Tarq makes a noise that might be a huff or an actual laugh. I’m not sure. “That’s so… wow. It’s just… it’s been a really long time, Pie, since anyone has said the words ‘banishing spell’ in front of me. And”—he shrugs—“it was just a simpler time, I guess.”
I have no idea what he’s talking about.
“Let’s have a drink and sit down.”
“I can’t. I need that spell. There’s… there’s… there’s a time constraint. And, and, and… the townie people and shit. And Tomas!” Man, I am not handling this well. At all. “I need to get back. Quickly.”
“Pell is waiting for you?”
“Yes! Exactly.” I let out a breath of relief. “Yes, he’s watching for me. He’s waiting a safe distance from your tomb. So I can find the door out, obviously.”
Tarq is silent for a moment. Then he leans back and sits on the edge of his massive desk and crosses his arms. I don’t like this posture. He’s thinking, I can tell. His mind is a whirlwind of possibilities. And he’s a little bit frowny. Finally, he says, “I can’t give you the book.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t just hand over the source code, Pie. It’s… the fucking source code. It’s the secrets of the universe.”
“Oh.” I feel defeated.
“But I can give you the page you need.”
“Oh!” This time it’s brighter. “Thank you.”
“It is my pleasure. Any girl of Pell’s is a girl of mine.” His smile is wide. Like… big bad wolf wide.
“Mmm-hmm. I’m not sure about that last part there, but thank you again for the page. And I don’t want to appear ungrateful, but—”
“Oh, let me stop you there.” He puts up a hand. “You don’t need to be grateful, Pie.”
“No?” I swallow again. Because here it comes. The catch.
“No. It all evens out in the wash.” He winks at me.
I suck in a deep breath. “It can. Even out in the wash, that is. But I’m still very grateful.”
He just looks at me for a moment, still smiling. “I’m sure you are. Well.” He stands up, rubs his hands together, and looks over at a bookshelf. “Let’s find that book, shall we?”
I don’t move. But Tarq walks over to the bookshelf. There are no books on it, so for a moment, I’m confused. But he does something. I can’t see what, because his massive, sexy, muscled back is in my way. And damn. This monster here has some breeding behind him. Like his genetic stock is top-notch.
He chuckles from across the room, and then the bookcase begins to turn on a pivot point, leading to a chamber on the other side. Tarq glances over his shoulder at me. “I’ll be right back. Don’t you go anywhere, Pie Vita.”
I can’t even talk at this point. So I just nod.
He’s gone for several minutes. I want to walk over there and peek inside that chamber. Kinda get a feel for what he’s up to. But I don’t dare. I feel the need to be on the other side of the room when he comes back out.
And just a few seconds later, out he comes. Holding a page.
It’s a very pretty page. Like this page belongs in the Vatican library or something. It’s all handwritten calligraphy with gold foil illumination along the edges. It’s even got an illustration. He brings it over to his desk and puts it down. Then he points. “This is the side you want here. Banishing. The other side is something else.” He makes a point to look me in the eyes for this next part. “I would not mess with that side.”
“OK. But… should you have ripped it out of the book? I mean, maybe you should just make a copy of it. I’m not the most responsible person, ya know? I’m probably gonna ruin that page. It’s practically inevitable.”
He chuckles. “I like you.”
“Good.” I try to smile.
“But the pages regenerate. I made sure it duplicated before I came back. This one is yours to keep. You have your own book?”
“My own book? Of… spells? No. I’m new.”
He laughs again. “OK. And you’re honest. I like that. So you’re gonna wanna start a book. Keep all your spells in one place.”
“Oh. Like Grant did.”
“Grant.” His voice lowers a little. It’s almost growly.
“He was Pell’s last caretaker. I’m his replacement. He kept lots of books. But he took the good ones with him when he left. And all the shit he left me is stupid. Like… backwards-working love charm stupid.”
Tarq blinks at me. “Hmm. I have to say, Pie, this is the most interesting day I’ve had in almost two thousand years.”
“Um. Thanks. I think.”
“At any rate, the page is yours. Keep it safe, use it well, and…” He pauses to smile. “Tell Pell that now that I know where he is, I’ll come visit.”
“Wait. You can do that? Just… leave here?”