Page 21 of Temple of Magic and Bone

"Don't sass me, or I'll spank you," Vanth clapped back.

Elektra winked at him. "Stop threatening me with a good time, or I'll take you up on it."

"Stop flirting and come with us. We don't want any more bloodshed," Clara interrupted.

Vanth pulled his dagger from his boot in case any of them were dumb enough to get close enough for him to use it. "You clowns aren't going to lay a finger on my mother."

The three mages reacted before Clara could say a word. The first one threw a fireball towards Elektra. She dodged it, and it hit the mural, blowing a hole right through the wall. Before he could summon another, Vanth picked up a dining chair and threw it him. It crashed into him, distracting him long enough for Elektra to close in on him. She sliced off one of the mage's hands with her sickle before taking off his screaming head with the other. Two ghouls crashed through the back door.

"You guys took your fucking time," Vanth snarled. "I swear it's like you stopped for a snack on the way."

They threw themselves at the other two mages who had been closing in on Eiline to trap her in a room. Spells bounced off the ghouls as the mages hurried to try and go on the defense. It was useless. The ghouls had a hunger that could never be satisfied. They tore into the screaming mages and ripped their throats out. Clara was nowhere to be seen.

"Are you okay, Mom?" he called.

Eiline's shimmering gold protection shield dropped. "Yes. We need to leave."

"And go where? They know exactly where I live because I wrote it on the hospital's paperwork," Vanth replied. His safe little sanctuary had been an illusion all along.

Eiline went to her wardrobe and pulled out a battered black pack. "Car. Now. Clara will be calling for backup, and we can't stay here. I'll explain on the way."

"You take the lead," Elektra said to Vanth, her sickles still in her hands. "I'll protect our backs with your abominations."

Outside, the grounds were quiet as they always were. They ran down the twisting lanes to the main gate. The gate had been broken, and Vanth could only assume his ghouls were to blame. The security guard was cowering in the small box he worked from. He was still alive, so Vanth didn't have time to feel bad about his ghouls traumatizing the guy.

They piled into the van with Elektra in the back with the ghouls. They were looking at her with dreamy expressions, like they were infatuated with her.

Something to look further into later.They drove out into the streets of Inferno without looking back.

"Where am I meant to be going now?" he asked, feeling more unhinged by the second.

"The fae district, on the west side, near the forest. I'll guide you when we get there," Eiline said. She reached over and squeezed his arm. "I don't know how long this lucid period will last, so if you can put your foot down, my heart, I would appreciate it."

Vanth did as he was told, the van lurching forward. "Okay, what is in the fae district? Where are we going, Mom?"

Eiline leaned back into the passenger seat. "We are going home. We need to see your grandfather."

Well, fuck.

13

Vanth followed his mother's instructions to a part of the fae district he had never been to before. It felt darker and wilder, a psychic pulse of danger spreading out to warn people to stay the fuck away.

"We have to leave the van here, and your ghouls can't come either," Eiline told him before hopping out of the passenger seat.

Behind him, Elektra gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Don't freak out on me, Vanth. I'm having too much fun."

He laughed. He couldn't help it. "You're going to tell me some of your secrets when we get to safety. You should've told me about my father."

"Would you have believed me?" Elektra asked, her gray eyes curious.

"I'm not sure I believe it now."

Elektra winked at him. "Exactly. Now, get your ass out of the car." She opened the back door and shut it behind her.

Vanth looked at his ghouls. "Watch the van. Anyone tries to steal it, you can eat them."

He grabbed his spare bag of clothes that he always had in the van for emergencies and went to see where Elektra and his mother had gotten to.

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