Void Domain, Book 02 полностью

Eva stumbled over to the bed and took a seat. She immediately dropped her head into one hand and idly stroked Arachne with the other. Headaches weren’t conducive to coming up with excuses.

Wayne Lurcher downed his second glass of absinthe.

She could have just told me. It would have been better that way. None of this skulking about, avoiding and ignoring needed to happen.

What did she think I would have done? After all the dubious magic I taught her. Of course, he hadn’t been entirely truthful on the origins of most of that magic. But still, she was the premier magical theorist. Surely she could have guessed. She had to have known that there was no chance Wayne would bring hunters to Brakket over a passive demon. The little town wouldn’t survive.

No. The demon wasn’t even a problem.

Spencer’s casual use of blood magic set off far more alarm bells in Wayne’s mind.

Not many people, especially among those learning ‘proper’ magic like thaumaturgy, knew anything about alternate magics. Few would know where bloodstones came from. Wayne had no formal education in the subject, but he knew enough. Spencer using haemomancy as a replacement for sight had to be burning through stones quickly.

The implications were troubling, yet Wayne had been unable to locate any sudden disappearances or deaths among Brakket’s population in the past few months. She either had an outside source or a large stock built up.

A closer watch on the girl would be prudent.

Wayne sighed. Worrying about it now wouldn’t help. He saw at least three bloodstones on her, it would be a while before she needed more.

Zoe did not know about bloodstones. If she did, she was awfully cavalier about Spencer’s possession of them. She only just mentioned the subject after Wayne brought it up before moving back to demons.

No, Wayne shook his head, she wouldn’t know such things.

Telling her might be a good idea. He’d have to broach the subject carefully; Zoe was already upset at Wayne’s apparent lack of respect for Spencer’s privacy. Maybe find out her source first. Zoe couldn’t be angry with him if people were being killed.

Of course, he’d need to tell Zoe about his own students eventually, if only to avoid a repeat of their earlier discussion with roles reversed.

Another sigh escaped Wayne as he looked up to the bartender. “Another drink Tom?”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” he said with a kind smile. “The green fairy has already gone to bed. You should as well. Haven’t you got a class to teach in the morning?”

“Eh, first class is my prep period. Tomorrow’s preparation is sleeping in. ‘sides, I’m hoping to meet with someone tonight.”

If he even got the message.

“Well, I’m open for another two hours. Perhaps you would like a water or a soda?”

“Water’s fine,” Wayne said.

Even a glass of water was given a bit of a flair when Tom poured it. If there was one thing he prided himself on, it was his bar tending skills. He’d never pass up an opportunity to show off.

“I don’t suppose one of your private rooms would be available for this meeting?” Wayne asked as a frosted glass of crystal clear water slid in front of him.

Tom quirked an eyebrow as a sly grin spread across his face. “Oh? Is this someone a special someone?”

“Just a private matter, Tom. More work related than anything.”

“I see. Well, I could go get one cleaned up for you. Haven’t used the back rooms much these days. It will cost extra.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Wayne said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Just bill the school in my name, they’ll take it out of my next paycheck.”

“It shouldn’t be more than five minutes. Watch the counter while I’m gone?”

“Not unless you’re paying me. When are you going to hire some help?”

“Haven’t had the time since Watson quit.” Tom didn’t stick around to elaborate. He slipped out from behind the counter and disappeared down a small hallway.

Wayne sighed as he turned to face the rest of the room. There weren’t many patrons apart from Wayne. A couple sat at one table making googly eyes at each other. A group of kids–kids to Wayne at least–celebrated something or other.

One of the Elysium Order’s nuns sat with her back to a corner. Her eyes roamed over the rest of the pub in between sips of a drink. More than once, Wayne caught her eyes narrowing at the couple.

Wayne couldn’t honestly blame her. They should have been partitioned off in one of the private rooms if only to spare everyone else the cooing noises they occasionally made.

Hopefully the nun’s presence wouldn’t scare off his guest.

With the lack of Watson, the piano sat idle on the stage. Classical music played over the speaker system instead.