Chapter 136: _ First Revelation
Cora could only manage a weak nod in agreement with Rhett’s accusation. He could see all of her pulses throbbing as she turned back towards the bookshelf with her movements sluggish and defeated.
As Rhett watched her closely, he imagined himself in her shoes. Perhaps, this wasn’t how she’d planned things to unfold. She’d hoped to lead them on a wild goose chase, to buy herself some time. Now, with her story crumbling around her, panic nibbed at her insides.
Rhett could almost feel it. It felt as though he were her. He put himself in her shoes and could tell that something wasn’t right somewhere. Cora was hiding something huge.
With trembling hands, she reached behind the bookshelf and pulled out a small carved wooden toy sword. It was worn and chipped like evidence of countless imaginary battles fought by a small child.
Gently, she handed it to Aceco but Rhett caught the silent sob that escaped her lips the moment she handed that sword over. He squinted his eyes and scrutinized even closer.
Aceco accepted the sword gently, her silver eyes filled with a deep empathy. Closing her eyes once more, she focused her magic on the object. The room held its breath as the seconds ticked by. The silence was broken only by the ragged gasps of Cora’s stifled sobs.
Finally, Aceco opened her eyes, and when Rhett saw a dull emptiness in them, he knew.
"Gone," she whispered. "The boy... he’s gone too. Taken by the same darkness."
By ’the same darkness’, Aceco probably meant the same killers. Interesting.