Page 22 of Office of the Lost

Crispin had no idea what a nine-foot-tall warrior woman had to do with it.“Just draw.”He continued to inscribe squares, this time above them and to the side, and Leo followed in the other direction.They had to turn to complete the enclosure, but soon they had a glowing dome of circles and squares around them on all sides.

Crispin let his hands drop, reluctantly.It’s done.

Strictly speaking, he hadn’t minded holding hands with Leo.It had been necessary, after all, in order for him to share his small magic with his charge.

The cloud slammed into their makeshift protection, but even though the enclosure looked porous, the smoke remained on the outside, flowing past them, crawling up and over them, blocking out the disappointing light of day.

It was absolutely quiet in their strange carved-out space, except for a sizzling sound where the smoke touched the glowing shapes.Even Thea had stopped singing, a relief after the strange cranking sounds she’d been emitting earlier.

“Why can’t it come in?”Leo stared at the prowling cloud.

“It’s Chaos.”He’d seen it once before, behind The Door in his mother’s Estate.“Pure Chaos is the root of all magic, but it can’t be allowed to roam the world unchecked.”His brother had explained, days after what came to be known as The Incident, that The Door—and the pure energy locked behind it—was the key to the Estate’s power.

“Chaos.”Leo reached toward it as if mesmerized, his hand reaching the barrier and passing through.Sparks flew where his hand touched the cloud, and he jerked it back.“Fuuuuck.”

Crispin stared at him.“You’ve got to be the most….”He took a deep breath.He was not that kind of person.

Leo’s eyes met his.“The what?”

“I’m sorry.I’m tired.I didn’t mean to say?—”

“Spit it out,desk elf.”Leo’s hands were on his hips, and he looked none too happy.

“Not an elf.”Crispin swallowed hard.“And not to be coarse….”

“Never.”

“But you can be, a little, a wee bit, well, sort of dense sometimes.”

Leo stared at him.

Crispin closed his eyes.“I’m sorry.I’ve gone too far.”

Leo burst into laughter.

“What?”The human’s reaction puzzled him.

“That’s it?I’m awee bit dense?”

Did I say it wrong?“Yes.I’m sorry, Leo.”

For once, the man didn’t correct him about the name.“Crispy?—”

“Crispin.”He was not going to letCrispybecome a thing.

“Crispin.I’ve been called worse thandensefive times before breakfast.Moron.Idiot.Nincompoop.Shit trail.Evenbastard spawn of a Saint Bernard and a pile of rocks.Rather proud of that one actually.I was filling a gas tank and forgot to put everything back together first, which could have been really bad if?—”

“Leo.”Crispin put a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

“What?”

“Look.”

Leo’s gaze followed his down to the pond.The water beneath them had become as still as a mirror.It was shiny, sparkling, pretty muchundisappointingin its smooth perfection.

Thea’s voice came out of the transport device, suddenly clear as a bell.“Prepare for transfer in five….”

“Where are we going?”The smoke raged above them, trying to break through.

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