Free Blood Debts (The Temple Chronicles Book 2) by Shayne Silvers Page B

back at my surprise, and then placed a dainty hand on the door handle. After a deep breath, she yanked the door open, and instantly let out a yelp of surprise as a broom handle struck her in the mask where her eyebrow would be. I laughed. I couldn’t help it.
    Jafar strode forward, peering into the closet angrily. “This doesn’t make any sense. This is where the Brimstone smell is the strongest. A mighty being manifested near here and spent a great deal of time on this spot. Repeatedly, in order to be this pungent. This must have to do with the Armory.” I laughed even harder.
    “I don’t know what you are talking about. I mean, that mop is kind of dangerous, but I doubt it’s been spelled. You can have it for ten bucks.” Even though we were standing directly in front of the alleged Armory’s entrance, it was nothing but a broom closet. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I had of course already tried this. The broom must have been spelled because I had been armed for bear and had still also been hit in they eye. I didn’t know how it was possible, but the room was guarded somehow. It hadn’t been when Peter had broken in, but perhaps the spells had been ignited upon my parents’ murder. Without warning, Jafar slammed me up against the wall. “Give me the Key to the Armory. It belongs to us .”
    “I will tell you one time to let me go. Exactly once. Then I will knock those fucking dentures out of your ancient mouth.” I spoke softly. His grip tightened. “Don’t think I can’t. I’ve already shown you my strength. Do you really want to look a fool in front of your crew? If so, I’m your Huckleberry.”
    Jafar’s arm quivered. He was strong for an old man, but he finally let go. He turned away and took a few deep breaths to calm down. Then he turned back to face me. “Hand over the Key to the Armory.” I had no idea what he meant by a Key . He must have noticed this from my blank stare. “Magical crossroads like the one required to keep something like this secret for so long require a Key . You must have it. Your power is double what it should be, what it was last time you and your parents stood before the Academy on your Name Day.” That brought back the terrifying memory of meeting the Academy for my first time. The Name Day was an initiation day for young inherent wizards to be accepted for training. I hadn’t gone to their school as the majority of wizards did, having instead been ‘home schooled’ by my parents. They hadn’t been too big of fans of the Academy and the politics that were indelibly imprinted on her students.
    “Give us your information on the Armory and we will help you. Refuse and we will take it by force. It belongs in our hands where it is safe, not with one family. Until you see the errors of your ways, we are assigning you a caseworker. One of our best detectives. He will shadow you at all times. Gavin?” the Justice who had seemed to agree with me stepped forward. I merely stared at him, refusing to aid him. Jafar nodded after a few seconds. “You leave me no choice then. Akira?” I flinched, having anticipated an attack from Jafar or Gavin. They didn’t move. Instead, I suddenly found myself set upon by the entire ring of wizards simultaneously. I struggled for a moment but they were too quick for my drunken reflexes. A warm blanket of energy began to settle over my shoulders, and then it turned to a tingling, icy pain as it was yanked away. I roared, feeling as if the skin was being torn from my bones. Darkness and a swirl of sparks filled my vision as I crashed to my knees.
    When I came to, I was still on the floor, heaving through a raspy throat. Jafar’s face appeared before me. “You brought this on yourself. You have been cursed. From this day forward, your power will no longer restore itself. As you use it up, it is gone… permanently. This curse will remain in place until you choose to comply. You have three days. Then we will be back to hear your