Unhallowed (Rath and Rune #1) - Jordan L. Hawk Page 0,44
I am so used to ordering my thoughts in letters to you, it at least lets me clarify things to myself, even if you will never remark on them.
I miss you so much, my darling. Day and night, you’re never far from my thoughts. You haunt me, even though your body still lives.
I want to let you know our work still stands firm. Two Hallowe’ens have passed now, and even when the veil is thinnest, the books remain contained in their separate prisons. By the grace of God, they shall stay that way forever—though of course we both know nothing is truly forever.
So long as our work holds, their malign influence will be contained. Your creations will stand, even though no one else can ever know that four of them conceal and constrain a great evil.
As for myself, I have become a humble bookbinder. The museum president, director, and board all think me mad, or at least eccentric. Why on earth would the man who spent his fortune to construct a museum for his adopted town of Widdershins then go on to do a menial job within its walls? Oh, you should hear the rumors! They would make you laugh until tears.
But this way I can ensure that others will come after me to take up the charge and make certain the Bound Ones remain so. They will walk a lonely path, I fear, but they will walk it in my footsteps.
By God, I miss you, my love. Perhaps, if the fates smile kindly, I will dream of the old days tonight.
Yours forever,
Nathaniel
Chapter 15
Sebastian carried a bottle of scotch onto the balcony where Ves awaited him. They’d hired a cart and driver to transport the boxes of material to Sebastian’s office in the museum. Before leaving Kelly’s secret house, he’d inspected the emptied desk for any hidden drawers, but none had presented themselves, so he felt confident they had everything.
Bonnie insisted on feeding them, and Sebastian had been glad when Ves agreed to stay for dinner a second night in a row. Once they finished, they retreated upstairs to one of the two balconies. The other opened off of Bonnie’s room, but this smaller one led off the turret landing and overlooked the street.
Ves sat in one of the wicker chairs, half-hidden in the growing darkness. Sebastian poured them each a drink, then took the chair closest to the other man.
“So,” Ves said, “Alexander Dromgoole and Nathaniel R. Ladysmith were…what? Fighting sorcery? Hiding magic books? Both?”
Sebastian took a sip of his scotch, letting its peaty flavor roll across his tongue. “That’s what it sounds like. Hopefully we’ll learn more, considering there are four boxes of letters to go through. Not to mention the architectural drawings.”
“I hope so.” Ves drank as well, then winced.
“Not much of a scotch drinker?”
“I haven’t had the opportunity.”
Sebastian waited for Ves to elaborate, or not as he chose. A part of him burned with curiosity to know more about Ves’s past. He couldn’t imagine what it must have been like to grow up in the very cult that had attacked Widdershins eight years ago, let alone what it must have cost to leave his family behind. It spoke volumes about Ves’s character, that he’d been able to turn his back on everything he’d no doubt been taught growing up and strike out on his own.
Sebastian didn’t want to push, though. It was up to Ves whether or not to tell him, and when.
“It does sound as if one of these evil books is hidden in the library somewhere,” Ves said.
Sebastian accepted the change of subject. “Indeed. Nathaniel wrote as if he expected the binders following him to know about it. Where and what it is. But Kelly didn’t. Did Mother? Or Great-uncle Thomas?”
“Maybe your mother didn’t have a chance to tell Mr. O’Neil?” Ves suggested. “Was her death…unexpected?”
Not what Sebastian particularly wanted to talk about. “She perished in a house fire.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“So am I.” Sebastian threw back his drink and poured himself a second. “The house was in full blaze when I came home that day. I tried to go inside, but the heat was too great. The flames were everywhere. Even the firemen couldn’t go in.” He stared at the depths of the scotch in his glass. “She was still alive. Trapped inside. I heard her…”
“Gods of the wood.” Ves put aside his glass and leaned forward, settling both hands on Sebastian’s shoulders. “This must all be terribly difficult for you.”