Page 39 of Land of Monsters

Something was wrong with me. I was broken. I had to be.

Marching over to the table where Dzsinn met me yesterday, I nodded at the server to bring me a drink. Slipping into the chair, my knee bounced with anxiety, restless to go.

What was happening to her? Was she okay? Beaten? Already dead?

The last thought hit my gut like a sinking ship, the wreckage smashing into the bottom and shattering into pieces.

No. I breathed out.She’s alive.

I had no understanding of how I knew. I just knew. As if I could feel her in the world, sense her reaching for me. I would feel her death. Know it in my bones. Plus, why take her if it wasn’t meant to draw me in?

They took her on purpose. To get to me.

The chair across from me was suddenly occupied. Dzsinn lowered his hood, his movements imperceptible.

“Do you have what I need?” I didn’t bother with small talk.

Dzsinn watched me like he was studying me, a strange expression flittering over his face.

“I couldn’t.”

“What?” My mouth dropped open, my eyes widening at Dzsinn. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do or get.

“My informants.” He paused. “Are no longer accessible to me.”

“What does that mean?”

I recognized his expression now. It was uncomfortable. Unease, like this had never happened to him before.

“I do not know what is going on there, but the menoweme a favor?” Human or fae, you couldn’t go back on your word toa genie. They were their own Mafia. “They both ignored my summons.”

“Maybe they’re dead?”

He didn’t answer, probably didn’t know.

“So you got nothing?”

“I didn’t say that.” He frowned, pulling something out of his cloak. “I have the blueprints of the castle.” He laid the map out on the table. “It’s old, but nothing should have changed.” His finger tapped at the layout. “This is the main entrance, and of course, it is heavily guarded. This castle is high on a hill, cramped and confusing. Not many ways to get in or out besides the entrance.”

“But you know a way?”

His chin dipped, his finger sliding to another area that had strange markings on it. “I know a way.”

“What’s that?” I pointed to the designs. His silence drove up my irritation. Every second, I was wasting time. “Are you going to tell me?”

“No,” he replied.

“What?” I barked. “Why not? I told you I would pay your price.”

“That’s not it.”

“Then what is?”

“Something is going on there. I need to find out what it is.” He rolled up the map. “I will be going with you.”

I stared at him like the world just went topsy turvy.

“Going with me?”

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