Bound (12 page)

A knot tied itself inside Hannah’s chest. The pain of losing Jason all over again.

Lightning flashed outside. Thunder boomed. Rain pelted the window making her even more paranoid. Automobiles honked from the street and loud music thumped against the floor from the bar below. It was all too much – so much noise, commotion, chaos. She jittered, teetered and shook.

Travis never paused. “Jason may have died, but I do not believe he is lost forever. Before the Ilsans outlawed majick, the native people – barbarians like your grandfather – were master spell casters and sorcerers. The Republic all but destroyed these clans. Precious few survived.”

How can I believe a word you’re saying!

“I have learned of one such cult of sorcerers. Necromancers. The darkest majick users. And the most powerful. They claim they can ‘step into Death and retrieve what they will.’” Hannah’s eyes shot up. Her fingers tugged at her hair unconsciously.

Someone can bring Jason back?

“The problem is.” Travis looked her in the eye. “The coven is far away: beyond the Trenches and deep inside The Family’s Territory. Both the Republic and Slake Diamond’s armies will be hunting us.” He paused. “I miss my friend and I know how you felt about Jason. After all, you’ve come this far. I’ll make a bargain to take you to these necromancers. They can save him.”

Save him! Bring Jason back. Back from the Dead?
Her heart hurt. It couldn’t be possible. What was she thinking?

But a week ago Animates and squids and walls of majickal ice were impossible. Leaving Camp Thane was impossible.

Jason’s last words to her:
I promise forever, Hannah.

If she were dead and he was alive, he’d come for her.

“Jason needs you.” Travis touched her hand. “Will you help me?”

Heartache. Tears. Pain. Hope. Resolve. Fear.

Every emotion Hannah had ever felt rushed in now. Too much.

None of this can be true. Travis has already betrayed me. He’s probably lying now – might betray me again.

But, if Jason is alive and if he’s out there – stuck in some hellish half-life or in the Beyond – if it’s possible to see him again, feel him, hold him . . .

She rose to her feet. Her brain clicked into motion. Three days of silence, not a word since Jason’s funeral. Now the answer caught fire in her throat. “Yes.”

Thunder rolled outside. Rain pounded the roof.

Wet didn’t matter. Cold didn’t matter. Terror didn’t matter.

Travis closed the gap between them. “Swear it.”

“I’ll do anything to save Jason.”

“There is a price.”

Hannah shuddered, remembering Fingers, the doorman. “I don’t have money.”

“Not money. Only a service that will do no harm to you or anyone you care for. Something simple. Something only
you
can do. Swear you will.”

“Tell me what it is.”

“If you don’t swear, you can head out by yourself. Or go back to Camp Thane. I’m sure Jason will understand.”

Hannah felt cheated. She knew it was too good to be true. “That’s not fair.”

“I only ask one small request.”

“Tell me what it is.” When he didn’t answer, she asked, “it won’t hurt anyone I care about?”

“Not a soul.”

She stood still, not sure if she felt more scared or anxious. Even a little excited.
Jason. Can I really bring him back?

Cold sweat made her palms slippery. This man was no friend of Jason’s, she was sure of that. Jason could never be a friend of someone so deceitful. In any case, it didn’t matter. Jason had saved her, given her a reason to live. Now it was her turn to do the same for him.

“I swear.”

Travis smirked. “I need more than your word.” His hand slipped into his jacket pocket. He stepped to the window. “I need a promise. A contract.” He retrieved a small glass key and extended it toward the glass pane. “This is a charm is a majickal object. It will make sure we
both
keep our word.”

Hannah inched closer.

The key wasn’t transparent as she first thought, but filled with a cloudy blue light. As it moved toward the window, the glass vibrated, slowly at first then violently. The window finally released a high-pitched whine. Hannah gasped. Rain crawled across the glass at unnatural angles, leaving trails of fog that created shapes.

Treatus Runes.

Travis touched the key to the glass. A square of fog encircled the key. He let go of the charm and it stuck on the pane.

“Now.” Travis turned to Hannah. “We make a covenant. Something neither of us can break. I’ll go first.” He placed his hand on the foggy square and spoke boldly. “I swear to guide Hannah Blue to the coven of necromancers at Mount Bale, to deliver her safely and help her plead for Jason Everett’s life.”

Outside, lightning flashed bright. Travis removed his hand.

“Now,” he said to Hannah, “swear to fulfill my one request at the end of our journey.” Hannah’s hand trembled as she touched the cool glass. This was it. Her last chance to escape. Her heart pounded in her ears. She loved Jason. Irrevocably. Undeniably. No matter what, she was determined to save him.

“I swear to fulfill one request.” Her voice broke. “Anything as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone I love or myself.”

Fierce pain shot through her fingers. She ripped her hand away, leaving a bloody palm print in the center of the foggy glass that quickly faded.

“Open your hand.” Travis commanded.

Hannah hadn’t realized she’d balled her fist. A glass key, half the size of the charm, rested in her palm. “How–”

Travis showed her his open hand. “I have one too. Try to throw the key away.”

Hannah heaved it across the room. Before it hit the wall, she felt it in her palm.

Travis slipped his in his pocket. “It stays with you. No matter what.”

“What is it?”

“A reminder.” He is voice dropped. “Of a promise you cannot break.”