Page 25 of Choosing Jenny
“Healing,” Longshot said. “One of Noc’s gifts that I know of is healing magics.”
“Then why hasn’t he healed Aphonic yet?” Discord asked, eyes flashing with resentment.
“Because he’s likely the magician who cursed her,” Tiger said. “And Credo.”
We were all quiet for a moment, digesting that ugly truth, until Discord whispered, “The bastard lives in the palace. Inherhome. And he’s the one who cursed her?” Her voice rose alongwith her anger. “Surge, how the fuck do I kill him? I’ve murdered a lot of men, but never a magician. What am I up against?"
“Untold power,” Surge said honestly. “I don’t know that he’s a fighter in the classic sense of the word—”
“He’s not,” Longshot said evenly. “He always balked at the idea of training when I was younger.”
“‘WhenIwas younger’?” Jenny repeated, frowning. “Not, ‘whenwewere younger?’”
“That is correct,” Longshot said. “When I met Noc Prisberd, he looked exactly the same as he does today. Which may have something to do with why Justice went to him to discover the secrets to immortality.”
“Okay,” Discord said, cracking her neck, eyes blazing. “So I’m going to murder an immortal magician. After we discover what Sarah is up to and we tell her to stop so we can do this, what then?”
“Why tell Sarah to stop?” Jenny asked, seemingly mulling things over. “Why not use her plan as a distraction, assuming it could work that way?”
A slow, devious smile curved Discord’s lips. “Good idea.”
Surge scratched at his bald head. “Noc put Rex’s ghost in an orb, and I know of only two orbs that could possibly do such a thing. Halla Pearls and Vulaven Eggs, both of which are only found on Halla. I might be able to use one to help Aphonic and possibly even the ghosts of Illiapol. So, I’m coming with you.”
Jenny blinked. “Wait, how would that work for the Illiapol ghosts?”
“I may be able to transport them in the orbs,” Surge replied, his voice hopeful. “Take them from here on Orhon to Halla and release them to finally finish their lifecycles, so they can return to the ether.”
She clasped her hands to her chest, her eyes sparking with excitement. “Oh my god, we have to go now!”
A soft knock at the doorway made us all jump and turn around.
“I want to go,” Sam said.
Surge greeted her with a warm grin. “Sam, what are you doing here?”
She shifted nervously on her feet. “I’m sorry for eavesdropping, but this is the most interesting house I’ve worked inever, and I couldn’t just sit by and not do anything to help.”
“No, it’s all good,” I said, waving her in. “There’s a chance we could use you on Halla, especially since now there’s no reason for a Jenny look-alike to be stuck here. But understand, this may be a dangerous mission, Sam. We have no idea what it will take to accomplish everything we’re hoping to achieve.”
“You mean to kill Rex and Justice?”
My eyes narrowed on her. “How long were you listening in?”
She gave Surge a sheepish look, before glancing back at me. “A while. Sorry.”
“You must have light feet when you want to,” Longshot noted. “That, or you mean no one here any harm. Rhonda would have alerted me otherwise.”
Sam nodded earnestly. “I don’t mean any harm to anyone. I just want to help and be useful.”
“Well then,” I said, rolling my shoulders, my limbs stiff with the tension and weight of what was coming as I turned to my girlfriend. “Jenny, do you think your sister will be up this late?”
CHAPTER 9
Tiger
PilotingCheesecakegave me an excuse to avoid Longshot. He was too smug about Rex, like I should just accept that asshole’s behavior. He acted like I was a fool for being mad about Rex and his flirtations.
I was many things, but I was not a fool.
