Midnight's Son (Darkling Mage 5)

“Fine,” I said. “It’s not like I have the right ingredients to get this done. Do you know what Hecate wants as offerings? Honey. A dog. A black ewe. If you think I have the time to gather those reagents – and no way in hell am I slitting a puppy’s throat just to talk to her – ”

“You’re her fleshling, stupid,” Vanitas grumbled. “You’re obviously one of her favorites. You don’t need to cast a circle or commune to get her attention. Just drop to your knees and pray or something. I’m pretty sure she’ll show up.”

I still can’t believe I did this, but I followed what Vanitas said to do. I’m not really the religious type, so it was especially strange kneeling by the side of my bed, pressing my hands together, and squeezing my eyes shut.

“Please, Hecate,” I muttered. “I need you now. I need to talk.”

I waited, the inside of my chest swirling with hope, and faith, and other emotions I sort of believed would help. Hesitantly, I opened one eye. Nothing. Typical. Hecate showed up when she wanted, not every time some idiot mortal reached out into the ethers and demanded an audience.

“This isn’t working,” I said.

“Okay,” Vanitas mumbled. “So maybe she won’t show up.”

The doorknob turned, and the door to my bedroom swung open. Carver stood there, frozen in the threshold, his gaze flitting from Vanitas floating in midair, then to me, still knelt by the side of my bed. Carver stared at me questioningly.

“Oh,” I said. “Hello.”

“I didn’t knock because I assumed you weren’t home,” he said. “I was hoping to sit here and wait for your return. For the sake of simplicity – I won’t ask what it was you thought you were doing.”

I cleared my throat as I climbed back to my feet, dusting off my jeans. “I was trying to get in touch with Hecate.”

He kept staring. “You do realize that this is not how communions work. This goes against everything I’ve ever taught you, Dustin.”

I stuck my hands in my pockets, giving Vanitas the evil eye. “I fucking told you,” I mumbled.

“What was that?”

“Nothing, Carver. Listen. I’ve got an idea about how to stop the rifts from showing up all over the city. Hecate told me about the concept. Patronage, she said, where I offer myself to become a champion of a particular entity.”

“Patronage?” Carver said, scoffing. “Well I don’t think that we need to go quite that far. Not just yet. Patronage indeed. Did she offer to become your patron? Did she offer to steward you in the arcane arts?”

“Well, no,” I mumbled.

“What did she say when you asked?”

“She laughed, mostly. Said that we weren’t a good fit.”

“Pah,” Carver said, scoffing again. “Entities. To hell with the lot of them. We’ll deal with our problems on our own. Patronage is the very last thing to consider, Dustin. It is dangerous. Surely the goddess told you of the price you must pay.”

“She did.”

“And?”

“And I think it’s worth it. I’m nothing compared to all the lives we could save. Surely you understand that as well. That’s why you’re working towards redemption, right? You gave up your humanity so you could do what you could to keep away the Eldest.”

I didn’t expect Carver’s mask-like face to soften. He unfolded his arms, casting his eyes downwards. “I refuse to believe I can force you to choose right from wrong, Dustin. You have been under my tutelage long enough to know what it is you must do. And I have known you long enough to know how impulsive, how hard-headed you can be.”

“I’m going to find the Midnight Convocation. I’m not asking you to help me, but at least let me try. I can do this.” I clenched my f

ist. “I have to do this.”

“I know, Dustin.” He smiled sadly. “I couldn’t stop you if I tried.”

“Then will you at least tell me where to start?”

He shook his head. “I cannot help you with that. The entities keep tethers to their homes, but for gatherings as large as a Convocation? A gods-moot? It would be far too dangerous for others to know. You will have to speak to one of your allies to find out. One of the entities.”

The Sisters, I thought immediately. I could head to Silk Road, find their tether and give that a shot.