Chapter 259: Archive
I'd been to the magic caverns so many times, I forgot Sassy had only been there once with no time to explore. The moment the Gate's power opened the entry and let us in, the former cat turned teenager was practically lost in the endless stacks of books. Galleytrot lifted his big head from his usual place under Liam's desk and followed him.
I sank into one of the big chairs with a sigh as Liam handed me a can of soda from the small fridge he'd installed, one of his only nods to modern technology. That and his laptop.
Ancient Sidhe magic or not, a guy couldn't be expected to survive in this day and age without his favorite modern conveniences.
"How's your dad?" Liam took a sip from his own can, eyes full of concern.
I shrugged, not really wanting to talk about it while I listened with growing annoyance to Sass and Galleytrot laughing in the stacks at something they'd found. Sassy didn't have the right to be amused. Not while my father was reduced to nothing thanks to him.
A deep breath and a get a grip later and I released my anger. I knew it wasn't Sassy's fault. But it was a struggle to keep from blaming him when he stood there, healthy and whole, full of Dad's power. "Mom says he's fine," I said. "And Sassy seems to think if we try demon magic we should be able to make some progress."
Sass and Galleytrot emerged, the cat-turned-boy holding a big book in his hands. "I said we'd try it," he grumbled. "No promises, Syd." He collapsed into a third chair, feet immediately going up on the desk. I scowled at his rudeness, not caring to stare at the bottoms of his sneakers, thanks, but Liam didn't say anything about it so I let it go.
"I found some information which may help." Liam turned, scooping up a thin stack of books he handed to me. I flipped the first one over, the cover made out of some kind of old leather stained red, and squinted down at the writing. The letters seemed to burn as my gaze passed over them and I finally had to hand it off to Sassafras who was snapping his fingers in annoyance at me, gesturing for me to hand it over.
More teeth gritting. I wouldn't have any left at this rate. I gave him the book slowly, on purpose, flashing him a smile when his scowl grew deeper.
Served him right. Though it didn't matter anyway, beyond the childish satisfaction it gave me to torture him even a little.
"Can't read demon," I said.
"Nor should you," Sassafras said at his most arrogant, holding the book closed with both hands. "At least not this dialect. Where did you get this?" He glared at Liam as if my friend had done something wrong.
"There are books of all types here," Liam said, voice mild, gentle even. "It's pretty cool, actually. I just ask for what I need and the cavern kind of takes me where I have to go to find it."
More Sidhe magic. But useful at least. Still, I hoped Liam wasn't trusting it entirely. Even the Seelie court, what most people thought of as the good side, were known to be tricksy. For all I knew, the books would swallow him up someday.
Nice thought.
Sass slid his hands over the cover of the book. "Well, this particular tome won't help," he said. "It's about sacrificing demons."
I frowned. "What?"
"You know," he said, making an evil face, amber fire rising in his eyes, "how to call and trap a demon then burn him or her alive as a sacrifice or to steal their power." Sassy laughed bitterly, sinking back into his chair again. "Then again, maybe it will help. After all, Harry's trapped here, isn't he?" Sassy's wry and nasty grin smoothed out. "Anything else?"
"Only some history books." Liam gestured to the stack in my lap. Sassy held out both hands with an expression that told me I was wasting my time, so I handed them over with a sigh and an eye roll.
"I'll have a look," Sassafras said. "Chances are though we're on our own."
"Poor Harry." Galleytrot laid his chin on his paws. "I wish there was something I could do."
I reached down and scratched his ears. "Me too, big guy. There has to be something."
We all sat there, glum and silent, until Sass shook himself, almost like he would have if he was still a cat, and stood up, the books tucked under his arm.
"Our hour is up," he said, sounding even more depressed. "And you know what your mother is like when she doesn't get what she wants."
Liam walked us to the door, Galleytrot hanging back.
"I'm going to stay," he rumbled. If I had the choice I would have too so I hardly blamed him.
I waved at Liam, Sassafras ahead of me, and passed through the entry. Sass let out a yip of surprise, the books he'd been holding now missing. We both turned, saw Liam on the other side, said tomes held in his hands.
Sorry, he sent to me. I guess they aren't meant to leave the cavern.
Makes sense, actually, I sent back. Sass glared at the books as if they'd done him some personal harm. We'll come back later and do our research here.
I'll read through them in the meantime, he told me, holding them up. See what I can find.
I grabbed Sassy by the arm and pulled him out of the way as the green power flared, the bookcase swinging to thud softly shut in our faces.
"Craptastic," he muttered.
"Let's go." Another gentle tug got him moving.
I pulled into the driveway, Sassafras staring out the window beside me the entire silent drive. I had a moment of curiosity, remembering all those times he'd vanished when he was still in cat form.
"Where did you go?" I'm not sure why it was so important for me to know. It didn't really matter in the long run. But I knew so little about him, about the cat life he led outside of our house, I wanted suddenly to feel connected to my silver Persian again.
Sassafras met my eyes, still quiet, before opening the car door and getting out. I was sure he would ignore my question, but instead of heading for the kitchen door, he led me around the side of the house and across the yard. My feet registered the tingle of power under ground, the presence of the sleeping Wild Hunt, the current of family magic filling up every corner. Sassafras kept moving, pointing at the thick hedge and a small hole, a few bits of light fur clinging to it. The sight reminded me of the night he was kidnapped, when Galleytrot still worked for the Moromonds, the night I was sure my dear cat died, leaving only a mass of fur behind.
Sassafras slid around the edge of the hedge between the spiny growth and an old maple. We were in the neighbor's yard, but the huge tree's branches hung low, the leaves almost touching the grass, creating a canopy of green, hiding us from view. Sassy pointed upward to a small wooden structure a few branches up.
"Their kids are grown up," he said, one foot on the rickety ladder hammered to the side of the tree. He boosted himself far enough to look inside the playhouse, one hand snaking out to grab something and pull it free. Sass landed with a soft thud on the ground beside me, holding out a light blue blanket. "Stole this from your room. Sorry."
I let my hands feel the soft fabric in his grasp. "I love this blanket," I whispered. "I've had it since I was little, thought I lost it."
Sassy shrugged, thumbs sliding over the satin edging. He looked so sad, his fingers picking off clumps of silver fur. I wanted to hug him. But he turned to me before I could act and shoved the blanket into my hands before stalking back toward the house.
I hugged it to me instead, the scent of his cat fur filling my senses, missing him even as he walked away.
***
