Page 35 of Avidian
“Get up. Are you sober, or do I need to leave you here to sleep it off?” Malachi’s says condescendingly, like I’m some unruly child.
“Murder has a way of sobering someone up, if you know what I mean,” I say, crossing my arms. I wouldn’t call myself fully sober, but I’m definitely functional.
“Good, because we need to figure out where they are before it’s too late,” he says.
I glance at the bloody body in the room with us.
“Why don’t I ask him?”
Chapter Eleven
RULE 11 OF THE NEW ORDER: A DEVIL IN DISGUISE IS STILL A DEVIL. WHAT THEY DO SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WHAT THEY SAY.
"Great idea.How do you plan to ask him now?" Malachi asks, his gaze fixed on the man's lifeless body.
"I can talk to the dead, remember?" I roll my eyes, exasperated.
"I know that, but with the case dragging on... No offense, we need answers—immediately." He crosses his arms, his impatience clear.
"Thanks. Glad to know you have so much faith in my abilities," I shoot back.
Malachi doesn’t respond. I can feel his frustration, but he knows as well as I do that there’s no other way.
"Damien’s different," I add, pressing my fingers to my temples, as if it might ease the tension building there. "He eludes me somehow, but that’s not important right now. The point is, I’ll get the answers we need. Give me a minute." I step away from Eduard’s body, not wanting to look at the bloodstains that mar my clothes.
I close my eyes and focus. I picture Eduard’s face, fresh in my mind, and the cold rush of air fills the room instantly. He’sfreshly dead—this could get complicated if he’s struggling to cross over. But tonight, I hope luck is on our side.
When Eduard appears before me, I know my chances have improved.
"What? Why?" His voice shakes with confusion, and the look in his eyes tightens my throat. For a moment, I almost feel sympathy for him. But I shake it off—now isn’t the time for feelings.
"Listen, I’m sorry for what happened to you, but it’s done now. I need you to tell me where Viktor is keeping the Avids tonight." I glance over at Malachi, who’s staring at me, bewildered. He can’t hear or see Eduard’s ghost, and I know seeing this takes some getting used to.
"Why would I tell you anything, you conniving little bitch?" Eduard snarls, his form fading in and out with his rage.
I click my tongue, taking a step closer, my eyes narrowing. "Now, now, Eduard. You may think you can talk to me like that because you’re already dead, but if you don’t give me the answers I need, that man over there..." I flick my wrist toward Malachi. "He won’t stop with what he did to you. And trust me, we’ll find your entire family. Your death? It’ll be merciful compared to what we’ll do to them."
His eyes widen in outrage, but he bitterly spills everything I need to know before his spirit storms off.
“Now you can leave them alone. At least there can’t be anything worse than you on this side,” he howls and vanishes behind the veil.
Damn, that was easier than I expected—assuming he’s not leading us into a trap.
I turn to Malachi. “He thinks they’re under the stables.”
His eyebrows rise in surprise. “Nice work. Let’s go.” He motions for me to follow him.
“Wait. If we’re leaving, I need to change. I can’t go out there with blood-stained all over the front of my dress. What if someone sees me?” I gesture to the mess across the front of my outfit, emphasizing the obvious.
“I’m counting on it. If we do this right, we may get away with it. Put this on for now.”
He takes off his suit jacket and drapes it over my shoulders. It’s huge but warm, and I quickly button it up, the fabric drowning me but at least hiding the blood.
“Come on,” he says, taking my hand.
I let him lead me into the hallway. It’s eerily quiet—no guards, no servants. Everyone must still be at the party. Malachi moves quickly, and I struggle to keep up in my heels, the pace almost sending me stumbling a few times.
He catches me, his muscles firm beneath the fabric of his shirt. Without hesitation, he offers his elbow for me to hold onto better, and I reluctantly take it.
