Paper and Fire (The Great Library #2)(86)

Thomas seemed all right, but Jess could tell it was a fragile kind of strength, floating on a river of adrenaline and hope. That tide would turn, and then the weight of the darkness would press on him, as it did on Wolfe. Jess knew he’d need to keep good watch on his friend when the shadows came for him.

Rome seemed utterly normal as evening fell, and the sky faded from blue to a greenish teal. Stars emerged in shy peeks, then gaudy sprays. Their little party passed brightly lit restaurants, and Jess’s stomach growled from the scent of roasting meats and fish.

Having Frauke with them made a difference. People made way for them, some with respectful bows, since Glain, Jess, and Santi were all clearly armed High Garda, and the others, except Morgan, wore Scholar’s robes. Morgan walked next to Wolfe, like a favored student or a fond daughter.

And the lion, Frauke, paced behind them, a silent and watchful guardian that warned off even Burner sympathizers from any confrontation. Strange, how good it felt to have that power at his back, at his command. Jess didn’t entirely like it. Too easy to become dependent on it.

But it did make their walk to the Forum efficient.

Standing in the shadow of Mercury’s feet, in virtually the same spot where Burners had died only two days before, Wolfe and Santi assessed the situation of the basilica. As they’d predicted, it did seem quiet. People proceeded in and out of the public area of the Serapeum, and most of the pride of automata patrolled farther down. There was a lion crouched beside the open Serapeum door, scanning those who entered.

“Can you turn it off?” Santi asked Jess, and he nodded.

“I can if it’s distracted.”

“That’s my job,” Santi said.

“Nic—,” Wolfe protested, but Santi cut him off.

“No. I’m the better option. They’ll all have me first on the list; after all, I’m the one who betrayed my own company.” Even as he said it, Jess saw the pain that flashed through him, quickly banished to some dark corner inside. Captain Santi loved the High Garda; he loved the men and women under his command, and the responsibility he held for the lives of Scholars.

“Jess, your job is to turn it off. Let me handle the distraction.”

Jess nodded. Thomas said quietly, “Frauke can help.” That meant Frauke could go in single combat against the other lion, but Jess was well aware that if that happened, things would get much worse, much faster. The rest of the pride would come, and Frauke wouldn’t last long against numbers.

Neither would they.

“Stay together until we get close. I’ll draw the lion off,” Santi said. “Jess, you know what to do then. The rest of you, just head straight inside. Don’t wait for us.”

Jess nodded and turned to Thomas. “Keep Frauke with you. Of all of us, you may be the one they want most.”

Thomas knew that. His face was thin and pale under his new-cut hair and beard, and underneath his surface calm, he looked like he was fighting an urge to curl into a ball. He put a hand on Frauke’s mane, and she purred that metallic, singing purr, and it seemed to help. “I know,” he said. I won’t go back, Jess. I can’t do that.”

He’d rather die. Wolfe would be the same, Jess thought.

“We’re going to make it. Trust me.” Jess tried to make himself sound positive of that and cheerful, and might have even succeeded, because Thomas pulled in a deep breath and nodded.

“I do. Of course.”

As Santi started to take the lead, Morgan suddenly grabbed his arm. “No,” she said. “Let me. It will know me as an Obscurist, but that means it will also be under strict instructions not to harm me.”

“You’re sure of that?”

“Absolutely. It won’t dare.”

Jess hoped she was right as they mounted the marble steps. She looked confident and bold, all right, with her head held high. The ends of the silk scarf Jess had bought her floated like dreams on the cooling breeze. She looked beautiful and fragile and brave, and Jess couldn’t take his eyes off of her as they climbed.

The lion tilted its head down to regard their approaching group.

Morgan took in a breath and hurried up ahead of the rest of them, and the lion rose from a crouch to a standing position.

A mother with three young children ahead of them was startled by the movement and rushed her brood inside the Serapeum; Jess was grateful she did, because in the next second, the lion’s eyes flickered red. It growled.

“Move!” Santi called, and Glain grabbed Wolfe and hustled him inside fast, acting—once again—on her built-in priority to protect a Scholar. Khalila stayed with Thomas, and Jess glanced back to see that Thomas wasn’t following the plan; he was waiting, ignoring Khalila’s pulls on his arm to try to rush him to the entrance. Frauke paced restlessly near them, growling now herself.

The Library lion paced down toward Morgan now, with his growl ratcheting up to an intimidating snarl. She backed slowly away from it, and Jess ghosted sideways, trying to work his way around it while it stayed focused on her. She circled and went backward up the stairs, and it paced to follow her. She let it back her up against the wall, and it pressed forward, snarling jaws inches from her face as it boxed her in.

Then it let out a curious roaring sound that he’d never heard before. That must have been a signal to summon help, and Jess realized that they were out of time and luck. He darted in to get his fingers on the switch under the lion’s jaw, but it saw him coming and shifted its weight sideways to block him. It was like running into a stone wall, and he was knocked into a sliding fall on the marble. As soon as he slowed, he rolled to his feet and tried again, slipping in under the swiping paw. The lion yanked its head aside as he tried to get to the switch, and this time, a batting blow connected squarely.