Page 87 of Villains Never Die

At lunchtime, I forced myself to eat a salad because I knew Gray would want me to. Every bite hit my stomach like it carried the full weight of my regret.

I finally texted Rook about the Council meeting, which he agreed to with one word—‘yes’—and sent nothing more.

My thumb hesitated over the buttons. I typed half a message. Deleted it. Started again.

Chess tonight?

Rook: I’ve beaten you multiple times.

I’m waiting for my moment. Afraid?

Rook: Not afraid of you.

I watched the pulse thump in my wrist and realized it was fear thrumming in my blood that had it pounding like that. He hadn’t texted me all day. It had been weeks since I hadn’t heard from him every day.

How could I bait him? How could I make him smile enough to want to see me?

How had I fucked this up so badly?

I’m this close to calling the petting zoo, Rook. I’m sending pigs instead of llamas. They’re harder to catch.

Please text me back. Please send me some scathing words to steady my heart.

Rook: I need space, Austin.

My heart crushed instead.

Is it about what I said?

Rook: It’s about the fact that you have bigger things going on. Finish what you started with Death. Then we’ll talk. You’ll see me at the Council meeting.

I spent the rest of the day pouring myself into work, like it was the only thing keeping me from collapsing. I scouted out potential new warehouses to move what was left of my inventory. I rearranged people on my security team to make up for Gray’s absence. I ignored the Prague collection. I had what I needed, and I didn’t want to sit in silence, alone, without Rook’s bored chatter to fill the hours.

The day ended with my shoulders heavy with exhaustion and doubt, but there was one more thing I needed to do before I tried to sleep. I had messaged veilknight in the morning asking to chat late that night. I had a question, a thorn in my side since Gray’s death.

veilknight has joined the chat

j-aust13:Something happened to me.

veilknight: You’ll have to be more specific.

j-aust13:I predicted someone’s death.

veilknight:Was it the first time?

j-aust13:Yes. You said you’re an expert. Why the fuck is this happening to me?

veilknight:If you spend enough time looking for death, you’ll find it. Maybe you should turn your attention elsewhere before it happens again.

I hadn’t considered that it might not be a onetime phenomenon. I stretched my frigid fingers against the keys.

j-aust13:I can’t. I’m too close. I have the grimoire and the knife.

veilknight:You have the grimoire with you?

I glanced at it sitting on my bedside table, a reminder that my work was almost finished.

j-aust13:Yes, and the weapon to kill her.