Page 71 of The Last Syphon
“Venerbale Cias told me something before we left,” she began, a small sense of excitement fluttering in her chest. “He spoke of books in the librarium here. Books on magical abilities.”
Felix caught on quickly. “One on Syphons?”
She nodded. “He said it’s kept separate from the others, in the Head Venerable’s quarters in the librarium.”
“And you think if we take it, we can learn more about what happened?”
Not only that. She could possibly learn everything there was to know about this power. If Inara was being honest with herself—something she always tried to do—she was hoping there would be something in there about the Dark Voice that taunted her, trying to convince her to use her ability for evil.
Felix lowered his head to catch her gaze. “What’s wrong? You’re worried about something. I can see it.”
Biting her lip, Inara hesitated.
It was the Dark Voice.
It hadn’t always been there. It was only over the last few years that it had started to appear, tempting and enticing her to use her power to take everything. She had never been able to talk about it with anyone. Her mother had already left on her next adventure when it first emerged. It had been yet another secret she’d been forced to keep to herself, but in reality, Inara doubted she would have told her mother anyway. It was for a number of reasons, the main one being that she feared how she would look at her.
With fear.
She wondered if her best friend would look at her the same.
Felix’s hand came down to rest on her knee. The touch was soft yet strong. Stable. “Talk to me, Nara. I’m here for you, for whatever you need.”
It wasn’t until that moment that Inara realised she was the one shrouded in fear. She was terrified of the Voice. Terrified of the power it held within her. Of how it took every ounce of strength she possessed to keep it at bay.
Her biggest fear was that one day the Voice would win.
Felix squeezed her knee. Inara clasped her hand down on top of his, taking heed of his strength. Using it to calm her thoughts, her heart.
“I hear this voice.” She’d never heard herself so…scared before.
She did not like it.
“A-a voice?”
“In my head.” She tapped her temple twice. “It appears when I use my syphon ability. It’s…dark. Twisted.”
A flicker of concern made Felix’s voice crack slightly. “What…what does it say?”
She looked into his eyes. Dread filled her. “It…tries to coerce me. Tempt me. It tells me to drain everyone. Everything. Not to stop until all the power in the realm is mine. It wants me to kill.”
Felix paled. For the first time since she’d known him, he was at a loss for words. Speechless. Much to Inara’s relief, there was no fear on his face. Just unease and worry. For her.
“I fight it. I beat it back every time. But—” She licked her lips, unable to utter her next words.
“You fear that one day you will not be able to. That you are destined to follow in the Cursed King’s footsteps.”
Powerless to actually say it out loud, Inara simply nodded once.
Felix removed his hand from her knee and wrapped an arm around her, holding her close. “Well, don’t. You have something the Cursed King didn’t have. A best friend who would fucking die for you. You hear me, Nara? I. Would. Fucking. Die. For. You. I won’t let that happen to you, and if you need my help fighting that fucking voice, I will help you. We won’t let it win.”
She closed her eyes, leaning into him. His body was big. Warm. Strong. Never in her life had she ever felt so fragile or weak. Inara was one of the most powerful beings in the realm, capable of killing with barely a thought, and yet, she was riddled with fear—a fear she hadn’t even realised had been festering in her soul for years.
Felix kissed the top of her head before standing up. He began to pace. “Here’s the plan. We’re going to find the librarium and scope it out. Find out exactly where the book on Syphons is, and then we’re going to steal it.”
“It’s in the Head Venerable’s chambers. A restricted section.”
“So? We’re the two best thieves in the realm. If anyone can do it, it’s us.”
