Montague Von Vexx's Arc

Chapter 10 of 11

Montague held his sister against his chest while Alastair stepped back from the shattered doorway. The old oak slab lay in pieces on the wet stone, black ooze still leaking from its splintered edges. Alastair's face had gone very still. Montague knew that stillness. It was the look his brother wore when he had already decided. "Take her inside," Alastair said. "Wisteria will know what to do." He did not wait for an answer. He turned and walked toward the squat building at the edge of the courtyard, the one lined with blades and bottles. Montague's sister shivered against him. He whispered that she was safe now. But his eyes followed his brother across the stones. Alastair pushed open the armory door without slowing. When Alastair came out, he carried a dark blade across his shoulder. The obsidian caught the moonlight in a thin blue line. He did not look back at the broken chamber. He did not look back at Montague. "Brother," Montague called. Alastair paused, but only for a breath. "Stay with her," Alastair said. "I will be back before dawn." Then he was gone past the gate, and Montague was left holding the sister they had won and the brother they might lose.