Page 101 of Librarian

We can’t help these people. We’re here for my grandfather.

The four of us keep moving, passing more uniformed men and women than I can count. This isn’t good. Normally, the prison isn’t this busy. High security is supposed to be reserved for necromancers.

We can’t sneak Benny past all these people, and we can’t transport him out past the wards.

The sergeant stops in front of the door, pressing her grimoire against it again. A runeform blazes to life for a second, then she pushes her way inside the dark, tiny room. There’s not even a window.

The three of us follow, and my chest collapses as I see the man curled up in a ball on the concrete floor. They’ve beaten him. I suspected they would, but it’s still gutting to see him covered in purple marks, his frame heaving on juddering breaths.

“I can give you five minutes,” she says. “But no longer.”

“Thank you, Blanche,” my grandfather whispers hoarsely. “And?—”

“I’ll get them out after.” She gives me a nod, then turns, leaving us.

Wait. She’s leaving us alone with him? Is she one of his contacts? Why hasn’t she broken him out already?

Benny pushes himself up into a sitting position against the wall once she’s gone, the shackles on his wrists clinking as he finally meets my eyes.

“I suspected you’d come. Blanche was good enough to keep an eye out for you.”

“We’ve come to rescue you.” I trip over the words. “Leo has?—”

His eyes are soft as he shakes his head. “Pierce, the moment I was moved here, this became inevitable.”

“It’s not,” I argue, drawing my grimoire. “We can conjure you a uniform and?—”

“Everyone knows what I’m here for. No one is going to fall for an old man in a uniform. Maybe at a distance, but…it’s been rather busy out there for some time.”

He’s right.

Behind me, Leo and Lambert are silent. The only noise is the flicking of paper as Leo searches his grimoire.

“If there were a way, I would’ve found it. My people have tried. I’m sorry. I don’t want to leave you.”

Leave me? Like he’s going on a trip? My nails cut half-moons into my palms. “There’s got to be a way.”

His cracked lips twist into a smile. “You’ve never been an optimist before; why start now?”

“You can’t just give up.” I take a step forward before I know what I’m doing.

“Smarter minds than ours have tried to break out of this place,” he corrects. “Those who managed it had infinitely more time on their hands, and they weren’t so dramatically outnumbered.”

“Then we’ll destroy the place,” I suggest. “Stage a mass breakout. You can slip free in the chaos. Surely you have enough friends?—”

“Pierce, let it happen.”

Heat burns my eyes. “No. We don’t have Dakari, but I have enough power to break through the walls?—”

“Let it happen,” he repeats. “This has been coming for a long time, andnoneof it is your fault. The only thing you need to use your power for right now is getting out of here and leaving no trace you were ever here. Blanche and her people have been instructed to stand down. Your safety is their only concern.”

My head has started shaking, but I can’t even feel it because my body is numb.

“You two will make sure he doesn’t do anything rash.” Benny aims his order at the brothers currently pressed against the door, looking like they’d rather be anywhere else. “And give my regards to the Librarian.”

“Yes, sir,” Lambert answers.

“No. You’re not going along with this.” I turn on them, eyes narrowing at Leo. “You’re supposed to be smart. Think of something?—”