Page 78 of Professor and the Seer
“Depends. Are we going in stealthy or announcing ourselves?”
“I say both.” Enyo glanced at John. “Frieda’s in that tower. Think you and Mom can get to her while we distract the bitch who took her?”
Much as he wanted to agree, he did caution. “Is it wise for us to split up?”
“Got a better plan?” Dina asked, arms crossed.
He didn’t. “Fine. Once I have her, we’ll come find you.”
“No, you’ll get her out of here using that pocket watch.”
He glanced at Fraussa. “I can only take one person with me.”
Fraussa waved a hand. “I’ll be fine. Betsy told me so.”
In that case… “Let’s do this.”
Dina grinned. “Time to cause some trouble.”
The door exploded, and there was no turning back.
24
I’d been returned to my bedroom with my powers intact because Ariadne chose to hold off on stealing them. Pity. I’d not been joking about her taking them.
Perhaps seeing me practically catatonic and drooling as I got hit all at once had something to do with it. I might have exaggerated a little.
I did wish she’d put back the magical shield though. I’d put a wall up in my mind, but I was new to holding it and struggled against the wave of visions, too many to sort. Past and present mixing.
One thing I knew for sure?
John was coming for me. After all I’d done to spare him, the idiot who loved me came barging into danger. At least he didn’t come alone.
The explosion heralded the beginning and the end.
No surprise Bacchus immediately joined me in the tower, grumbling, “You shouldn’t have pissed her off, earlier.”
“You mean by telling her my sisters were going to fuck her up?” I grinned. “But it’s the truth. The only question is if you’re going down with her or not.”
He pursed his lips. “I have no choice. I have to obey.”
“Because of that collar.” I pointed. “It’s what’s stealing your strength and ability to tell her to fuck off.”
“She betrayed me not long after she stole from Typhon. I’d begun to suspect she’d lied, but before I could confront her, she drugged me. I woke wearing this.” He gripped it and tugged to no avail.
“It has no seam. How does it come off?”
“By removing my head,” was his dry reply.
“There has to be another way.”
“It’s not from this world and has a magic I’ve never seen. One that is too strong to break. Believe me, I’ve tried.”
“Perhaps breaking is the wrong way to handle it,” I mused aloud.
The knock at the door had Bacchus gripping his sword in front of him and me yelling, “Careful, I’ve got company.”
John ignored my warning and entered.