Monster - A. Lee Martinez [75]
The imp raised its head from the flurry of down around it. It half barked, half purred.
“I don’t suppose you have a theory about what’s going on here?”
The imp sneezed and went back to gutting the pillow.
“Didn’t think so.”
One thing at a time. He had to get out of here first, and now that he had a pen, he had a shot. He wasn’t great with magic, but he was familiar enough with containment spells to counter them. He assumed the room was sealed with a standard spell that kept the door from being opened from the inside.
He clicked the pen a few times as he recalled basic rune theory. He remembered the symbol that would unlock a door. But its odds of success depended greatly on the kind of magic Lotus used to seal the room. If she’d used an incantation, then this would be no problem. But if she used a rune spell, it would be much harder. Written magic was stronger than spoken magic. And spoken magic lost potency over time, while written magic gained power.
Alchemy would be trickier. He knew enough alchemy to make light beer out of tap water if he happened to have a harpy feather and a bottle cap at his disposal. But he usually just bought his potions and powders, like everybody else these days. Who had the time for all that mixing and brewing?
He remembered his last attempt at serious alchemy. He’d ordered a Make Your Own Homunculus kit through the mail. So easy a child could do it! declared the kit. He’d mixed the ingredients together, poured the concoction into the mold, and stuck the thing in the microwave. Just like the instructions said. Instead of a friendly little helper demon, he ended up with a fifty-pound, appliance-smashing beast. Not only did it destroy the microwave, the blender, and most of his plates, but it nearly swallowed his head before dissolving into paste. A month later, he discovered the vial of nightshade powder from the kit that had rolled under the table. After that, he left alchemy to the professionals. Anyway, the asking price for philosopher’s stones was outrageous nowadays.
Monster approached the door. A simple neutralizing rune was the easiest thing. It probably wouldn’t work, but he might as well start with the basics. He put the pen to the door. A crackle of energy raised the hairs on his arm. A jolt of electricity sent the pen flying out of his hand with enough force to drive it into the wall. Monster’s arm went limp.
He backed away. His arm hung at his side. He tried to move it and managed to wiggle his thumb. That was about it.
The imp hopped to the edge of the bed and growled questioningly.
“So much for Plan A,” said Monster.
He pulled the pen from the wall. It snapped in half. He grabbed a napkin and used it to wipe the ink off his hand. It didn’t really help.
“Don’t suppose you have another pen hidden somewhere?”
The imp yipped.
“I didn’t think so.”
Monster paced the room while waiting for the feeling to return to his arm.
He hadn’t expected to escape, but he was disappointed to have been thwarted so easily. Containment spells were part of his job. No spell was foolproof, no matter how good the practitioner. But here he was, trapped like a troll, without any plan. It was too bad Chester wasn’t here. It would’ve been easy enough for him to slip his flattened body under the door and open it from the other side. But Chester couldn’t be summoned while in this room, maybe the whole house.
If it was only the room interfering, then maybe Monster had a chance. He didn’t figure he had anything to lose. He went to the door, getting as close as he dared without actually touching it, and listened. The imp trotted over and listened with him.
It was quiet.
There probably wasn’t a guard posted. He listened for a few more minutes to be safe. He also watched for any passing shadows blocking the light coming under the door. It appeared all clear.
Monster flattened Chester’s body out and very carefully slid it under the door.
“Chester,” he whispered.