Chapter 12

12

I hugged Mizuki as she prepared to leave the next day. Her knapsack bulged with three books she planned to scan so she could use a computer program to start decoding them.

She dropped to her knees to hug and rub Clover who whined and licked her in triplicate. "Such a sweet boy. I'll be back soon with lots of treats," Mizuki promised. To me she added, "I'm going to have Devika hex a mirror to use as a communication device so we can chat whenever we want."

"Will it work in the cave? You said it blocked you when you were trying to scry for me."

Mizuki's lips pursed. "Guess we'll find out. If it doesn't, then we'll figure something out. Worst case, I pop over and tell you to get your ass into gear for a mission."

We headed out into a cold day, with no falling snow and a sun that shone bright. I hugged her again. "Thanks for everything."

"Thank me once I get these books figured out." With that, I activated my talisman and entered the Continuum with Mizuki.

Hey, I said, wishing I had a name because I could exactly call the voice, the voice. Can you send Mizuki back to the castle?

Already done.

And you'll let her return if she wants without sending her somewhere weird?

As the messovenata wishes.

Why so formal today?

In my day, a messovenata held much respect.

In your day, the messovenata probably wasn't as fucked up as me.

Don't be so sure of that. Another tantalizing hint of the past but I didn't poke.

Question about the cave. Can I set up something to talk with folks or allow them to contact me?

The cave is insulated from outside magic, however, there are a pair of pocket-sized mirrors that can be used. They are in the storage room under the kitchen. They aren't from this world and thus not subject to the same rules of magic.

Really? Where did they come from?

Inferis.

Just a single flat word which meant no prodding even as I wondered how she'd gotten them. I couldn't help but think of my dream. Real or fantasy?

I used a sideways question to find out. Are demons weaker on Earth than Inferis?

No.

Oh.

A pause then the voice added, It was once believed to be true, but that turned out to be a lie propagated by the demons.

When the doorways between the worlds were open, what stopped them from flooding Earth? Because I got the impression they were numerous.

The fact no prince, or even the king for that matter, wished to deplete their troops lest their enemies find out and take advantage. Their infighting proved to be our saving grace.

How were those doors closed?

A messovenata sealed them.

But that hasn't stopped the wild portals from forming , I clarified.

Those are thin spots between the worlds that are difficult to predict and almost impossible to prevent, hence why there will always be a need for reapers and witches. Left unchecked, the demons would multiply and cover Earth.

Were you the messovenata who closed the permanent doors? I probably shouldn't have asked, but my tongue got away from me.

Yes.

I shouldn't have been surprised. It explained much about the cave I'd found. May I ask how you did it?

By sacrificing myself. I wouldn't recommend it. A dry reply.

If you leave the Continuum, will the doors you locked reopen?

Maybe. I don't know. The magic I poured into the effort exists to this day despite my lack of form. She went quiet before adding, Yet another reason why perhaps I should stay here. I wouldn't want to be the cause of the one thing I gave my life to prevent.

I wish I could hug you. An impulsive thing to say but I meant it. More and more, her overwhelming sadness touched me.

Thank you. You should return to the cave. You have a visitor.

Wait, who?

No reply as I found myself outside my new home in the bright sunshine at odds with the frigid air. Before I could open the door, I was joined by Nova.

I blinked. Nova remained standing in front of me, elegant in an emerald pantsuit but looking annoyed.

"So this is where you're hiding?" she remarked, glancing around.

Her tone didn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling, hence why I didn't invite her in. Instead, I wrapped myself in a cocoon of air that blocked the cold.

"Hey, Nova. Nice of you to pop in." I couldn't entirely hide my sarcasm. I'd yet to forgive and forget what she'd tried to do.

"I see you've rid yourself of the Infernal hound."

"Sorry to disappoint. Clover's still kicking around." Then more brusquely, "Why are you here?"

"You visited the castle yesterday."

"I went to grab some stuff. Mizuki seemed to think it was okay."

"Of course it was. You are the messovenata. Whatever you need shall be supplied." A stiff claim through pinched lips.

"If you're not here to freak out about me taking supplies, then why are you here?" A lack of urgency implied this wasn't about a mission.

"I wish to apologize for my rash actions. I shouldn't have attempted to force you to obey."

"Apology accepted." I didn't add the fact she'd lost my trust, though.

"Then you'll return?"

"I don't think so."

"This is about the dog. " Her moue of distaste rounded her lips. "He may come, too, so long as he causes no harm."

"He wouldn't and thank you for the offer, but I think I'm going to stay here."

"This isn't a home," she stated.

At that point, it occurred to me that she was bending, so should I. "No, but this is." I slapped my hand on the stony surface of the mountain, and it opened.

Nova didn't look as awed as Mizuki when she entered, but she did draw the attention of Clover who came whipping out of the bedroom only to stop, hackles raised to growl at Nova.

I stepped between them. "It's okay, Clover. She comes in peace."

My dog didn't look convinced.

To my surprise, Nova murmured, "I apologize for my actions. In my defense, I was taught the Infernal hounds were killing machines."

"You've encountered them before?"

She shook her head. "Yours is the first in centuries to cross over."

"And is harmless."

Nova cast me a look. "Thus far. One hopes that never changes."

Isadora suddenly appeared at the kitchen door. "Come, puppies. Let the Messovenata conduct her business."

As Clover trotted in Isadora's direction, Nova finally looked surprised. "I am impressed the brownie shows no fear. It could eat her in a single bite."

"Why would he do that to the person who hand-fed him hunks of meat from our stew last night?" It had been cute to watch.

Nova peered upward. "This place is old and layered in protective magic. No wonder you couldn't be located."

"You found me."

"Not easily. When scrying failed, I entered the portal and essentially pictured you in the hopes I'd be taken to your location. The first two attempts spat me out at the ruins of your apartment building and the dais in the woods. Only on the third attempt did it finally bring me here."

"The voice in the portal was trying to respect my desire to be alone."

"Yet you brought Mizuki," Nova accused.

"She wanted to meet Clover."

"She returned with some interesting texts," Nova said with feigned nonchalance. I should have known the knowledge of the library would draw her.

"Would you like to see the collection?"

She nodded and I led the way to the room. Of interest, she paused before the door and murmured, "This is the symbol of the messovenata."

"There's a symbol?"

She traced it with her finger and, interestingly enough, the door didn't glow or give her entry. I'd opened it for Mizuki, so I didn't know if that was true of everyone.

I slapped my hand on the surface, and it yielded right away. Nova stepped into the library and stopped to exclaim, "You've found the lost texts."

"Guess they're not so lost after all," I quipped.

She whirled on me. "You must allow us to catalogue and study them."

"I've already sent a few back with Mizuki. She's going to work on translating them."

"The knowledge in here…" Nova sounded almost reverent as she perused the many tomes sitting on the shelves.

"Is old," I reminded. "Some of it might be out of date and we can't be sure what's truth or fiction."

"They wouldn't have bothered taking the time to hide lies."

"Who was the last reaper witch?" I asked.

She shrugged. "Her name has long been lost. We know nothing of her other than she managed to stem the flow of the last attempted demon invasion. It wasn't known if she then chose to retire, died, or left this world."

I could have mentioned the fact the voice in the portal claimed to be that last reaper witch, however, I chose to keep that tidbit for myself. I wanted to be sure before I started spouting off.

Nova browsed the books and picked two that didn't have any pictures. "May I borrow these?"

I could have mentioned they technically didn't belong to me. Instead, I nodded.

"I should return to the castle. Your new home doesn't allow me to communicate out."

I snapped my fingers. "Hold on. Speaking of that… I think there's something we can use to fix that. Give me a second."

I headed to the kitchen where Isadora was at work preparing dinner, her knife almost as long as she was tall. She stood on the counter, chopping vegetables, while Clover sat below, waiting patiently for the scraps she threw.

"Isadora, did you happen to notice a pair of small mirrors in the storage area?"

"Yes, Messovenata. Do you need them?"

I nodded. "How do I get into the room?"

Isadora pointed to the floor. "Tap the stone with the dot."

I glanced down and it took me a second to see where she meant as the dimple didn't exactly pop out. I tapped it lightly with my foot and held in a squeak as a section of the floor slid away to reveal stairs. Down I went into a larger chamber than expected, the walls entirely carved with shelves and, as Isadora mentioned, packed with items. A shimmer of magic overlaid everything, the preservation spell. It took but a moment to locate the mirrors and then I was back upstairs and in the library.

I held one out to Nova. "Here. This should be able to call its partner." I showed her the matching one.

"Are you sure? I sense no magic about them," she murmured with a frown, turning over the silver framed glass in her hands.

"It's because it's not from here."

She gave me a sharp look. "Where is it from?"

I shrugged. "Don't know." Yeah, I lied. Nova would have freaked if she knew they'd come from Inferis.

"If you are unaware of their origin then how do you know they are for communication?"

Despite what Mizuki told me about Nova thinking the voice might be a demon, I didn't lie. "The entity in the portal told me about them."

Nova's expression turned stiff. "I don't know if you should be listening to this voice. We have no idea who they used to be or their intention."

"She's not a demon."

"So it says."

"The voice told me to never trust a demon."

"Sounds like something a demon would say to make you trust them."

I pursed my lips as she countered everything I said. "She's been helping witches and reapers use the portal to get to their proper destination for centuries."

"And lately three of our men didn't make it."

There was no point in reexplaining what the voice told me. "You're allowed to be skeptical, but thus far, the voice has been nothing but helpful to me."

"Lulling you into a false sense of security. Has it asked you for your body yet?"

"No."

"Hmm." Nova hummed and I saw what she was attempting to do. Make me suspicious. Only, she'd never talked to the entity. Not heard the sorrow and regret.

An awkward silence fell.

Nova cleared her throat. "I should go."

"Nice seeing you." As I exited, Clover came to watch from the kitchen door, nothing like the excited puppy who played with Mizuki. People often said you could judge a person by how animals reacted. I'd hate to think Nova couldn't be trusted.

She exited the cave with the two books and mirror. The wind had picked up and tugged at her hair. "Stay safe, Sadie."

"That's the plan," I quipped.

Nova blinked out of sight, and I sighed. "Well, that didn't go too bad, I guess."

Clover barked.

"Yeah, she's a bit of a tight ass. In her defense, she's got a lot of things to stress about."

And I'd wager I topped that list.