What Lies Beneath ▸ House of Anubis [1]

chapter fifty-nine. house of never

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"Where are the Ankh pieces?" Rufus demands.

Yeah, he's angry with us. And considering those deadly sandflies he's got, it's probably not a good thing. No, scratch that. It's definitely not a good thing.

"Did you really think," Nina replies nervously, "we'd be stupid enough to carry them around with us today, of all days? Knowing everyone is after them."

"You gave them to Joy, didn't you? You do realize that she is part of all of this, don't you?"

Patricia retorts, "Yeah, she's the Chosen One. We're not stupid."

"Who wants the Cup just as much as anyone else," Rufus claims. I scoff. Joy's a lot of things but she's not someone who wants immortality. From what Patricia said, Joy just wants this to be over, and she's not the only one. "You have played straight into their hands."

"No, no, no, no, Trixie, don't believe him," Jerome says quickly. "He's a liar, he's playing you."

"Oh, really?" Rufus says, smirking. "Thanks for telling me about your proposed rendezvous with Joy, Jerome. You were a very useful spy."

"I did not tell you, creep!" Jerome shouts as he starts toward Rufus. I grab his arm, holding him back. Fabian has to help me. "I did not double-cross you guys, I swear I didn't! Not this time."

"It's okay, Jerome," Nina assures. "We believe you."

"There's no point in trying to turn us against each other!" I tell Rufus sharply, glaring at him so viciously that it might kill even Medusa, who could turn people to stone with just a look. "How stupid do you think we are, Rufus? We know your games. Joy's on our side, and you know that. That's why you knew we'd be meeting up with her."

"And why," Nina adds, "you'll get your pieces when Jason brings you Joy and the elixir."

There's a knock on the door, and a shadow through the clouded glass window. Jason can't have returned that quickly, but either way, there's someone on the other side of that door that could help us. "Jason?" Miss Robinson's voice calls. I open my mouth to call for help, but Rufus pointedly shows me the sandflies zapping around, and I snap my mouth shut. "Are you in there? I'm sorry I'm late. I got a flat."

After another few seconds, her shadow moves away from the door. Great. What, is our only hope now Jason Winkler, who is in the society and is probably not going to be able to get Joy and the elixir and bring them back here because there's no way Victor would let Rufus get what he wants, even if we're being threatened? I don't know what's going to happen next, but...I'm scared. I'm actually, legitimately scared. And...I don't usually let myself admit that.