Page 100 of Bitten Vampire

I leaf through, searching for mention of sentient artefacts, and find exactly what I need:when such an object expends all its magic, it enters a restorative slumber, sometimes for years.This proves our theory that Beryl must have exhausted herself.

Perhaps House’s magic once replenished her; deprived of that, she has slept.

The book explains that a simple rune-circle can deliver a modest magical boost, enough to wake a slumbering object, though it will be sluggish at first.

It’s better than nothing.

I want to try to revive Beryl. I double-check the runes; the text states plainly that the caster need not be magical. I can’t manage the proper ritual chants, but the book insists that, so long as the runes are correct, the circle should still work.

Ralph is pottering about, so I show him the diagrams. I don’t mention it’s for Beryl—only that I have a magical object that needs re-charging. He helps me locate a circle and redraw new symbols.

James wanders in, surveys our handiwork, and tuts. He vanishes, then returns in a shell suit straight from the late ’80s. I bite my tongue. He flicks his boy-band fringe, snatches the chalk from Ralph, and sighs in theatrical despair before grudgingly re-drawing a fresh rune circle, every line drawn with perfect symmetry.

“Why are you helping us?” I ask.

“Because you’re making a mess,” he says. “If you’re going to do something, do it properly or don’t bother.”

When we finish, we stand around the circle, admiring it.

“Well, then,” James says. “Where’s this magical object?”

“Er… in my bag.” I have Beryl tucked safely away.

“Aren’t you going to fetch it?”

“No.”

“God, you’re so cagey. Everything you do is cagey.”

“Unfortunately, James, that’s just me, and you haven’t exactly earned my trust.”

“I haven’t done anything untrustworthy,” he huffs.

“Mm-hmm.”

Ralph grins.

I place the bag gently in the centre. Beryl rests hidden inside. A faint buzz creeps up my arms at once. I step back. The circle begins to draw magic in.

“Feel that?” I ask, waving a hand through the shimmering air.

“No,” Ralph answers.

James merely arches an eyebrow. “Must be one of your weird things.” He departs to wash his hands.

“Thanks for your help, James,” I call after him. “Thanks, Ralph.”

“I did have an ulterior motive: can I take Baylor for a walk?”

At the wordwalk, Baylor opens one eye and his tail thumps.

“What do you think, Baylor?”

He springs up, stretches, then performs a dizzying wall-of-death circuit around the room—white and grey fur drifting in his wake. We laugh, and I hand Ralph the lead.

Once they have left, I place Beryl directly on the floor inside the circle in case the bag was muting the magic. I cover her with a handy scarf from my bag. I tidy the chalk and sit nearby with a book, though my knee bounces.

I’m worried about Valdarr. I know he can look after himself.He didn’t fare too well with the Council, did he?whispers my nasty inner voice.