Part 26 (1/2)
So Vittoria had it too
”I got the sense that negative aether was like 'dark ic;' that it was really bad,” said Vittoria
”Some would think” said Lux
That went into my memory bank; I would have to look at it further
”All fory can be abused,” said Lux ”Let me see if I can just tap into it for a sec”
One of the Initiates panicked ”Won't it race into us, Professor?”
”If I do ht,” said Lux The next second, I felt it
It was like another world opened up to me Like I was me, but not me Like whoever I as over I was so was, I felt really powerful Ito jump over powerful
Lux pulled out and the connection was lost ”Any questions?” he asked
Hands went up, before, reflexively, going back down The other Initiates didn't want to give ahat Virtue they had beco; and it is powerful and addictive, the dark aether Better you see it from me, than a bunch of aetherheads, out on the street”
Chapter 20 Seeing Paris
”You told s I want to knohat things And, above all, how Lennox is doing I have been so busy and self-absorbed that I have practically forgotten that he exists,” I said ”And that's another thing I feel like our relationshi+p was all soic spell, but I can't craft, can I?”
Asher said, ”Tell me what you have seen Before it can be directed, I have observed that all foric are ra it, the witch or wizard disappears or reappears, withoutto, the vary”
”Do you know about the dark aether?” I asked We were in the Coluht
”I am not a wizard, per se, but yes, I have heard of it”
”But never seen it?” I said DespiteAfter all, what Asher claiic
I realized suddenly that that was the way the other Wiccans had been behaving toward Asher, as though they thought he was dangerous, too I suddenly felt ashamed
Each new Wiccan discovery hitSo this hy ailuranthropes were ht they had it
”I should trust you,” I said ”Forgive me I will describe it to you The dark aether is like an alien intelligence You can see it, feel it But you can never trust it Sort of like it thinks for itself”
”That is exactly how the Dioscuri are,” said Asher ”But go on I want to knohat you have seen”
I snapped two of its They sparked but did not blaze To Asher: ”Two voices Don't knoho they are,” I said ”I've heard the about two of us 'She uess that means I have tied is anyone's guess But they said that they would try to kill her If I' me, and vice-versa
Asher nodded, as if this oes both ways, into, and froh why someone would wish to broadcast they mean to kill you, Halsey No, I choose to believe you are causing this to happen You said it has not happened for a while, your ?”
”Correct”
”I will keep an eye out,” said Asher ”Interesting expression I think I will keep both eyes in, and peeled, except for when I blink, but you get the gist I atch tohappens to you Meanwhile, you, Halsey Rook We are at the Gathering, which is safe There are too ans No one will try to kill you here”
I let Asher believe that; although, I thought, it would be the perfect opportunity If so to kill me, what better place? nobody would knoho had done it Maybe that was the point Then, I thought, if they were after me, they, whoever they were, ed!
I did an inner-woohoo and came back to Asher
”Maybe it's Marek,” I said A part of ot excited at the h he is more of a loner As in, one Whoever these people are, there are two of theht have thought I was crazy, because he got this look on his face, so I guessed ere even
”Are you ready?” he said ”Because I want to show you so How I do what I do is as i each other, there in the dirt The torch, in a bracket, illuminated us darkly
I became aware of Asher's eyes
”You look like you want to read ”
”Then why are you hesitating?” I said
”Because I as for this person His name is Lennoxlove Lenoir correct? He is one of the vampires?”
I looked at Asher, whose eyes were blind He could not see me He was someplace else The place Lennox was at Far, far away
”I have to warn you, Halsey, that ift is an unusual one I do not merely see I as as they are, as they s that were, but have not been for a while No doubt you can appreciate why certain ardanes exist forbidding the use of those of my kind? While I am not a Dioscurus, I have its power What I will show you is truth, however What they show is only what they wish others to see Which is why it is dangerous to put too much stock in their visions”
”Can you see me?” I said
”Alas, not what you wish to knoould I tell you, even if I were ableabout your parents and whatnot Nothing is so destructive as knowing the future And nothing is as dangerous as the past I could only help you to experience what you yourself have already seen, and for that, you have your own brain But we can read Lennox, if you wish He is experiencing the Agonies this very moment It is a trial by fire And I am afraid, you may not like what you see”
”But you can show me?”
”Yes, Halsey Rookmaaker I can show you Now, if you wish”
He blinked Suddenly I was staring at him, into his eyes, which were here with me I licked my lips