She nodded. “That would make sense. Those are easiest for any supernatural to manage, so you can control them despite the block. And some of your powers are new?”
“Um…” I didn’t want to confirm or explain how I got them. Obtaining new powers was strictly forbidden since normally you had to steal them from other supernaturals if you wanted to get them. Since that was exactly how I’d gotten most of my powers, I didn’t want to share. Though the Phantom power had appeared without me having to steal it, it was a particularly dangerous power and one that no one needed to know about except those I trusted.
She sat back. “Don’t worry. I don’t need to know.”
“Why? You trust me?” I asked.
“Enough,” she said. “I’ve seen that you have a role to play in something important and that I must aid you. I can’t help you get your magical control back, but I have something that might help.”
She stood and went to the corner of the room. She touched the wall, which shimmered and disappeared to reveal a massive black safe. When she opened it, a messy trove of books and boxes threatened to spoil out. After a moment of digging, she pulled a leather folder out and returned to us.
She held it out. “This is for you.”
I took it. “What is it?”
“A map. With directions. It will lead you to answers. I found it in the back of our main library. I think it’s been there for centuries. When I touched it, I had the vision of you. It’s how I knew you would come to Horatio.”
Hope unfurled in my chest as I opened it. The leather was brittle under my fingertips. Carefully, I laid it open on my lap.
Squiggles and lines, along with a really foreign language, met my gaze. It made Cyrillic or Arabic look easy to understand, and I spoke neither of those languages.
Disappointment welled. “It’s indecipherable.”
“You’re supposed to be able to read it,” she said. “I’m certain of it.”
“Well, I can’t.”
She frowned. “I wonder if it’s part of the block on your power.”
Damn it.
A horrendous rattling ring rent the air. I jumped, seeking the noise. On a silver end table, a sleek black phone rang.
Cassandra’s face paled, and she hurried to it, pulling it off the hook and holding it up to her ear. I could just make out the babble of a voice on the other end as Cassandra’s gaze traveled to meet mine.
She hung up with a clatter. “You’ve got to go. That was the campus-wide warning system. The Chief Constable is looking for two fugitives who brought a demon army onto the campus. Apparently they escaped from the dungeons. I imagine that is you.”
I jumped to my feet, the leather folder clutched tightly in my hand. “It is.”
“You need to be quick,” Horatio said. “He’ll turn you over to the Order of the Magica in a heartbeat. They don’t know you’re here yet, but they’ll find you. We could cover for you, but if he finds you, we can’t protect you.”
“Is there a graveyard or a haunted place nearby?” Roarke asked, his voice tight.
“A small pet cemetery behind the building,” Cassandra said. “In the rose garden.”
“It’ll do.”
“Is there anything else you can tell us?” I begged.
Cassandra nodded to the map. “That is all. It will help you find the answers you seek.”
But I couldn’t read it! Though there was no time to worry.
Horatio surged to his feet. “I’ll lead you out.”
“Thank you, Cassandra.” I turned and followed Roarke and Horatio, clattering down the dark, narrow staircase.
At the main landing, we turned away from the front door and made our way to the back of the building. A narrow kitchen led out to the back garden where the scent of roses drew us to the pet cemetery. It was lovely, with benches and a fountain. Glittering white snow fell lightly upon it all.
“There.” Horatio pointed.
“Thank you,” I said.
He disappeared back into the building.
“Here.” Roarke held out his hand for me.
I gripped it just as I heard a rustle in the bushes. “Hurry!” I hissed, my heart racing.
Roarke held out his free hand, palm out. Magic flowed from him, the scent of sandalwood and the taste of wine strong. Then he drew back his fist and slammed it forward. A burst of light exploded as it stopped dead, like he had punched a wall.
Roarke tightened his grip on my hand and tugged me forward, stepping into the glow. I glanced behind us, catching sight of the Chief Constable’s enraged face just as the Underpath swept us up. We hurtled through space as gravity disappeared.
A moment later, we stepped out into the woods near Roarke’s house. It was pitch black, and I could barely make out the trees, though I could hear the river rushing nearby.
“Here?” I asked.
“My house is protected from demons. And I didn’t want to draw them to your place.” He pulled on my hand, and we hurried through the forest.
We raced up the stairs to the porch, dashed through the front door, and slammed it behind us. Only once we were inside did I realize that Roarke was still holding my hand.
A shiver ran up my arm as I looked up at him. Adrenaline from our escape still raced through my veins. His, too, from the brightness of his eyes. His gaze riveted to my face, warming with a heat that made my heart pound Oh, man, he was so hot.
His hand tightened on mine, and he pulled me closer. I stumbled forward, my chest bumping into his. Warmth flowed through me, and my skin lit up with electricity. I tilted my head up to his, giving him my best I want you look.
This was it. He was going to kiss me.
The heat in his beautiful eyes made it clear. The way they traced over my lips. His own full lips parted just slightly, enough to make me want a taste more than my next breath.
He dipped his head just slightly, sending my heart rate into the stratosphere. The warmth of him almost burned me as he stepped closer. My skin prickled with awareness.
He hesitated, so long that I stopped breathing. So long that I decided to take matters into my own hands and prove that I wasn’t being paranoid about his recent distance.
I stood on my tiptoes, almost having to jump because he was so tall, and pressed my lips to his. It was more of a brush, really, because he immediately pulled his head away and stepped back, letting go of my hand. A wall slammed down behind his eyes.
His expression went completely blank.
What?!
It was suddenly much colder without his touch. Embarrassment was hot oil poured on my head. I wanted to sink into the floor and live there under the house, a weird hermit person.
“We need to figure out what it says on that map,” he said.
“Uh… Yeah.”
That was the best I could come up with in this circumstance.
“I have a friend that I can send a picture of the map to,” he said. “He or she may be able to read it.”
“Thanks.” My mind buzzed with embarrassment and confusion. “I’ll, uh, text a picture to Dr. Garriso. Maybe he’ll know something.”