"This must be the map," I said in wonder, remembering Zach's comment the day we started on this trip. He'd said that Adrian had to come because he would lead us to a map "of sorts." I'd thought he'd meant a drawing with a version of "X marks the spot" for the staff, but he must have meant the tablet instead!
"Oh, that's something," Jasmine said, her smile slipping as she stared at me. "You don't seem too happy by that, Ivy."
I was happy, but I was almost more afraid than ever that if we found the staff, I wouldn't be strong enough to use it to save the realm walls. Since I wouldn't worry my sister by telling her the truth about why I was having a hard time finding my inner cheerleader at the moment, I mumbled, "I, ah, I'm just-"
"Tired," Adrian filled in, coming up from the underground staircase. "Using her abilities takes a lot out of her."
"Yep, I'm tired," I agreed, giving him a grateful look.
Adrian's gaze lingered on me before he turned to Costa. "The tablet must be the map Zach mentioned. I can read a little runic, so I'll take a stab at translating it, but it'll take a while. Why don't you and Jasmine go grab some dinner? There's a few restaurants close by and most of the campus is on hallowed ground, so you should be safe."
From Costa's skeptical expression, he knew there was a lot more going on. Then his half shrug seemed to say, I'll play along now, but I'll get the truth out of you later.
Out loud, he said, "I could stand to eat something. What about you, Jasmine? Hungry?"
"Starving," my sister replied, rising. "Ivy? You coming?"
I wanted as far away as I could get from the boil-covered demon and his taunting reminders of my impending failure, but what I said was, "No, I'm not hungry. Besides, I should stay in case Adrian figures out what the tablet says."
"Oh." Jasmine looked disappointed, but she also looked clueless about anything else going on, so I was relieved even as guilt pricked me. I'll tell her soon, I promised myself. Just not tonight. "Well, I'll bring you back something, in case you change your mind."
"Thanks," I said, smiling even though it felt like my face might crack from the strain. "Maybe get something for Brutus, too. Where is he, anyway?"
Costa shrugged. "Getting his nightly exercise, and hopefully not eating any stray cats he comes across."
"Then definitely get him something," I said, shuddering.
With assurances that they would, Jasmine and Costa left. Adrian went over to the altar, turned the same pillar on its axis and then got out of the way as the stone slab slowly lowered until the alter covered the hidden staircase again.
"Father Louis," he said, "why don't you take some pictures of the tablet, then find that professor and see if he can read the runes on it."
The old priest beamed. "It's late, but I am sure he will forgive me for troubling him." Then he pulled a cell phone from his robes and snapped a few pictures of the tablet.
"Aren't you going to try to read it first?" I asked Adrian.
He shrugged. "I can't read a word of runic."
I stared at him. "You lied."
A smile tugged his lips. "Not to you. I never promised not to lie to Costa or Jasmine."
"We really need to talk about your definition of the truth," I said, and at the same time, a part of me realized that I was just as bad when it came to Jasmine. But to protect her, I told that part, and tried to ignore how it whispered bullshit back at me.
"Now, children, no quarreling," Father Oliver chided.
Adrian snorted. "I'm over a hundred and forty years old, and you're calling me a child?"
The priest waved a hand. "Then act your age." With that, he left, almost skipping with glee over his errand.
Adrian locked the door behind him, leaning against it once he turned around.
"Now what?" I asked, feeling tired for real now.
Adrian glanced up at the ceiling. "Now I show you the place I briefly called home."
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
I'D WONDERED WHY the ceiling of the chapel was so low in comparison with its high, sloped roof. Now I knew. The upstairs had been converted into a large loft, and as a security measure, almost no one else could see it.
"Zach glamoured this so that it's only visible to Judians, Davidians and Archons," Adrian explained, leading me up the sharply winding staircase. "Everyone else who walks into the chapel sees a ceiling that goes all the way up to the rafters, and where you see the staircase, they see the sacristy."