The Drowned Vault by N. D. Wilson Read Free Book Online Page A

more boldly than others. Not so the transmortals. The undying live with boredom, with apathy, with love or anger or hate, any number of emotions. But never fear. Fear and death are two sides of the same coin, and death has been well behind them for centuries. To have the Reaper’s Blade reemerge now, and in the hand of an enemy? To have friends struck down? Fear roars and they cannot control it. It rules over them like so many hunted animals. And men like Gilgamesh are
very
dangerous when afraid.”
    Cyrus exhaled slowly. “So what are we going to do?”
    Rupert smiled grimly. “
We
are going to keep
you
in your rooms as long as
we
can.
I
am going to do what I can to calm the coming herd.”
    Antigone looked around the dingy room. “Does it have to be in here? I hate it like this. Could you at least get me some paint?”
    Rupert stood slowly. Cyrus scrambled up beside him, but Antigone stayed on the floor.
    “I’ll come when I can,” Rupert said. “Phoenix has been even more fox-cunning than I’d expected. He’s diverted me and managed to threaten Ashtown even whilehe hides. And my own Acolytes are woefully unprepared.” He shook his head. “I’d hoped there’d be time this fall for a stronger traditional training regimen for my two Smiths, but immediate danger creates immediate needs, and soon enough the two of you may be fighting to survive outside of these walls.” Suddenly, he smiled. “But I have a card to play, no longer hidden in my sleeve. Arachne will be staying with you and working with you in ways that only she can. Some Keepers might object—fallaciously—to her unique skills, but I’m in no mood to care. You will do as she says without question. After dark tonight, if she thinks it’s safe, you can walk the green with her. Tomorrow morning, the planes will really begin to arrive and you’ll be locked in tight. I’ll be by when I can.”
    “The spider girl’s our babysitter?” Antigone grimaced. “Seriously?”
    “The ‘spider girl’ has chosen her side,” Rupert said. “She’s betting on Smiths. As am I …” Rupert paused, focusing on Cyrus. “One last thing. Hopefully you’ll be out of sight, but if you are in public, try not to use the word
transmortal
. It’s accurate, but some of them are quite sensitive about ever having been mortal at all. They insist on
immortal
. Food will be delivered, and I’ll send along some paint as well.”
    “Really?” Antigone jumped to her feet. “Something warm, please. Yellow. Orange. I don’t know. Just bright. Please make it bright.”
    Rupert smiled. “Bright it is.” He crossed toward the door. “And Skelton’s estate wasn’t that anemic. You should have
some
money. I’ll talk to that dirty little lawyer of yours.”
    The door opened, and the door shut. Rupert was gone.
    Antigone dropped into the armchair and laughed. “Hey, hey, Rus-Rus, you’ll have to help me clean. There’s a lot to do if we’re going to paint this place.”
    Cyrus looked at his sister, laced his fingers through his short dark hair, and groaned. His cage had just gotten smaller.
    “What?” Antigone said. “We’ll be stuck, but it’s better than being dead or beaten to a pulp by some transmortal, and at least the walls will be bright.”
    “I don’t care about bright walls,” said Cyrus. He dropped onto the old rug and flopped onto his back. “Maybe I’ll run away to California.”
    “Good plan,” a voice said from beneath the floor. A grate rattled, and the rug shook beneath Cyrus, thumping him in the back. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to come up now.”
    At the same time, the front door opened and Diana Boone slipped in, followed by Dennis Gilly in his bowler hat, and pretty little Hillary Drake, who was wearing an apron loaded with cleaning supplies. Her curly hair was knotted in a fountain on top of her head.
    “Are we on for Polygoners tonight?” Diana asked. “I wasn’t sure when I saw you come in with Rupe. Thought you might