Page 68 of Trivium

Finally, what must have been an hour later, they came to a stop at a ladder similar to the one they had descended in the shed.

“Here,” Lennox said, setting the torch down.

Zeina looked up at the hatch in the ceiling. “Where does it lead?”

“An apartment. Ejja venos!”

Zeina didn’t understand old Jarrian, but Loveleena didn’t miss a beat. “It means let’s go,” she whispered in Zeina’s ear.

“An apartment? With people?” Zeina asked nervously.

“Abandoned.”

Zeina looked to Loveleena, who gave her a smile that said, this is going to be fine, right? She took a hold of the ladder, careful not to slide her skin along its splintered handle.

Zeina was relieved to find that the apartment was most definitely abandoned, and that Talamalu was only a few blocks away. Each piece of furniture was covered by an old sheet, collecting dust. As if to curb its loneliness, the sound of human life floated in from the street—people talking, laughing, boots shuffling, carts clicking on stone.

Following Loveleena, Lennox joined them and closed the latch.

Lennox instructed them to walk confidently as they made their way onto the street, and if anyone spoke to them, to let him handle it. Thankfully, they made it to Talamalu with only a few stares and sidelong glances. Zeina wasn’t used to people noticing her. But no matter where they went, Defenders, even student ones, attracted attention. There was a noticeable shift in the air, too, like everyone was on edge. The city felt darker than when Zeina had left it months ago.

A bell chimed above them as they entered the shop. Elder Thana, Lady Shadows as Loveleena called her, was nowhere to be found.

“Don’t get too comfortable,” Loveleena whispered. “You’ll think this place is deserted, and that woman will pop out of nowhere and scare the life right out of you.”

Silently, Zeina broke away from them to browse the shelves, each lined with hundreds of plants and spices, the most potent ones claiming her nostrils. In the back of the shop were the teas, and Zeina scanned each one looking for Elmolda Flower.

“She really can’t tell, hey?” Lennox had moved so quietly behind her, she hadn’t heard him approach, and his voice startled her, making her jump. Of course Loveleena hadn’t uncovered her secret; no one had. Well, except Lennox.

“It’s rude to sneak up on people,” she shot back, her eyes not leaving the shelves. “And, no, most people can’t.”

“You look identical, but your personalities couldn’t be further apart.”

“Can you stop talking? I’m trying to focus.” Zeina’s eyes drilled into the scribbly text as she tried to make out the words.

“Need help? Reading, I mean.”

Zeina turned to face him, scowling.

“I know you can’t read well,” he said, noticing the embarrassment in Zeina’s face and shrugging casually, as if it were no big deal.

She turned back around. “I can read.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t read.”

“Yes, you did.”

“I said you couldn’t read well. I just asked if you wanted help”

“Go away.”

Hands raised in defeat, Lennox left her. It took her longer than she wanted to admit but eventually she found the flower, which she set softly into a satchel to secure its delicate petals. The instructions specifically said that the flower must not be compromised, or the potion wouldn’t work.

She found Lennox and Loveleena at the front, bickering.

“What are you two going on about?” Zeina asked, which she immediately regretted after getting an earful from Loveleena about Ren.

“Why are you so obsessed with him?” Lennox teased.