A Book of Spirits and Thieves - Morgan Rhodes Page 0,53
North? Overseas, perhaps?”
“No time for unimportant questions.” Barney turned around and swept his gaze over Maddox from head to toe.
“Your magic?” Becca stood next to him, fists clenched, as if she was ready to assist him in a fight. “Now would be great.”
“I’m trying. It’s not working,” Maddox growled. His head already hurt from concentrating so hard.
“Try again,” she insisted.
And so he did. He tried to summon his inner strength to shove Crazy Barney backward, cutting off his air supply, hopefully enough to knock him out until the guards returned.
“Can’t feel a thing,” Barney said, cocking his head. “But you’re still very young. Your magic has yet to manifest fully. Is the spirit attempting to guide you?”
“Yes,” Maddox said slowly. “A beautiful spirit girl is guiding me. And she’s telling me that you’re very special, Barney. Very special indeed.”
“Did you say beautiful?” Becca asked.
Curse it. Maddox tried to concentrate only on the madman. “You and me, we’re going to get along just fine. We’re going to be good friends. And, um . . . friends don’t eat friends.”
Barney regarded him patiently. “Let’s get a few things straight right away, friend. I’m not crazy. My name is Barnabas, so you can quit with Barney. And you’re going to help me with two very important tasks.”
What just happened? “Excuse me?”
“First you’re going to break us out of this dungeon. And second we’re going to use your magic to destroy Valoria and save the world.”
Chapter 13
CRYSTAL
The University of Toronto was so close to the Speckled Muse that in mere minutes after she left the bookshop, she found herself among the buildings and residences of the expansive St. George campus that was integrated into the heart of the city like just another neighborhood surrounding the green-and-blue football field.
Jackie hadn’t given her much to go on, just a name and a department, so she did her best. But it wasn’t long until she had to admit she was overwhelmed. A campus like this made the halls of her high school look like a dollhouse in comparison. She’d never had a great sense of direction to begin with, so even with the YOU ARE HERE signs, she had a difficult time finding her way along the labyrinthine streets and pathways.
“Do you know where I can find Dr. Vega?” Crys asked a student, who ignored her completely, keeping her attention on the screen of her phone.
She asked someone else.
“Who?” the girl asked distractedly.
“Dr. Vega. He’s in the Anthropology Department?”
The student flicked her hand but didn’t slow her steps. “I think it’s over there somewhere.”
“Over . . . where?” Crys began, but the girl had already walked away.
She stopped in her tracks and tried to compose herself by snapping a few pictures of the ornate, multilayered Romanesque arch over the south entrance of the main University College building on King’s College Circle. So beautiful, like something she’d expect to find in Europe, only a short walk from her own home.
But admiring pretty stone archways wouldn’t help her current situation.
“Breathe,” she told herself. “You’re not lost or in over your head, you’re just dealing with a momentary setback. One more picture, then let’s go find one of those maps again.”
Another student walked through the shot just as she took it.
“Hey!” she protested grumpily.
“Sorry.” The male student raised an eyebrow. “Are you lost? Anything I can do?”
Crys lowered her camera. The guy was twenty, maybe twenty-one. Blond hair, dreamy dark blue eyes, completely gorgeous, like a model or an actor. She searched his face but couldn’t find a single flaw.
“Is it that obvious I’m lost?” She tried to sound as calm as possible. “Vega. I mean, Dr. Vega. I’m looking for his office in the Anthropology Department. Can you help?”
“Of course I can,” he said.
“My hero.” She groaned inwardly. If she didn’t watch it, she’d be giggling in a minute.
Crystal Hatcher didn’t giggle.
He turned and pointed. “Head through here and turn left on Saint George Street and then right on Russell. The Anthropology Building will be on your left. You’ll find Dr. Vega’s office there.” His smile widened, showing off perfect white teeth. “Closer than you probably thought you were, right? Never lose hope.”
She breathed a silent sigh of relief. “Thank you so much.”
“Any time I can be a hero for a beautiful girl like you, it’s my honor. Have a good day.” With another smile, he turned and began walking in the other direction.
A beautiful girl like me? Nobody had ever called her beautiful to her face before; that