A bird flapped past the window, casting a dark shadow that made me sink deeper into the armchair. It perched on the sill, with sleek black feathers and glinting black eyes. Just a raven, or was it an omen to round off this weird night? As a chill pinched my spine, Bram Stoker’s Dracula sprang to mind. “Come, we must see and act. Devils or no devils, or all the devils at once, it matters not; we fight him all the same.”
“Are you feeling unwell? I could concoct a sleeping brew instead of coffee, if you require it.” Tobe crouched on his haunches, his golden eyes a burnished bronze in the firelight.
I burrowed deeper into the plush cushions. “I’ll be alright. I think it’s just shock.” Truth be told, I felt hideous. Worse than during the training session with Genie, worse than after my last few Purges. And the warning signs that threatened another spewing session were all in place—a cold sweat up the nape of my neck, a quickened pulse, a churning stomach.
“Your parents are on their way,” Tobe assured. “They can take you back to your room whenever you feel ready.”
“Tobe?” I lifted my weary head to meet his gaze. “Why didn’t you see me on the security system?”
His furry brow furrowed. “It is as mysterious to me as it is to you. I happened to be on my rounds when I heard your voice. I believe Leviathan may have deciphered a path of blind spots through the Bestiary that avoids the mirrors, guiding you along it while you were sleeping.” He growled uncomfortably. “I will install more mirrors as soon as you have been safely returned to your bed.”
“Do you think he could have figured out something similar for the rest of the coven? I walked a long way, and nobody stopped me.” If that monster had a grasp of the SDC’s layout, then he already had too much information.
Tobe nodded reluctantly. “I think that is a logical speculation. After all, we know he visited your mother in the infirmary, after you were born. That would have required some knowledge of that kind.” He turned to stare into the fire. “I will ask Astrid to heighten security in the hallways, and to look over the recordings from this evening. You should not have been able to get so far without someone sounding the alarm.”
“Thank you, Tobe.” I let the warmth of the coffee cup feed my numb fingers. “Thank you for coming to get me.”
“I would never allow any harm to come to you, Miss Persie. You are dear to me.” A purr rumbled in the back of his throat. “However, I must ask a question. What did he say to bring you so near his enclosure?”
As I relayed the ominous news that Leviathan had given me, Tobe’s ears flicked back and forth like honed radar dishes. And, when I finished, he covered my hands with his paws.
“Pay him no heed. I do not know how to prevent him from entering your dreams, and for that I am sorry, but if his physical form stays incarcerated, he is limited. None of this will come to pass. Together, we will prevent it,” he insisted.
I wanted to believe him, but Leviathan had looked so complacent about my refusal. As if he was so certain that I’d come around, that he didn’t even need to contemplate failure. Still, hearing Tobe’s words gave me a shred of comfort.
Then again, Tobe is one of the free Purge beasts… He could go where he liked, more or less. Maybe he didn’t understand how it felt to be locked up in the way that Leviathan and the other Purge beasts did. Which could mean that he didn’t appreciate the enormity of their resolve.
“I wish he’d stuck his ‘gift’ where the sun doesn’t shine,” I muttered.
Tobe mustered a stiff chuckle. “I know you do, Miss Persie. We all do, but we should not think like that. The past and the present cannot be changed. Only the future can, and that will depend on your strength of character. For what it’s worth, I would trust that feature of yours to the ends of the Earth.”
“Good, because it might be the end of the Earth if I mess up.” I gazed into the coffee cup and inhaled the soothing scent.
“If you are the Persie Merlin-Crowley that I know, there is no chance of it.” He laid his head on the armrest. I resisted the urge to stroke his soft fur, though I knew he wouldn’t have minded.
Just then, my mom and dad arrived. The door swung open on their pale, terrified faces, and they didn’t pause for any niceties. They ran toward me and I sprang up from the armchair, falling into their welcoming arms.
“What happened, Persie?” my mom asked in a tone that was at once fearful and relieved.
My dad hugged us both to him. “Are you all right? We thought you were with Genie, or we’d never have left the apartment.”
“I came back early.” I clung to them as if they were a lifeboat in a treacherous storm. “And I fell asleep. That’s how it started.” Taking a deep breath, I repeated the story I’d just told Tobe.
“The legend of Persephone?” Mom said. “Well, for starters, I’m not a goddess and he’s not Hades. And he’s not tricking you into being his wife with any pomegranate seeds, so how’s he planning to make this happen?” My mom had her action hat on. Otherwise known as her coping mechanism. “I might get in touch with Erebus or Lux, see if they have any information—they know Chaos better than anyone.”
I nodded in agreement. “Or you could summon Remington and see what he knows about any Chaos legends regarding Persephone, since he’s the Child of Darkness—see if they differ, or how it could play out without the usual characters. Either way, I have no clue how he intends to do it.” My throat lurched strangely, somewhere between a hiccup and a dry heave.
Oh no. Not now…
“As I have said to Miss Persie, as long as Leviathan remains inside his enclosure, he cannot hurt anyone.” Tobe raised himself back up onto two feet. “And I intend to increase our security measures once you have departed.”
“You were right all along, Persie,” my mom said, looking at me as if she were seeing me for the first time. “You must’ve sensed what was coming, deep in your subconscious.”
I squinted. “What do you mean?”
“You have to get away. We have to find a way to keep you from the Bestiary altogether.” She paced, leaving my dad to keep hugging me. Another one of her coping mechanisms. “Leviathan clearly has a way of slipping around obstacles and getting into your head, but maybe he couldn’t if we got you far enough away.”
“But what about my Purges?” The thought of being away from the SDC no longer comforted me. I hadn’t got a handle on this Purging yet. But I couldn’t deny the logic. Like a radio signal, the farther I got from the transmitter, the lower the strength of the transmission, at least in theory.
I can’t always rely on my parents or Tobe to bail me out. If Tobe hadn’t walked by Leviathan’s hall, I would’ve had to get myself out of that situation. And, though I was afraid, I knew from my dream that I was capable. With Hell on Earth on the table, I had to take myself out of the equation. It was time I stepped up to my legacy, and not the legacy Leviathan had spoken about.
It was time to live up to the Merlin legacy. The thought gave me a sudden rush of confidence, which quickly gave way to…
“We’ll find a way to deal with—” My dad’s words got cut short by my body buckling out of his arms. I flopped to the ground on all fours, my muscles wrenching to throw up the latest smoke beast. I might not have been able to control the Purges or what came out, but I’d come to terms with the different Purge sensations. And this one felt small. No ring of black fire, no cracking bones. Manageable.
The smoke poured out of my mouth onto the floor, taking shape before I’d finished hurling it into existence: webbed feet and a leathery back, with dark wings unfurling. Its bright blue scales glinted with a sheen like a gas spill, flecked with pinks and purples and darker blues that shifted between colors with the flicker of firelight. A gaping mouth appeared, filled with sharp, dripping fangs and a slavering tongue that dribbled black goop onto the floor. Above that, two beady eyes darted around the cottage. For a moment, it fixed those eyes on me and its head dipped strangely, sort of like a bow.
“A gargoyle!” M
y mom whipped a Mason jar off one of Tobe’s shelves and slid it under the creature. Meanwhile, my dad clattered down a bag full of entrapment stones, where green light-ropes shot out and lashed across the creature. It howled as the ropes dragged it down to the floor, trying to bite at its restraints. With its shrieks ringing in my ears, it began to disintegrate back into smoke, filtering into the waiting jar. I knew it had to be done, but that sound—it stuck with me a while. There’d been despair in its fight, like any creature struggling for its freedom.
“It looked odd, didn’t it?” My dad collected the jar and screwed on the lid.
My mom nodded. “I haven’t seen a blue one before.”
“I shall contend with this.” Tobe took the jar from my dad and cast me a remorseful look. “Take care of yourself, Miss Persie. And, remember, you have the strength to combat this. I know you do.”
“We should get you home.” My dad helped me to my feet and my mom joined him on my other side, the two of them propping me up as we followed Tobe from the cottage. I homed in on the jar in his paws, where black smoke swirled furiously.
And that sound, that pained sound, rang in my ears. Did any creature really want to be trapped inside a box? Would I fight like that if they came for me?
Eighteen
Persie
“You’ll get a stomach ache.” My mom eyeballed me across the table as I devoured half a loaf of toast. Crumbs and butter formed a grainy paste around my lips, which I hastily wiped away to get back to shoving food into my mouth.
“Who knew that Purging monsters burned so many calories?” I joked, attempting to look innocent before hastily finishing another piece.
She folded up her newspaper and set it down on the counter. “Are you going somewhere?” She nodded to my athleisure fashion statement: an old gray t-shirt with a worn-out slogan for some bar that didn’t exist anymore, and a stolen pair of my mom’s high-performance, breathable, expensive sports leggings.
“I said I’d meet Genie.” I kept the rest vague.
“Do you think that’s a good idea? Now that we know what Leviathan… uh… wants, perhaps it’d be better if she came to you instead.” She didn’t sound forbidding, just maternally concerned. Last night had given everyone a shock, especially since that particular monster had revealed he had romantic intentions toward me. Ugh. I’d anticipated nightmares filled with that slimeball trying to woo me in a thousand rose-tinted dreamscapes in a thousand sleazy ways, but I’d slept surprisingly well after we got back from the Bestiary. No nightmares, no dreams whatsoever. It was the first good sleep I’d had since my birthday.
I flashed her a crumby smile. “You suspect a surprise coronation? He’ll jump out of the shadows and slap a crown on my head? Or were you thinking something more along the lines of a dozen roses and a box of chocolates he picked up from the gas station?” I rubbed my tummy. “Actually, chocolate doesn’t sound so bad.” I obviously didn’t mean it, but she looked so jumpy and weirded out. I just wanted to soften those hard edges a little bit.
“While I appreciate the comedy show, this is serious… and seriously disturbing.” She clenched her coffee mug so tight I worried it might shatter.
“Preaching to the choir, Mom. But if I spend another minute in that bedroom, I might paint myself and become a living mural.” I put on what I hoped was a casual smile. “And I don’t want to risk napping, in case I end up back at Leviathan’s hall, where he actually might try to lay on some flirtation. If I keep busy, I’m lessening the chance that he’ll slither back into my head.”
My mom sighed. “Okay, but don’t be gone too long. And make sure you keep your phone on so you can call if you need me. I’ve got some things to do, but I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
“Where’s Dad?” I hadn’t seen him all morning.
“He went out on some business, but he should be back this afternoon.” She stared intently into her coffee, her forehead creased.
Some things… some business. The usual party line when it came to work stuff. The vaguer, the better. Her work took her on all kinds of missions, and I barely knew any of the details, but her frazzled expression piqued my interest.
“Is everything all right?” I wondered if it might be the same thing that had taken them away yesterday.
She looked up. “I hope it will be.”
“Have you had a chance to think about what you said last night?” I munched my way through another piece of toast like the Very Hungry Caterpillar.
She pretended to look over the front cover of the newspaper. “Your dad and I are still working on a solution.”
“Without me?” I bit back the note of irritation that threatened to seep in.
“No. We’re just putting together some ideas, and you’re welcome to add your own. We can discuss it as a family when he gets home.” She scrunched the corner of the paper.
Oh, I’m welcome to add some of my own? Why did I have a sinking feeling that they’d only get shot down? I tore off a chunk of toast and used the mouthful to stop me from saying something I’d regret. After last night, the mood had thawed a bit, and I didn’t want to ruin that by turning it into permafrost.
“How about the Children of Chaos? Any luck on that front?” I pressed, anxious for something solid—a foundation to work from.
My mom made a face that told me she was chewing the inside of her cheek. “Erebus said he’d have to think about it, Lux has dropped off the face of the Earth, and Remington is on Chaos business, so he’s got a cosmic ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on his otherworld. Even Dylan’s ring isn’t working. I sent a message to Melody, asking for an updated version of the spell or to get a fix for the ring, but she hasn’t gotten back to me. At your birthday, she said that she and Luke were about to leave for a two-week expedition to Easter Island for Librarian research into powerful protective hexes. Ones that might still help you. I’m guessing they have no signal out there.”
I checked the clock on the oven. “Well, let me know. I need to head out or I’m going to be late.” Finishing off my eighth slice of toast, I dusted the crumbs from my face and made my way toward the door.
“Be careful, Persie,” she called after me. “And call if anything happens.”
I half-rolled my eyes with my back to her. “I will.”
“And, Persie?”
I glanced back. “Yes, Mom?”
“You can keep the leggings. They look better on you, anyway.” A chuckle followed as I ducked out of the apartment, mortified.
* * *
Back in the Physical Magic training room with Genie, I tried to concentrate on getting a Purge going. I must’ve looked like a complete weirdo, doubled over with burning cheeks and bulging eyes, trying to cough up a beast that didn’t want to come out.
Stubborn monsters. They line up to pop out whenever I don’t want them.
“I think I’ve got performance anxiety.” I gave a subtle nod in the direction of Kes and Diana, who’d walked into the training room about five minutes after we’d gotten started. They kept to their side, but I noticed occasional glances. Kes looked on with boyish enthusiasm, apparently forgetting that he’d almost had his skull crushed by hydra jaws. Diana’s gaze had more affectionate wariness, one hand ready to shoot up and dispense with a beast if it appeared.
Genie smiled. “Don’t worry about them. You take all the time you need.”
“The setting is wrong.” I stopped pushing, terrified I might accidentally fart or something. I was among friends, but still…
She frowned. “You want to go somewhere else and try it?”
“No, that’s not what I mean. I can do this anywhere, but it probably won’t make a difference. I need to recreate the conditions that caused Purges before.” I took deep breaths until my cheeks returned to a normal temperature. “According to Leviathan, it’s got a lot to do with emotional state. Anger, sadness, et cetera.”
Genie’s mouth twisted. “I can’t believe you can say that bastard’s name without wanting to punch something
. Preferably him.”
“I’m choosing the high road. Besides, Tobe said that, as long as he’s locked up, he can’t do anything. I trust Tobe. So I’m focusing on what I can control… maybe.”
“Then you’re a bigger person than I am.” Genie picked up her flask of water and took a swig. “But I’ll support whatever you choose. With that in mind, which emotion should we start with?”
I thought for a second. “Anger, I guess? It’s probably the easiest one, and I don’t want to end up in a puddle of tears.”
“Hey, Kes, Diana—can you give us a hand with something?” Genie shouted to the duo, who were practicing Physical Magic drills in the opposite corner.
“I guess we’re making this a spectator sport,” I mumbled.
Kes bounded over, with a more reluctant Diana bringing up the rear. She gave me a knowing look. “You’re trying to Purge, aren’t you?”
“Only so I can learn how to contain the beasts,” I said. Her expression eased a little.
“Well… good for you, Pers.” She patted me on the back. “You show these suckers who’s boss.”
Kes punched the air. “I can’t wait to see what comes out of you!”
“You want to try phrasing that differently?” Diana arched a perfect eyebrow at her brother, whose cheeks immediately reddened, deepening the freckles on his face.
“I meant…” He shuffled awkwardly. “Uh… what did you need us for?”
“To throw some insults at our girl here.” Genie looked nervous. I guessed she hadn’t wanted to bear the sole responsibility of lobbing insults at me. “We have to get her angry, but also try to keep it as civil as possible.”
I braced myself, though my stomach had begun to churn nervously. “Say what you like. I’m ready to get furious.” I wasn’t sure it would work since I already knew their intention, but I supposed it would depend on what they chose to say.
Harley Merlin 18: Persie Merlin and Leviathan’s Gift Page 15
