X: Valet

(8) I'm coming with you

Seth sighed loudly. And then, with just a wave of his hand, he made the three of us, how should I say it... "wait." Don't move, don't talk. Perhaps he would be glad if we even stopped breathing.

Then he walked up to Magic and took her aside, grinning venomously. I had no doubt that Magic knew exactly what Seth wanted from her. But for some reason, her face seemed to ask a question. I think she was just performing in the theater once again.

"Are you crazy?"

"This conversation will lead to nothing."

I liked the way Magic cut Seth off so easily and abruptly at times. His suggestions, his arguments, discontents and remarks.

"Stay here."

Seth didn't try to continue anymore. He switched to the simple requests. That sounded unusually soft. But don't be fooled – Seth's gentleness was very different from other people's gentleness.

"We're partners, aren't we?"

And again the irony in her voice. A fake expression on her face.

Seth said nothing. He understood what she was getting at, he didn't want to answer.

"That means you can't order me around."

"I never do that."

"So let me decide for myself."

But he knew that this would happen. That's why he didn't try to push before Magic announced her decision. He was hoping for a different outcome and in the end he rushed to convince anyway, without getting it.

Seth sucked air noisily through his nostrils. He closed his eyes and lifted his chin a little.

Magic looked at him with some sympathy, I think. Sometimes it seemed to me that she hated making Seth nervous just as much as she hated it when we made him nervous. She was mad at us, but at herself... She didn't want him to be hurt. I suppose that's the answer.

"Get ready."

Seth turned his head sharply in our direction when he gave the order. I'm lucky he didn't clap his hands....

Prison, hmm... What can I tell you about prison? It was on the outskirts of the city – of course. In one of the prosperous areas – which is also logical. It was very, very guarded – a problem. There were several floors in the building – additional difficulties. From there, several underground corridors were introduced, which used to have something like penal servitude – an excellent escape route.

All the way, Seth looked like a disgruntled child. Magic has passed the stage of mercy – she began to roll her eyes wearily. The trip was stressful. Our plan has already undergone many major changes. Hunter showed me and Letha the blueprints of the building. Usually we always had to memorize them by heart – extra pieces of paper could get in the way. I put all my strength into imprinting these images in my memory.

We abandoned the car at a decent distance from the right place – between some alleys, where it should have gone unnoticed. I didn't know until the last moment how we would get into the underground corridor.

"Sewage system?"

I said in disappointment, watching Hunter open the hatch. He immediately gave me an annoyed look.

"Who did I show the terrain plan to?"

Now everyone else was looking at me too.

"I..."

...couldn't talk.

"I've only studied the insides carefully."

"At this rate, you will soon be studying yours."