meeting with Lucifer and Death, and how Death had lied about training me to come with him to stop Ahrimad. “When Lucifer told Death to tell me the truth, Death hesitated, like he didn’t know which truth Lucifer wanted him to share. I can’t shake the feeling that whatever he withheld, it’s important.”

Ace absently drew a shape on the table with his finger. “I believe I can help you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, but I need to tell you my own truth first.” Violet eyes flicked up to mine. “Every spell I cast has a consequence, you see. With the smaller spells, I am able to swiftly redirect those consequences the best that I can to ensure the safety of others. The larger spells aren’t so easy. Redirecting their consequences takes a lot of patience and research, and I didn’t always have the luxury of patience. My father taught me the craft of magic at a very young age, back when we would only use minor spells for medicinal purposes. He was my only family, and then he was taken from me suddenly. Murdered, by witch hunters . . . ” Ace shut his eyes, as though reliving the anguish all over again. “I will spare you the details of the macabre story.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

Ace rubbed the heel of his palm against his heart. “I tried to bring my father back from the dead and failed. In my desperation, I conjured a dark spell far beyond my capabilities, and that too failed. The consequences of that spell transformed into a severe psychosomatic injury.” He kicked out his weaker leg. “When I use this leg, I feel nothing but pain. It is not an ailment of the body, but of the mind. Whatever this is, I’ve managed to slow down the progression, but as of late it has worsened. I need your help, Faith.”

“How?”

Ace laced his fingers together, leaning forward on the table. “I know you can read theBook of the Dead.”

“Oh my God. You too?”

“Listen to me: I will not take advantage of you,” Ace insisted. “I need only one page. One page to reverse this injury and rid myself of this damned cane. I’ve been in pain for so long. So long. There are days where I feel like I am a prisoner in my own body, and those days have outnumbered the ones that I don’t. You can free me, Faith.”

I felt for him, really I did, but I didn’t know what to think. What if he was lying? What if this was another trick?

“At what cost?” I whispered.

“All I would need is for you to translate the page,” Ace explained. “You would write the spell on a piece of paper. I would handle it from there.”

“Are you sure this is a good idea? Not for me, but for you. You’re seeking an answer from a book that’s forbidden for a reason—”

“Do you want to know Death’s secret or not?” Ace pressed.

When I said nothing, the warlock rose from his seat and limped over to a stove. He flicked on the burner and took a pitcher of water from the fridge beside it to pour water.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Making you tea. One that will help induce your visions. You may make your decision by the time I’ve made the cup.”

I stood, curled a stray piece of hair behind my ear, and crossed the room to him. “Is that ginger?” I asked, pointing to a light-brown root-looking thing.

“That would be galangal root,” Ace answered as he crushed ingredients with a mortar and pestle of brown stone. “It’s in the ginger family.” He paused his crushing to tilt the bowl toward me. “I will also add kava kava.”

“Kava kava?”

“Oh, yes.” His violet eyes flicked to me, mischievous. “Kava kava is abused as an aphrodisiac by some magic users. I will only use it to induce visions in you. I drink this all the time, no worries.” He reached for a plant under a pink grow light and plucked out some leaves.

“Mint?”

“For taste,” Ace explained. “I’ll put it in a tea bag and steep it, just like a normal tea. This is a much better alternative than our last encounter in the séance room,oui?”

I agreed. The gladiatorial memory with Alexandru Cruscellio and what happened afterward had been utter chaos.

Ace pointed to a small pot that sat over a flameless burner next to a whistling kettle. “I’m also making a valerian and skullcap tea.” He stuffed the smashed ingredients in the bowl into a tea bag. “If you come off the potion in a panic, this tea will relax you.”

“What if I want to stop the effects of the potion immediately?”

“You cannot stop it once it begins.” Ace poured some boiling water into a cup. “You must let it fade. Should I take your interest as a yes, Faith? Will you help me if I help you?”

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