Page 29 of Angel Lost

Kai leans against the rocky wall, blowing bright pink bubble gum, counting on his fingers.Shit. Just Kai’s stupid gum. I felt like we were being followed before. I was so sure…

He glances up as if he just realized we were all watching. “Sorry, Chano, big man, don’t mean to destroy your bragging rights in front of your girl and all, but…”

He shoulders Chano as he steps toward the runes. Chano’s large frame barely moves, and Kai rubs his arm ruefully.

“Big man indeed,” he gripes, snatching Chano’s knife.

With the first drop of Kai’s blood on the runes, the wall moves. The ground shakes, groaning and creaking until a section of rock slides entirely out of view.

Cautiously, we step into the next chamber. This is more like an actual room. A chair and a desk sit in a corner, with an academy blanket, a single clean mug, and a notebook stacked neatly on top. All out of place compared to the hand-hewn shelves hacked into the wall, and a single faded mosaic.

Hewie blushes. “I used to come here, just to be alone when the other students were being especially mean.” He casts a sidelong look at Chano and I smack Chano’s arm.

“Not fair, chica. I didn’t know him then, not properly” Chano says. “Anyway, screamer, this is still not a place of power.”

Chano, lithe for his size, dances away from my next smack.

“No. I-I…” Hewie swallows. “I could never get into the next room, but I did decipher the runes. Lorelei can. An aether can.” His eyes shine with excitement. “I nearly stole your blood once…I so wanted to enter.”

I pause in my attempt to pinch Chano. “Stole my—”

“I didn’t, of course. So…you’re welcome. But Ireallywanted to.” Hewie’s eyes flick to the knife at my belt. “Even a nosebleed, a scratch. You were always getting hurt. You wouldn’t have missed it. Not really.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I, uh, I’m glad you didn’t.”

Hewie beams. “Cut your hand already!” He bounces on the spot, eyes wide. “Let’s get in!”

Slowly, I draw my knife from my belt. “In where, exactly?”

“It’s called Fates for a reason.”

“You’ll need to expand,” I say, opening my palm, placing the cool of the knife blade against my skin.

“The Fates lived here, for a time.”

The Fates, the actual Fates, at the academy. He’s having a laugh. “The academy is a few hundred years old, Hewie, at best.”

He giggles. “No, silly. In the caves. The room you’re about to open was some kind of observatory judging by the runes. I don’t know why it was forgotten.”

“No aethers to open it?” I hazard, letting my blood drip slowly onto the aether symbol carved into the door mantel.

The first drop sizzles on impact, spilling bright light across the rune. The glow spreads, igniting the surrounding runes until the entire archway gleams. Then, the rock wall melts—actually melts—vanishing into nothing. Beside me, Hewie moans, and promptly faints.Hecate, Hewie. The boys won’t let you live that down.

Taking a deep breath, I step over his slumped body and through the arch.

My eyes widen. So bright. So beautiful.

A gleaming white marble floor surrounds a pool of silvery water. The curved walls are mirrored, reflecting the surface from all directions. The glow from Chano’s fireball dances across the ripples, shining back from hundreds of surfaces. I crane my neck, following the curve of the vaulted ceiling. No corners anywhere. Just mirror, marble, and the weirdly ethereal silver water. Water that looks so enticing. The surface ripples again. I slip my sandals off and pad across the cool marble.

“Uh-uh.” Chano’s strong arm loops around my waist, turning me away. “You may have walked in here without concern for your welfare, with no regard for what traps the Fates might have left, but you are not going paddling in an infinity pool like it’s a day at the beach.”

Stupid, overprotective asshole. “I’ve never been to the beach,” I snap, glaring into his face. His eyes soften.

A splash echoes through the chamber and we both wince. I peek past Chano’s bulk. Zephyr is floating fully clothed in the water, gazing at the ceiling. His eyes are wide, unfocused.

“Fucking angel,” Kai grumbles, pushing past. “Someone get him out and let’s do this. This ink and blood mix won’t keep forever. This isn’t the time for gazing at the future.”

“That’s what he’s seeing?” I ask.

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