Page 53 of Hell Burns Between Us

One salamander climbed onto her leg and curled atop her thigh, the bright orange creature resting its head there as if it had decided she was the perfect place for a nap.

This she did find delightful. Running a soft finger along its back, she asked, “I don’t suppose you know anything about this earring I’m supposed to steal back. I’ve had no luck this morning trying to find it… I feel like I’m working blind. I wish I just had something to go on.”

The salamander gazed up at her, its oversized black eyes making it entirely too adorable for a creature Peri knew could wreak astonishing havoc if provoked.

The salamander's voice was louder than Peri had expected, yet reassuringly smooth as she said, “Maybe ask the gorgons? Or is it their snakes who know the most about it? Anyway, you could ask either them or their snakes, if you’d like.”

A ragged laugh burst from her before she could stop it. “I don’t know why I expected anything else.”

She gently set it on a nearby stone to let it nap further. Why was everyone so obsessed with her visiting either Slang or the gorgons? Why not someone safe, or at the minimum, a being without fangs?

She’d read once that the gorgons lived in a lair filled with corpses. Some claimed it wasn’t bodies, but rather terrifying art that filled their home. Either way, she did not want to go there in search of answers.

Not without something to give her an edge up at least.

She stood, brushing off the crumbs from her clothes. “Do you know anything about the gorgon’s dice that are in the Arcane Vaults?”

The salamander pinned her with an overly annoyed glare. “Ask the Bite!” She scoffed loudly, much louder than Peri thought a salamander could scoff. “You’re not using it as much as you should! You daft little hellion.”

Peri grinned down at the salamander. “I’ll, um, keep that in mind.”

Then she was dashing off again with Zila. Climbing up stony mountainsides to investigate an ancient collection of caves said to be particularly known for hiding magical objects. Winding through dense forests to find abandoned temples. Diving into lakes to check their bottoms for any sort of chest that might hold the earring.

When her body felt like jelly, she and Zila turned back towards her family’s estate. All things considered Peri felt oddly hopeful, encouraged even, as she moved through her home to her bedroom. One of these places was bound to be where the earring was being hidden, she only needed to find the correct one.

Reaching for her bedroom door, she yanked her hand back with a start. The door stood slightly ajar. Unease wound baleful fingers around her insides. She took a steadying breath and slowly pushed the door open to find her parents standing by her fireplace.

As she stood there gaping her father, Takar, casually tossed one last book into the flames before turning to face her. Then, upon seeing her, he cleared his throat and looked at her mother, Apphia, expectantly.

“Is there—” Peri’s voice splintered. “What are you doing?”

“Peri, you’re not in trouble,” her mother said slowly.

“Don’t lie to her,” her father said, tossing more of her careful notes into the flames.

“Why are you here?” A cold dread barrelled through Peri. “In my bedroom?”

“We had to,” Takar said sharply. Peri glanced away, noticing that everything she owned was strewn carelessly about. Her stomach clenched but she kept her expression shuttered.

“Peri,” Apphia began. “It’s just that… you’re struggling.”

“What do you mean?” Her throat burnt, tight as if she almost couldn’t breathe. She was on the brink of shattering. Peri wrapped her arms around her middle, the burn in her throat intensifying. She stared at her beloved books, the pages curling black in the flames. A manic laugh burst out of her that turned into a choked sob, her emotions raging out of control. She fisted her hands until her nails dug into her palms, the sharp pain of it grounding her.

Apphia crossed her arms. “What happened at Sia’s Ascension?”

“I had a bad reaction to a potion!”

Takar let out a deep, disappointed sigh—and it made something sharp twist inside her.

“I—” She tried again, but her voice broke.

“How did you even get your hands on so many forbidden books?” he finally asked. “We have a library filled with approved ones, and yet you fill your bookshelves… with these?”

Peri’s breath came too fast. It wasn’t just about the books. It was never just about the books.

“And what’s this?” Apphia held up a letter that Peri’s Alchemy instructor had given her before Winter Solstice.

Peri swallowed hard. “It’s just a letter from one of my instructors.”