Persie Merlin and the Door to Nowhere by Bella Forrest Page 0,87
it played nice then it made me Purge a horde. I puffed air between my teeth. Not what I’d call considerate.
Has it killed you? Has it destroyed you? As you are speaking, I think not, he replied with a muffled chuckle. He was clearly enjoying himself.
Another question pressed at the forefront of my mind. Would there be a reason a monster couldn’t turn into black mist if I held it in my hands? I caught one and it was like it… couldn’t get away, but the ones I didn’t get a hold of had no problem misting out of reach.
You created them. Your touch is powerful. They may feel dutybound to maintain their physical form if you make contact with one, until you release them again, he explained. Although perhaps it would be better if you told me everything. I must have full understanding of these developments.
I flopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling while I told him the whole story. I had nothing better to do, and part of me hoped he might be able to give me some more advice, or a snippet of information that would help in the grander scheme of things. I wouldn’t be able to convince Victoria, of course, but it might clear things up, once and for all, in my own mind. If I knew my path was just, it’d spur me to continue. Twisting the sheets around my index finger, I decided to add the bit about the glass-box dream to explain why I was constantly on edge.
A perplexing thought came to me, halfway through the story. Hang on… Did you have something to do with that dream? If you did, you can leave my head right now and never come back! He’d put dreams into my head before, after all.
Leviathan sighed, as though he were sad. I did not. You may choose to disbelieve me, but I assure you I had no part in it. I give only pleasant dreams that I construct carefully. Fear created this. I understand the feeling within it—it is your worst nightmare, literally and figuratively. And your fears are justified. No one else can understand your situation; no one but me. People are terrified of what they cannot comprehend. They choose to imprison it, instead.
He needed a lesson or two in how to be comforting. I didn’t want to hear that my loved ones could turn against me, or that my fears were justified. I wanted him to tell me that it meant nothing—just an anxiety dream that had no basis whatsoever in reality. But this was Leviathan talking, and he had all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. Plus, I didn’t know if I actually believed him. He sounded sincere, but that didn’t prove a whole lot.
I frowned. How come you didn’t try to talk to me after I had the nightmare, then? I was pretty freaked out the first time it came.
I did not know if this would work. But it did and I am pleased. It sounded bizarre, but I could’ve sworn I heard him smiling. I could picture it, his razor-sharp rows of teeth crammed together in a grin. Nor do I always know if such a visit would be welcomed. I had a sense it might be, on this occasion.
I snorted. You mean you’d like to think that.
Yes. He sounded sad again. I wasn’t sure what to do with sad Leviathan. I was so used to cocky, irritating, in-your-face Leviathan. But I think you will be pleased that I contacted you.
Oh? Why’s that? Did he have some information for me? I sat up sharply and perched on the edge of the bed, leaning forward as if he were actually there. I could’ve used a breakthrough, right about then.
I know where your magicals have gone.
My heart hammered in my chest. You do?
There is ancient magic where the Institute rests. It predates even the ruins that the Institute scavenged. His tone took on a bitter note. Magic of the Primus Anglicus, the Celtic contingent, if you will. Monsters know of it. It is part of why they despise the Institute, for it sits on sacred ground. Namely, the doorway to the land of Tír na nÓg, a mythical gateway. Though it is more frequently referred to, by our kind, as the Door to Nowhere.
Why do you call it that? I felt like I already knew, but my exhausted brain needed it spelled out.