Unhallowed (Rath and Rune #1) - Jordan L. Hawk Page 0,79
asked. “I’m not entirely certain what that is.”
“The name is a misnomer.” Irene flipped through the plans. “They’re meant to hold in entities able to extend their influence outside of themselves. Creatures, sorcerers, anything that can reach out to other minds. Most traps aren’t nearly this elaborate.” She pointed to the second floor, where the renovation had taken place. “And this broke the pattern. Or at least put a crack in it, as you guessed.”
“To think it has been there all this time, trapped by our beloved library, and that the architect lost his sanity in the pursuit of containing it,” Mr. Quinn said, almost dreamily. “What a noble end. If only my father’s madness and confinement had come from such lofty work. Ah well, I suppose there’s yet time for me to redeem the family name.”
Irene’s lips parted. “I’m…certain there is.”
“How kind of you to say.” Mr. Quinn turned to Sebastian. “Excellent work, Mr. Rath.”
“Thank you, sir. Emeline Hollowell—or her book, assuming there’s a difference—must be in there. She’s already been reaching out—whispering to Mr. Rune and throwing things around with her power. Working with Mortimer.” Sebastian glanced at Irene and saw her jaw go rigid, so he hurried on. “If Fagerlie was right and the comet will strengthen her, she might be able to use the break in the pattern to escape altogether.”
“Then we shall not allow it,” Mr. Quinn said firmly.
There came a brisk rap on the door. When Mr. Quinn called for them to enter, a young librarian by the name of Arno stepped inside. “Message for Mr. Rath,” he said, thrusting a folded piece of paper with Sebastian’s name on it at him. “Your nephew said it was urgent.”
“Willie brought this?” Sebastian asked in alarm. Had something happened to Bonnie? Or one of the children? Or Pete?
The note was short and read:
Sebastian,
I’ve sent a false map of the library to Fagerlie. He’ll strike tonight, so alert the librarians to be ready for him. I don’t think he has any more than eight men at the most, so it should be easy to overwhelm them. He has made a study of the arcane, though, so warn them to be wary of spells.
I’m going to use the opportunity to try and rescue Nocturn. I’d ask you to wish me luck, but I suppose you’d rather curse me, so I won’t.
I am truly sorry for not telling you sooner. My whole life, Noct’s whole life, we were told that if anyone learned of our nature, we’d be hunted and abused as monsters. I truly believed that if I explained things to you, the only result would be having to flee for my life, while leaving Noct behind. I can’t express how much your acceptance meant to me. I should have told you last night, but I wanted to be absolutely certain I knew all the facts first. As soon as I did, I made my confession.
If we survive tonight, I’ll leave Widdershins as quickly as I may. Just know I’ll never forget you. You showed me a world I never thought possible.
Affectionately yours,
Vesper Rune
“Well?” Irene asked, when Sebastian didn’t say anything.
He took a deep breath, then read the first paragraph aloud. When he was finished, Irene said, “No guns. If Fagerlie is a sorcerer, he’ll be able to set fire to the powder inside.”
“I am quite aware of the difficulties, Miss Endicott,” Mr. Quinn said. “I have faced cultists before, if you recall. We will wait here tonight and defend the library against these interlopers.”
Sebastian lowered the note. “Sir, I’d like permission to help Ves. He’s going to try to save his brother, and I think his odds would be better if he wasn’t alone.”
Mr. Quinn’s thin nostrils flared. “He became employed here under false pretenses and has now made his problem into ours. Why should I grant permission?”
“Because if it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t know what happened to Kelly. I’d likely be dead, and no one else would have any idea of the danger. Everyone would leave the library this evening as usual, at least until…forgive me, Irene, but until Mortimer returned to get the Book of Breath. Which I think, given Mortimer’s behavior, we can all agree wouldn’t be a good thing.”
Irene clenched her jaw so hard he expected to hear a tooth crack. “You’re absolutely right, Sebastian.”
Mr. Quinn was silent for a moment. “For Mr. O’Neil’s sake, then, I will allow it. But return here as soon as you may.”