and stared out. “Your dreams are true, accurately historic, even. Mykyl did create the Tetrad. Each part of the Tetrad can control one of the elements—earth, air, water, and fire. It destroyed entire villages with earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and fire until the original seven wizards came together and trapped it. The spirit of a Seer must be giving you these visions—a way to prepare you for what might be ahead. You needn’t fear them.”
The past didn’t bother me, but some spirit preparing me for a future that involved this Tetrad made my stomach churn. I needed to learn everything I could. “Mykyl was after some key. The Chiavi, he said. What are they?”
“They’re seven magical keys that, combined, can unlock the Tetrad from its tungsten tomb. When Taurin discovered Mykyl wanted to use the Tetrad for his own goals, he hid them. Mykyl had Taurin killed, like you’ve seen. Taurin’s sons avenged their father’s death by ambushing Mykyl and crucifying him.
“War broke out, and the havens chose sides. France, Italy, and Ireland sided with Taurin’s sons in England, and the rest sided with Mykyl’s heirs in Russia. The two sides fought until they were at a stalemate. Taurin’s sons were killed and the whereabouts of the keys lost with them. That was until eighteen-ninety, when a professor uncovered an old chest buried in a secret corridor within the hidden gallows beneath the Vatican. He was haunted by visions of destruction caused by the Tetrad and changed the Chiavi into various items and hid them within the world libraries.”
“So,” I interrupted, “just anyone can find these keys and release that thing? How come he didn’t destroy the keys?”
“The keys were spelled and could not be destroyed,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at me then returning his gaze to the window. “But to prevent the control of the Tetrad from falling into evil hands, the wizard havens signed a peace treaty and formed an alliance. For centuries now, all the Mystik races have searched for the Chiavi. The Sentinels have fought to prevent those with evil intentions from recovering them. Because of our efforts, the Tetrad remains entombed.” He turned from the window. “Through your grandfather’s mother you are a descendent of the Seventh Wizard, Taurin. From Barnum and Athela’s child.”
I bolted upright in my chair. “Wait. What? Exactly, what does that mean?”
“I’m not certain, but—”
“We’ll sort it out, right?” I slumped again.
He chuckled. “I’ve said that before, yeah?”
“Yep.”
“Back to charms, then,” he said. “I want to quiz you on what we learned yesterday. What’s the phrase to place a lock on the door?
“Bloccare la porta.”
“To unlock it?”
That was easy. It was the one that got me in this mess with the gateway book. “Aprire la porta.”
“Very good.”
A knock came from the door.
Professor Attwood checked the antique clock on his desk. “He’s early. Enter,” he called to whoever it was.
It was as if whoever opened the door did it slowly for a dramatic effect. Arik poked his head in. My heart jumped into my throat and I straightened, uncrossing my legs, my foot connecting to the back of Professor Attwood’s desk with a loud thump. He gave me a curious look.
“Am I early?” Arik asked.
“Perfect timing, actually,” Professor Attwood said. “Gia is ready.”
Uneasiness creeping down my spine, I glanced from Arik to the professor. “For what?”
Professor Attwood stood, shaking his legs to smooth his pants. “The remainder of your lesson today will be with Arik. He’s going to help you explore that new globe. I have a meeting at the Vatican. Hopefully, I can convince them to drop the charges on the unlawful jump last week.” He leveled a gaze at Arik, then me.
Arik cocked an eyebrow. “Shall we?”
Friends don’t think of each other the way I think of you, his words from the other night played in my head. This was going to be all kinds of awkward. “Um—” I cleared my throat. “Sure.” I grabbed my hoodie from the chair and followed him out.
His gaze kept shifting my way as we walked next to each other down the corridor to a set of stairs. No guy had a right to look that gorgeous. It was distracting. A leather jacket flung over his shoulder, he wore jeans and a tight blue t-shirt that hugged him as if made to fit his compact body perfectly.
“Why aren’t we in uniform?” I asked. “Aren’t you giving me a lesson?”
“We don’t need our gear. We’ll just be working on that new globe of yours.”