Page 40 (1/2)

"I a in," Lucivar said

"Youcan’t " He called in the paper that had the spooky house rules and waved it at his brother "Da to the rules of this place--"

"Since when do we play by anyone else’s rules?"

The words felt like a bucket of ice water thrown in his face

Lucivar moved closer, until there was no distance between them "Tell me, Bastard Since when dowe play by anyone else’s rules?"

He floundered Felt like he’d lost his footing, but he couldn’t quite figure out why

"This place was built as a trap to kill the three of us," he said, sure of at least that much "You, ured out--or are almost certain, anyway--that Jarvis Jenkell is behind the creation of this place He’s recently discovered that he’s Blood, and it seeainst the SaDiablo family"

"Which only proves he’s a clever idiot What else?"

Daelanced at the paper, then looked at the house "You read it"

"Lucivar…"

"Read it"

Daeue that Lucivar was perfectly capable of reading the rules by himself Then he paused Considered This wasn’t about Lucivar’s resistance to anything "bookish" This was about what he absorbed from words when he heard them

THERE ARE THIRTY EXITS FROM THESPOOKYHOUSE, BUT YOU WILL NEED TO LOOK CAREFULLY TO FIND THEM, FOR THEY ARE WRAPPED IN DANGEREVERY TIMECRAFT IS USED, AN EXIT IS SEALED, AND THAT WAY OUT IS LOSTWHEN THE LAST EXIT IS SEALED, YOU WILL BECOME PART OF THE HOUSE--AND STAY WITH US FOREVER

Lucivar looked at the house, at the land, at the sky

"Again," Lucivar said

Daeain--and watched his brother That look That stance What was Lucivar looking at when he considered that house as a battleground? More to the point, as Lucivarseeing ?

Lucivar took a couple of steps away froain"

He read it a third time, then waited

Lucivar took a deep breath and let it out in a gusty, annoyed sigh Frustration filled his eyes, and Dae the air between therab each other and shake so you, Bastard," Lucivar said "He used words instead of a blade, but he ha exactly what you did--play by his rules Surreal and Rainier, too, since they’re still in there"

Jaenelle joined them "There are three Black Widoho spun the illusions around this place Every time Craft is used, the people in the house becoled in with the rest If you take a step over the boundary, you’ll be caught in the spells"

"If you play by the rules," Lucivar said "The sun’s going to shine in Hell before I play by someone else’s rules--especially some landen prick ants one of us to help him commit suicide"

"He’s Blood, not landen," Daemon said "I don’t think he expected anyone to knoas behind this ga a slow execution firsthand as fodder for one of his stories"

Lucivar stared at him as if half his brains had just fallen out of his ears

"Even soht by webs like this," Jaenelle said "Have you forgotten e got caught in the Jhinka attack a few years ago? Those weren’t the saotten," Lucivar replied "I’ve learned a few things since then" He looked at Daeo into that house--and I can"

"Whathis arht fist

Daeled webs that surrounded the house