Page 75 of Hadley House
I wasn’t a spellcrafter, so adjusting the words of a functioning spell would be difficult, but possible. Since I knew the languages, I’d manage.
However, as I re-read the spell repeatedly, comparing the words with the books I found, something concerning appeared.
This spellwouldn’treseal the house behind me. The men would be able to leave at will, and if anyone else ever entered the house, they wouldn’t be stuck like I’d been. Under normal circumstances, I’d yell hallelujah and get to work breaking the seal, but Uncle Felix had specifically said not to let the ‘creatures’ out. Why would he give me a spell that did?
I went down to the ground floor and had Kirin break the lock on Felix’s office again. A shudder ran through me as I warily regarded the corner with the secret passage, but I took a few solid deep breaths. Then I pinched my arm, bringing myself fully back to the present. I’d avoided this room, but it was unavoidable now. Maybe I’d missed something in the letter he’d left me. Or maybe the spell I’d found in Kirin’s library was a test, and not the one I was supposed to use?
Was he trying to confirm I hated the ‘inhuman races’ as much as he did? Did he think I would continue searching until I found a way to only let myself out of the house, keeping everyone else locked away? Because I had no plans of doing that, and you’d think he wouldn’t risk me not being who he’d hoped for.
Pulling the letter out of the desk drawer, I ripped it open and translated the mishmash of characters again. The same sentiments stared back at me when I read the note. He’d called me graceful multiple times, which I’d proven wrong time and time again while residing in this house. And hehadsaid not to let the ‘creatures’ exit behind me.
“He was out of his mind,” I said with a groan, dropping my head down onto the hard desk. “There’s no way I’m not taking the out, which means I’ll fail his damn test. Not that it matters, but will his associate be waiting outside to shove me back into this fucking underrealm without clues this time?”
It was possible my late uncle was just an idiot. Maybe he didn’t realize the wording of the seal would allow anyone to enter or exit until an entirely new seal was put in place. Plenty of people had made similar mistakes. Everything else had been too perfectly placed, though. This seemed like yet another red herring.
A red herring that would get me out of this damn place, if I played my cards right.
“You sounded like you were dying.” Abraxas’ voice tore me from my thoughts, his form filling the doorway as he looked at me curiously. “Do all humans have frustration noises that sound like they’re on the verge of death?”
I’d given up on informing the men that I was a witch and not a human. They didn’t care, and Waylon’s initial observation had been correct. Compared to them, I might as well be human. “I think it’s a common theme, yeah. Do you not groan in frustration?”
“If I’m displeased, I find a solution. If I’m extremely displeased, the solution is violent.”
He must not have been in many frustrating situations. “Finding a solution isn’t always easy.”
“Historically, it has been for me,” he said with a shrug.
“And, historically, how much time have you spent in places other than your cave and this house?”
Abby’s head cocked to the side. “I see your point. I do not have the worldly troubles many have because of their lives. How do you know about my cave?”
“You told me about it.”
I wasn’t in the mood to make up lies. I rarely was anymore. In fact, maybe the men would help me if I told them everything that was going on? Surely they wanted to get out of here and would assist in my quest to ensure I wasn’t falling into some kind of trap set by my uncle.
His eyebrows drew together. “No, I didn’t.”
“You did. It’s hard to explain, but you told me about your cave and your parents. I’m sorry they tried to kill you.”
“I don’t require sympathy.”
Smiling, I shrugged. “You said that when I originally told you about it, too. I’m still sympathetic.”
“Well then, I suppose I can be sympathetic to your current frustration. Can I do anything to assist you?” Abraxas said it slowly, like he wasn’t sure how he was supposed to offer help.
It was endearing, and quite cute. I was tempted to grab a blanket from Felix’s bedroom and warm it for him, like I’d done plenty of times since I found out about how cold he was. Instead, I reclined back in the chair and placed my hands on my lap. “Tell me about Felix? What was he like? Some things he’s had me do are conflicting, to say the least. Was he insane near the end, or still of sound mind?”
He gave me a suspicious look, but slid farther into the room and leaned up against the desk. The translated letter was sitting open in front of me, but he didn’t look down or try to read the words. “Felix was of sound mind the whole time I knew him.”
I still had my doubts, but it was good to know he was passably sane. People he saw semi-regularly didn’t see it. “Are you going to answer any of my other questions, or ignore them?”
Abraxas sucked one plump lip into his mouth, little fangs piercing it. “We did not speak much. If you want to learn more about your late uncle, you’d be better off asking Bennett. They communicated most often.”
Of course it was Bennett. I should have been able to guess, seeing as he was the most rational of the bunch. Kirin and Waylon had little respect for my uncle, considering they spent their time stealing from him, while Zan was too nervous to be a point of contact. I wasn’t sure if I was up to a one-on-one chat with Bennett today, and I wanted to figure this entire situation out soon.
“Did he ever treat you like you were a lesser being?” I asked.
He glanced over his shoulder. Was he expecting someone to come up behind him and scold him for answering? Uncle Felix was dead. “Felix did not speak to me, as I said.”
