Page 94 of Wolf of Ashes
Particularly when Vanguard made it clear that his sister will take the chance while the boy is out in the open to destroy him.
If our theory about Vanguard and his sister is correct, then I’m now looking at the son of an old god.
A very vulnerable four-year-old son of an old god.
With another old god coming to kill him.
I cast a glance at Diavolo, who’s staring down at the kid, his expression blank. No doubt, he sees the potential to use the kid as leverage.
I probably should, too.
But I narrow my eyes at Diavolo until he seems to sense the heat of my stare.
He arches his eyebrows at me.
I shake my head.No fucking way are we treating a kid as leverage.
He tips his head, as if to ask:Are you sure?
I suppose, after collecting the magic of countless dark creatures, no doubt including children, he’s hardened to the possibility.
I scowl at him.I’m completely sure.
I was the leverage used against my mother. I’m not repeating history with this kid.
Diavolo shrugs, as if he’s prepared to drop it.
At that, we both turn back to Vanguard and Jonah.
It seems our silent communication hasn’t gone unnoticed.
There’s a new tension around Jonah’s eyes and a glimmer of fire around his hands as he asks, “Everything okay?”
He isn’t a fool. He’ll know exactly what we were thinking. Particularly now that we know what ‘the package’ really is.
I meet his narrowed eyes without missing a beat. “I was wondering: What is that contraption on the boy’s head?”
Jonah’s forehead creases, as if I should know perfectly well what it is. “Headphones.”
“Of course,” I say quickly, noting the description, “but is he wearing them for a particular reason? I’d like to know if verbal communication will be difficult. It’s important if we’re to keep him safe.”
The crease in Jonah’s forehead clears. “Elijah needs to be shielded from the noise around him. He can remove the headphones if necessary, but only for short periods of time.”
“And the sunglasses?”
Jonah arches his eyebrows at my own sunglasses. “The light hurts his eyes.”
I bend down to Elijah, reaching as close to his eye level as I can. I’m under no illusions that the boy is unaware of our conversation, despite the headphones and the sunglasses.
“You and me both, kid,” I say, pressing a finger to the edge of my sunglasses before turning my head slightly and tapping the earplug in my right ear. “The world bothers me.”
The boy tips his head back to look at me, the corners of his mouth pulling down, his little shoulders hunched. I was hoping that by moving closer, I could see his eyes, but the sunglasses are curved to the shape of his face and sit close to his skin.
I can only assume that the boy’s sensitivity to light and noise has something to do with his power. Judging by the slight tan across his fair skin, and the way Jonah and Vanguard lean so protectively around him, I highly doubt it’s because he’s been kept in a dark cage.
Jonah seems to have relaxed again, although it’s impossible to miss the way he continues to scrutinize the platform around us.
I’ve already ascertained that the two fire mages we noticed earlier have approached the cars behind us. They’re bound to step onto the train once we do.
