Shadow Market

Chapter Thirteen

Spider web:

 I watched Cassius work. The workshop was cluttered with an assortment of mystical artifacts and dusty tomes, making it feel both intriguing and overwhelming.  Cassius was hunched over the dagger. His hands moved with careful precision as he traced the intricate symbols etched into the blade. I stood next to Dante, both of us silent.

"What do the symbols mean?

Cassius glanced up, his expression momentarily hardening before he forced a smile. "They're protective runes. The dagger holds considerable power."

There was something in Cassius's voice, a strained calm that didn't quite match his words. I caught a fleeting shadow of something in his eyes—anger, maybe, or something deeper. I tried to read more into his demeanor. "You seem... distant. Is something bothering you?"

Cassius's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Just the weight of our situation. We're dealing with forces beyond our control."

I didn't quite believe him, but I decided to let it go. There were more pressing concerns, like the curse and our immediate safety. "Alright. But if you need to talk—"

Cassius held up a hand, cutting me off. "Thank you, Lene. I'll manage."

I sighed and turned to leave, but my mind was racing. There was a nagging feeling in my gut that something wasn't right. The way Cassius had avoided my gaze.

I couldn't shake the feeling that Cassius was hiding something. As I walked out of the room, I heard the faintest whisper from the workshop, a sound so quiet it might have been my imagination. The whispering was accompanied by the rustling of pages, like someone flipping through a book with great urgency.

I found it hard to settle. I stood out in the hall, staring at the ceiling. Dante took a deep breath and turned to me, his face etched with concern. For a moment, we stood there, holding each other's gaze, the world outside fading away.

 Dante's fingers brushed against my cheek, and I leaned into his touch. "We're in this together," he said softly.

Cassius stuck his head out of the workshop. "Sorry to interrupt, but you need to see this."

Dante and I exchanged a look, curiosity piqued, and followed Cassius into the cluttered room. Cassius had laid out various old manuscripts and diagrams, the dagger prominently displayed in the center.

"What's all this?" Dante asked, his eyes scanning the array of papers.

This is a map of the supernatural ley lines. The symbols on the dagger are linked to these ley lines, amplifying its power."

I leaned closer, trying to make sense of the complex symbols. "So what does this mean for us?"

Cassius's face grew serious. "The dagger is a conduit for significant magical energy. Using it improperly could lead to unintended consequences."

Like unleashing a demonic army or turning everyone into frogs?" I quipped. Gaining a few chuckles from my companions.

"Alright, so we've got a magical relic that might save us or doom us. No pressure." Dante joined in on the fun.

Cassius cracked a faint smile. "I wouldn't call it doom. Just... complicated."

I smiled. "Well, I guess complicated is better than catastrophic."

Cassius's faint smile lingered as he continued to examine the dagger. "The key is understanding how to channel its energy. The symbols here," he pointed to a section of the diagram, "they correspond to different types of magic. We need to find the right combination to safely use the dagger's power."

Dante rubbed the back of his neck, looking thoughtful. "So, it's like tuning a radio? We need to get the right frequency?"

Cassius nodded, pleased with the analogy. "Exactly."

"My head hurts just thinking about everything you said."

Cassius gave a sympathetic smile. "It's a lot to take in, I know. But for now, why don't you two take a break? Get some rest, and clear your mind. I'll keep working on deciphering the ritual."

Dante looked relieved at the suggestion. "Yeah, a break sounds good. Let us know if you find anything important."

Dante and I wandered through the market, taking in the sights and sounds. We passed a stall where the vendor was demonstrating a magical artifact that created tiny, dancing flames in mid-air, delighting a small crowd of onlookers.

Dante and I stopped at a stall displaying intricate charms and talismans. I picked up a small pendant, admiring the craftsmanship, when a tall man with a shock of white hair and a weathered face approached us. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he glanced at the pendant in my hand.

"Ah, a good choice," he said, his voice smooth and inviting. "That one's supposed to bring good luck, though in a place like this, who can say what's luck and what's not?"

I smiled politely, putting the pendant back. "We're just looking around."

The man nodded, his gaze shifting between us. "Not often, I see new faces around here. Especially ones with a friend like Cassius."

Dante raised an eyebrow, keeping his tone casual. "You know Cassius?"

The man chuckled softly. "Oh, everyone knows Cassius around these parts. He's been around longer than most, and he's always in the middle of something... interesting."

I exchanged a quick glance with Dante. "Interesting how?" I asked, trying to sound curious rather than concerned.

The man leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Let's just say Cassius has a way of getting involved in... complicated matters. He's got a knack for finding trouble, or maybe it's trouble that finds him. Either way, if you're with Cassius, you'd best be careful."

Dante's eyes narrowed slightly, a protective edge to his voice. "What kind of trouble are we talking about?"

The man shrugged, his expression turning inscrutable. "Hard to say. Could be anything with him. Just keep your wits about you." He gave us a nod and then wandered off, leaving us with more questions than answers.

I turned to Dante, my mind racing. "Do you think he knows something we don't?"

Dante frowned, his gaze following the man as he disappeared into the crowd. "Could be. But it sounds like Cassius might have his own agenda, something he's not sharing with us."

I thought back to his strange behavior earlier today. "He did seem... off." I mused. 

The man's words echoed in my mind, adding to the growing unease I felt about our situation. As much as I wanted to trust Cassius, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his story than he was letting on.