It's a beautiful day. A good day for running away, Mathias thinks. A good day for fixing things. The plan still stands, even if Lovino and Feliciano have invited themselves along. He opens up the train window and lets fresh air spill into the compartment. It causes the twins to huddle into their jackets — and for Lovino to shoot him a death glare — but Mathias won't allow anything get him down today.
Emil is a different story. He sulks in the seat between Lovino and Feliciano, occasionally glaring at his surroundings. His reaction to being told he was going back home was odd, Feliciano said. All he'd done was nod and shrug, as if the whole thing had been an inconvenience. No joy, no rage. Mathias guessed that he'd burned out his energy these past few days. Emil is cooperating. That's good enough.
They take the train halfway, then get off and teleport. Feliciano insisted on it. "I'll need to conserve energy, since we're going to meet the enemy and all."
Mathias starts to feel less confident about avoiding a fight. If even Feliciano is preparing for it, that means the chances are good that today's exchange might end in violence. Well, he'll make sure it doesn't happen. Lukas is coming to meet them alone. He and Mathias will be gone before anyone knows what's going on.
The rush of teleportation knocks Mathias off balance. They're in the city, in an alleyway. The twins each take one of Emil's arms. It's unnecessary. He didn't even try to bolt.
"Where are you meeting him?" Lovino asks.
"He didn't say. He wants this to be quick and quiet. We'll follow the book's magical energy."
Mathias closes his eyes and reaches for any trace of magic he can find. There are residual smudges of it everywhere. Magic has bled into the foundations of the buildings. It lingers in the air. At first, there's too much noise to find a unique signal, but soon Mathias discovers a tiny thread weaving among the live bodies and cold machines of Florence.
"I found it," he says. Now that he knows what to look for, its presence grows stronger. He starts to follow the thread, like Theseus in the labyrinth.
The twins keep close. Feliciano murmurs something to his brother in Italian. Mathias tries not to worry about it. They don't suspect him. He's done nothing to make them suspicious. He keeps walking, winding the invisible thread around his wrist. This book has a clean feeling to it. Each book is different and this one is like a high, pure soprano sustaining a long note. Come and find me, it calls to every magically inclined being in the area.
He almost thought it wouldn't be possible. He didn't want to doubt Lukas, but Mathias knows the enemy can't have just handed him the book. And Lukas could have been caught. He could have been killed without Mathias's knowledge. Except he wasn't, because this is the plan unfolding in front of him, right now. Mathias's hands are shaking.
All four of them are tired by the time they reach the source of thread. It's an old building, marked for demolition. It's been fenced off and plastered with warning signs. Of course, that hasn't stopped kids from sneaking in to tag it and litter. Mathias kicks a glass bottle aside as he approaches the gate.
"This isn't a trap, right?" Lovino asks.
"I thought you guys came along in case it was a trap." The gate is unlocked. Mathias lifts the latch. His mouth is a desert. This is it. He glances over his shoulder at Emil. Emil is looking everywhere but him.
"All I'm saying is that this place is sketchy and I can't sense any presence aside from the book."
"That's the book scrambling everything around it. You're underestimating how badly Lukas wants Emil back."
"You could be right, you could be wrong." Lovino's eyes scan the decaying house. "We're dealing with the enemy. Who's to say Lukas is really alone in there?"
"Would you stop ruining this for me?" Mathias snaps. He realizes his mistake a second too late. "I mean," he says, backpedaling, "getting the book is our top priority right now. It's my duty as Bookkeeper. So even if this is risky, I'm going to take any chance I get."
Lovino rolls his eyes. He shuts up though, so Mathias must have said the right thing. Feliciano seems uncertain as well, but he's not arguing. He whispers something to Lovino again. Mathias wonders if there's any way to get them to wait outside.
"Could we hurry this up?" Emil demands. "I want to see Lukas."
Mathias pushes the gate open.
"I heard the door open. They're here," Elizaveta says, straightening in her chair. She stands and holds up her hand to conjure her frying pan.
Arthur stops her. "Hold on. Not yet." He turns to Lukas. "Go and meet them in the front. Let them think you're really going through with it."
Lukas nods. He picks up his bag from the corner of what used to be a kitchen and slings it over his shoulder. His insurance is in the inside pocket. The thought of it does little to comfort him. Success hinges on getting to Emil before Arthur and Elizaveta launch the ambush.
"Hello?" That's Mathias's voice.
Lukas steels himself and calls back, "I'm here. Keep your voice down." He leaves the kitchen and walks down the hall to the remnants of the foyer. This used to be a grand old house. Soon it will be nothing but dust. He catches the sound of creaking above his head. Not yet. Not yet.
Mathias stands in the middle of foyer. Behind him are two men who can only be Lovino and Feliciano Vargas. They are holding Emil. It takes a shocking amount of willpower not to run to Emil's side. Lukas walks slowly toward them, clutching the strap of his satchel.
"I didn't know you were bringing them," he says, stopping a safe distance from their little party. So they wouldn't let Mathias go alone either. The brothers are carefully tracking his movements. Their distrust is written across their faces.
"Just in case," Mathias says. "You've got the book?"
"Let me see Emil first." He needs to give him the letter.
"Book first, then your brother," the darker haired Vargas says.
Lukas shakes his head. "I won't let you have it until I know Emil is alright."
"He's fine," Mathias assures him. "At least show us that you have it."
Lukas pulls the book out of his bag. He holds it up so that Mathias can see. "Of course I have it. How else did you know how to find me? Now let me talk to Emil!"
The Vargases release Emil. He hurries to Lukas, who gives up on self-restraint and flings his arms around Emil. His clothes are cool from outside. He doesn't seem weak and it smells like he's recently showered. Mathias was telling the truth about his treatment. Even so, Lukas asks, "Did they hurt you?"
"No. Not physically. Lukas—"
"One second." Lukas opens the inside pocket of his bag.
"Hey! We gave you your brother!" The dark haired Vargas crosses his arms. "Book. Now."
Lukas glares at him. This man, of all people should understand. Doesn't he care just as much for his own brother? But this is what Lukas came to do. He can still get the letter to Emil before all hell breaks loose. If Mathias is fast enough, they might be able to get out of here in time.
Lukas hands the bag to Emil. "Hold onto this," he whispers.
Emil nods. "Lukas, Mathias said something about—"
"Later."
"You're going to let them do this? You're going to let them win?"
"It's not about winning, Emil. It's about how much I love you." And Mathias.
His words have the desired effect of embarrassing Emil into silence. Lukas holds out the book and takes a step toward Mathias. His stomach churns as he does so. He can feel Elizaveta preparing for war. Faen. A thousand times faen. There has to be a way to warn Mathias. The Vargas brothers will kill him the moment they perceive a threat. They'll know that Mathias has betrayed them if Lukas tells him his enemies are lying in wait.
Mathias beams down at him. What a simple fool. He charged here without a second's thought. He believes that their plan will work. Lukas's arms tremble as Mathias reaches for the heavy tome in his hands.
And all he can say is, "Mathias, I'm sorry."
"What?"
That's when the assorted members of Arthur's impromptu attack force leap from the shadows.
There are seven of them in total. Mathias has just enough time to count them as they emerge from behind their cloaking spells. Elizaveta even slides down the bannister, brandishing her frying pan. A barrier goes up behind them and Mathias realizes they've been trapped inside.
"Nowhere to run, Bookkeeper," she says.
"What did I tell you!" Lovino shouts.
Not only is Elizaveta here, but so is Arthur. Mathias doesn't recognize the rest of them. Though they don't appear very strong, Mathias doubts they're weaklings. He is free-falling through the floor to the center of the Earth. Lukas covers his eyes with one hand.
A trap. After all that, Lukas led him into a trap.
A spell explodes just above his head. He stumbles backwards. There's a shield around him that can only be Feliciano's. At least one of them is thinking clearly. Mathias can't take his gaze off Lukas and Emil.
"I didn't expect you to come with such little support," Arthur says, magic glowing around his hands. "Perhaps you should beg for mercy and surrender, considering you're outmatched."
"Who's outmatched?" Lovino shoots back. He thrusts his hand toward the ambush party and fire bursts up from the floor. The heat ripples across Mathias's face.
Only two are caught in Lovino's spell. The rest manage to either shield themselves or dodge. Lukas and Emil cling to each other as they run down a corridor.
Mathias moves without thinking. He leaves the protection of Felciano's shield. A tangle of vines breaks through the floorboards and wraps itself around his ankles. He hits the ground hard. Elizaveta stands above him, the frying pan poised to strike.
"Did you really think it was going to be that easy?"
Lukas shoves Emil into the kitchen. "There's a back door. Go!"
"No!" Emil holds the satchel against his chest. "I'm not leaving you again."
"You're not a part of this, Emil. I'm giving you a chance to get away."
"But what about you?" Emil blurts.
Lukas presses his fingers to his temple. "I used up all my chances. You can still leave. Just run and don't stop until you've reached somewhere safe. There's a letter in the backpack. You'll need it to— "
"Mathias said you were going to run away together. Is that true?"
That brings Lukas to a screeching halt. He struggles for a simple answer. "I… it's complicated. Either way, it's no use now. All I can do is make sure you're safe."
Emil hesitates. He looks his brother in the eye. "I won't abandon you. I'm here now. I'm not going to let you handle this alone."
"Emil…"
"Lukas, you're my only family. If I go, you go."
Lukas shakes his head. "No. Not without…"
"Mathias. I can't believe this. You really were going to leave with him." Emil places the satchel's strap across his chest so he can take Lukas by the shoulders. "I thought he was lying. I thought he'd just come back from killing you."
"I'm alive. Maybe not for much longer."
"Don't say that. Christ, Lukas. Look, if you're going to save Mathias, I might as well help."
"No."
"I care about him too, okay! Even if I'm really pissed at him for holding me hostage." Emil sighs. "He didn't give up on me. I should return the favor."
Lukas shrugs Emil off. "This is something I have to do alone. Besides, I don't think Mathias will want to be saved, least of all by me." He turns back to the door. "It's time this ended."
Mathias's ax blade collides with Elizaveta's frying pan. He kicks free of the vines and gets upright. Elizaveta grins. She's enjoying this on some level. Mathias is too, sort of. A fight against Elizaveta is easier to face than Lukas's betrayal.
He swings at her middle. The blade nicks her side. Red dots her green dress. It doesn't slow her at all. She laughs. "Is that all you've got?" Elizaveta slams the frying pan down on his arm.
Mathias almost loses hold of the ax. She's powerful. He tries to hit her again, but only succeeds in grazing her leg. She's also faster than him. Her hair whips behind her as she lunges for his abdomen, her free hand formed into a blade, surrounded by a haze of magic.
Before she can gut him, Elizaveta jerks backwards. Her eyes widen. There's a golden chain wrapped around her ankle. Holding the other end is Lovino, smirking. He snaps his wrist and Elizaveta flies away from Mathias.
Mathias doesn't have time to relax. One of the weaker mages jumps on his back. Mathias tries to shake him. There are gloved hands on his throat. Choking, Mathias throws himself at the wall, slamming his attacker against it. The grip loosens, but doesn't vanish completely until Mathias does it a few more times. By the time the enemy mage slides off his back, he's dizzy and coughing.
Elizaveta fights Lovino in the middle of the room. Flames, vines, water, and her frying pan whirl around them. Lovino is actually throwing punches at her. Mathias can't find Feliciano at first, but soon locates the younger Vargas brother standing near a window. He has his hands pressed to the glass, his brow furrowed in concentration. He must be trying to break the seal on the house.
Mathias starts toward him, then remembers Lukas. He should be defending Feliciano. This is a battle. What will he even do with Lukas when he finds him? He still isn't sure how to feel and the circumstances aren't ideal for figuring that out.
One of Arthur's spells goes off at his feet. Mathias falls. The ax slides from his grasp and out of reach. Arthur steps on his back.
"Distracted?" Arthur asks.
Mathias squirms. He twists his neck so he can see the Englishman standing above him. A ball of fire appears in Arthur's palm. It casts sinister shadows on his face.
"Your clan's collection of books will be quite useless without a keeper."
"That's what you think," Mathias replies, thinking of his near complete translations back at the Vargas house. "Killing me won't get you what you want."
Arthur frowns. "You'll regret crossing me, Køhler."
Mathias makes a last desperate reach for his ax as he braces himself for the fire. His fingertips brush the handle. He can feel the flames about to strike him.
They never do. A shield goes up around Mathias a second before the fireball touches him.
"Lukas! What are you doing?"
Lukas stands in the corridor, his hand outstretched. "He's mine, Arthur." His voice is sharp and cold, like the look in his eyes.
Arthur lifts his foot from Mathias's back. "Out of respect for your history, I'll let you do the honors."
Mathias gets to his knees. He thought Lukas ran. Apparently not. Lukas would never leave loose ends. Mathias's hands clench into fists. There's a tiny flicker of hope in him that Lukas has come back to rescue him.
Lukas kicks the ax toward Mathias. "One last battle, Mathias," he says. He lifts his chin. "This time, we'll finally kill each other."
