Page 32 of The Healing Dragon (The Red Book #2)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

JANELLE

I walk with Matias and Santiago to the dining hall. We find Jesse and Roman sitting down, having a friendly and relaxed conversation with a group of soldiers. Roman looks up as we approach their table and at meeting my eyes, he immediately knows something is up.

He rises to his feet and waits till we get close enough before asking, “What is it?”

Santiago takes the lead, addressing the brothers. “We need Brandon for this conversation.”

Hunched over, Matias avoids eye contact and keeps his focus on the floor. I know he didn’t want it to come to this, but there isn’t much of a choice. Regardless, a little part inside me feels like I’m betraying him.

“He should be in his office,” Jesse says. His eyes pour into mine like he is trying to read me with just one look.

I don’t hold his gaze, choosing instead to look toward the hall.

We have already attracted the attention of the fellow guards at their table.

I notice Isabel is not here, which means she’s probably already back at the nursery.

I look for a clock on the wall and realize I’m late to return from lunch.

I know she will understand, but I don’t want her to be stuck finishing the work for the day.

“We should hurry,” I say.

We make our way to Brandon’s office and find him with a few advisors in a heated conversation. Roman enters the room first, making eye contact with the King. That’s all it takes for Brandon to ask everyone else to leave the room.

“I believe we should stay and hear whatever is so urgent,” an advisor suggests.

I’ve never learned any of their names. They all look alike to me apart from the one woman who is currently absent and the young guy.

The young guy is laying back on a chair and clears his throat as he rises to his feet. “Let them be,” he says.

“You would say that, Damien. We all know you just want to leave because you are hungover,” a short man with a beard says.

Damien waves to the room with no care in the world. He inclines his head to the Oscuro brothers as he walks out of the door. His eyes skip me as he passes, choosing to look down at the ground instead. I see he belongs to the ones who cannot meet my eye.

The other advisors follow after him grunting about the dismissal. Every single one of them shooting a scowl my way. They belong firmly to the group that hates me. I expected nothing less.

Brandon rounds his desk and approaches us. “They think being glued to my side would be best for Puerto Quinn,” he says with humor. “Made any progress?” His question is directed at me.

“It’s Matias,” I say .

Brandon looks at Matias, who is inspecting his own shoes, then looks back at me. “I figured it was about Matias. That’s why you all met up in the library. What is the update?”

I look over at Santiago, who is sporting a look of confusion. He’s not the one who told him about our gathering. Of course, King Oscuro knows what we have been up to.

“News travels fast,” I say.

“The walls talk,” Brandon says with a slight smirk on his face.

His eyes move to Jesse, who is watching the exchange with a frown. There’s something there, but I can’t begin to imagine what.

I clear my throat. “My father stole the Red Book to uncap his magic and become the most powerful wielder in Puerto Quinn, if not the world. To his despair, he doesn’t know the right spell. He has been using test subjects to experiment and they’ve all died during his attempts.”

I look at Matias, and despite him agreeing to tell Brandon, it feels wrong. I’m confessing to a room full of people the worst thing that ever happened to someone else. Clearing my throat, I glance back at Brandon.

“Matias survived my father’s attempts to uncap his magic. During one of his attempts, the book spoke to Matias.”

Brandon’s eyes move to the boy who visibly shrinks at the mention of his name.

I decide then and there that Brandon or anyone else doesn’t need to know anything that isn't absolutely necessary. The details belong to Matias. Only he deserves to share it at his own pace. If the Red Book wants the King to know of its existence in Matias, it will have its wish, but nothing more. I don’t forget that the Lord of Wisdom is standing just a few feet from me. So I choose my words carefully.

“The book fears my father would soon tire of trying to uncap magic individually and would resort to destroying it altogether,” I speak truthfully.

“The book can speak to you?” Brandon asks Matias.

A small nod in confirmation is all we get.

“This is great news.” Brandon moves to his bookshelf in a hurry. “Can the book tell us where it is?” He pulls out an old text and searches through its pages. “A location spell might do the trick.”

“Brandon,” Santiago says. His voice is full of sorrow. The only clue that having this discussion has any effect on him. “The book left in Duelo’s possession isn’t the one talking to Matias.”

Brandon looks at everyone in the room simultaneously. “Someone explain.”

“The book concealed part of itself inside Matias. In the case my father destroys the other part, it can be restored.” I cross my arms and prepare for the reaction I know my following words will have. “It spoke to us earlier today. It has a request for you, King Oscuro.”

“Is that so?” Roman asks with empty humor.

His posture is defensive and protective. An outside force is demanding something of his King.

“The book wishes for you to retrieve the other half to be reunited. That is the only way for it to leave Matias’ body.” Santiago’s tone is mocking.

They’ve been trying to get the Red Book for months now, yet somehow the stakes just tripled.

Brandon looks at his brothers, then out the window, digesting all the information we brought up.

“There is a part of the book living inside him,” Brandon says.

It’s not a question, but Santiago and I nod, nonetheless.

“I need to speak to Bianca,” Brandon says .

At the mention of her, Matias finally looks up. Sensing his refusal, Brandon raises a hand.

“She has to know what is going on,” Brandon tells him with a hint of defensiveness in his tone.

The King of Puerto Quinn misses nothing. Regardless, Matia’s objection is fruitless, because as much as he wants things to be different, she is going to find out.

“I’m sure Bianca will love to hear her little brother is possessed by an ancient magic book.” Roman drops to a chair. “Her favorite part will be how he told Janelle before anyone else.”

“Technically, he told Santiago and I at the same time,” I clarify.

“What do you think?” Brandon asks Jesse.

“They aren't lying,” he says with a sour expression on his face.

“I didn’t ask if you heard a lie in their words. I’m asking what you think about all this?”

Jesse doesn't react.

Brandon throws his arms in the air, a gesture nothing like the King he has been embodying lately. This is the old Brandon. The one who would join Jesse and me on our summer adventures.

“I used to always turn to you on any occasion and ask for your point of view. Bounce ideas back and forth. She is here. Can I get you back too?”

“What is going on?” Bianca asks from the doorway.

Her eyes look to Brandon but quickly after finds Matias. She walks to his side first. He shifts uncomfortably at her invasion of his space.

“Hey,” she says carefully.

In one breath Matias turns to Bianca and says, “Lord Duelo used the book to uncap my magic, and while doing so, the book sealed a part inside me to protect itself from being destroyed.” He taps his temple with trembling hands. “The Red Book talks to me here because it lives inside me.”

“Attaboy,” Roman barks out a laugh. “Rip it like a sticker.”

“A sticker?” Jesse rounds on his brother.

Bianca’s shock is momentary. She takes a step closer to Matias and continues talking to him in a soft voice.

“You know.” Roman mimics with his hand the gesture of removing a bandaid. “Like that.”

“That’s not what it’s called.” Jesse looks around as if in confirmation this is truly happening.

The anxiety previously flooding the room takes a break and allows us all to breathe just a little lighter at the idiocy taking place.

“What‘s it called then?” Roman’s tone carries disbelief.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought Jesse was making this up.

“I refuse to tell you.” Jesse mimics his brother.

Roman points at him. “Because you don’t know.”

“These men truly lead me?” Santiago asks, his hand touching his neck, appalled.

“No,” Brandon says. “I lead you.”

Brandon claps a few times, gathering everyone’s attention. I can’t help but think of my grade school teachers using the same tactic while trying to gather the attention of kids in a classroom. As the conversations go on, we are not far off from that scenario.

“We can’t let that thing stay inside him,” Bianca says with a tone that means business.

This is a side of her I’ve not seen other than the night of the attack. The determination in her eyes is something I admire.

“What choice is there?” Roman asks and I don’t think he means it in a patronizing tone but a genuine inquiry .

What real choice do we have on what’s happening?

“Mel,” Bianca says, and before she is even done, Brandon is already shaking his head at her words. She continues, “he might not be able to retrieve the magic from him, but he might know what we’re up against. The better informed we are, the better prepared we will be to face whatever is ahead.”

I can’t help but smile because she’s Brandon’s perfect match. Her reasoning cannot be topped. Whatever argument Brandon has at the tip of his tongue doesn’t make it past his lips.

King Oscuro looks half defeated when he gestures for everyone to take a seat and moves to his desk. “I hate to say it, but I think Mel might have answers for us.”

“Great.” Bianca sits with her hands clasped on her lap. “When do we depart for the underworld?”

“We?” Roman asks, moving next to Brandon behind the desk.

Brandon looks around the room. He gestures in my direction. “Janelle and Santiago can stay. There is no need for them there.”

“Yeah, too many people might attract attention while traveling,” Roman adds.

Brandon pads his back. “Exactly why you will stay behind.”

“Hey,” Roman rounds on his brother. “Why do I always have to stay behind?”

“Your job is to lead the Royal Force,” Jesse reminds him. Causing Roman to begin bickering.

“Enough,” Brandon interjects. “Bianca, Jesse and, of course, Matias will go to the underworld. But we can’t simply show up.

I will send word to Gabriel to meet us at Fierno.

His brother is difficult to deal with. I’m hoping that in exchange for a visit with his brother, he’ll be more willing to share with us. ”

“That being said.” Santiago rises to his feet. “We should get going.”

Santiago stops at my chair and gestures for me to join him. I don't say anything to the people gathered around as I follow him out of the room. Right before shutting the door, I hear the beginning of Roman arguing his point for joining. Unlike Bianca’s, he has no basis for winning.

“I will walk you to the nursery,” Santiago says.

I look at him and realize this might be the only time he has spoken to me, unless absolutely necessary. His tone even sounds friendly and warm. I heard it before when he spoke to others, but never directed at me.

“You don’t have to do that,” I say.

“I don’t mind paying Isabel a visit. I haven’t seen her in days.”

I don’t care if he walks in the same direction that I do, so I don’t argue with him further. We arrive at the nursery and join Isabel. I go straight to work and leave them to have a social visit.

Before Santiago departs, he finds me watering plants.

“If you want to come to the library for dinner, I will continue my research.” He looks around uncomfortably. “We are still doing that, right?”

“Yeah,” I say. “I need to look for the family tree.”

“I will see you there.”

With one last look around, he leaves.