Chapter 4 The loophole and the tub

My breath hitched before the floating scroll in the hall

"What does that mean?"

"It means we're trapped because of her reckless spell!" My father barked at me when he turned around, shooting me with a dangerous glare.

"Me?!" I shrieked, taking a step back. "I was trying to save us from the storm!"

"Save us?" His voice was full of sarcasm, closing in on me. "I offered you gold, you conniving piece of—"

"Enough." My brother, Kaelen, interjected. All heads snapped in his direction upon hearing his authoritative voice. "Arguing won't break the seal."

"He's right," Melia squeaked, fluttering down from the rafters to hover in between Theron and me. "We need to work together."

"He is too arrogant," I grumbled, crossing my arms.

"And she's too stubborn," Theron shot back

"And we are all trapped!" Hagul roared, shaking the floorboards.

I sighed and rubbed my temples before stepping toward the threshold. "Fine. First we need to know how trapped we are."

Theron didn't wait to argue, he pulled a fine steel dagger from his belt and threw it at the sealed door frame. The moment the metal touched the boundary, there was a violent, sizzling hiss. The blade glowed red-hot and disintegrated into a shower of black ash.

Jinxi gasped and Theron turned back to me, slipping his empty hand into his cloak, his lips curled into an infuriating smirk. "That's how trapped we are."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to keep my composure. "Okay......umm-"

"Check the supplies we have to see how long we can last before we die of starvation," Theron cut in smoothly taking control of the room.

"I'll go check the pantry!" Kaelen volunteered immediately, turning on his heel and heading toward the kitchen cellar.

"Melia. Gather every magical text in the loft, Hagul, Jinxi- see if you can forge weapons from the woodshed scraps"

As they dispersed, the main hall emptied of all others, leaving only Theron and me to sit under the blood-red glow of the scroll.

"What about me?" I demanded, raising an eyebrow. "would you assign me to wash your chamber pots?"

"I could," he said as his blue eyes narrowed. "But I don't like con artists in my business."

"Thief, gold-digger, con artist..." I ticked them off on my fingers, taking a step towards him. "What's next? Murderer?"

He ignored the dramatic list, pulling a parchment notebook from his satchel to transcribe the glowing runes by the lintel.

"Do you derive actual pleasure from being an asshole?" I snapped.

He paused, dropping his quill. He turned, his lips parting to spew another line of insults but Melia slammed a huge stack of dusty old books in between us.

Perfect timing melia

"This is... everything," she wheezed.

"Thank you, Melia," Theron said gently with a soft genuine smile.

If he wasn't so much of a pain, that smile would have enchanted me instantly.

I sat across from him flipping the dusty pages looking for anything that might help.

After about an hour, my eyes caught a familiar heading.

"Here!" I slapped my palm onto the page. "Sanctuary Wards!"

Theron moved so fast he practically slid onto the bench beside me, pressing close. "where?"

His warm breath brushed the shell of my ear sending shivers down my spine. He was so close that if I turned my head even an inch I was sure our lips would touch.

I turned anyway and met his sharp gaze. I expected the same old hatred to be in his miserable eyes but I couldn't find it.

Instead I saw.....

"Elowen!" Melia shouted, pulling me back to my bitter reality.

I blinked, clearing my dry throat and pointing at the text. "Read it."

Theron leaned down, our shoulders touching.

"The sanctuary ward is an elemental binding anchored to the foundation. It recognizes the structure as a refuge, but remains locked until atmospheric harmony is achieved."

"In plain words?" melia sighed

"It means, the scroll controls the door," he said standing up, brushing off his cloak. "We do what it want, or we stay."

Before I could reply, Kaelen and Jinxi came back from the cellar, grinning.

"Good news," Kaelen announced. "Smoked meat and grain in the cellar that'll last a week."

"And I fashioned a makeshift bow," Jinxi added. "Plus... we found something else."

"What?" I asked

"A copper tub in the washroom," Kaelen teased, nudging my arm. "We filled it with hot water and wild herbs. You look like you're about to collapse, sis."

"I don't need a bath," I lied, crossing my arms. "We have work to do."

"It's there if you change your mind," he chuckled, retreating toward the hearth with Hagul.

The rest of the day went easy, Jinxi offered to take over kitchen duties so I retired to my room.

This isn't how I planned any of this. Not even a little bit.

It was supposed to be just me and my brother. Now we're trapped with strangers and it's all my fault.

What worried me even more was how well Kaelen was doing in this. Of course I was glad that he wasn't crying and panicking, but what did that say about me as his guardian?

How had I raised him to be so comfortable with disasters, as if running from guards and getting trapped by ancient spells was just another Tuesday?

I stood up but felt an immense pain in my lower back.

I slid into the stone washroom and the scent instantly invited me in.

Kaelen was right, I definitely needed this.

I stripped off my dirt-streaked dress and slided in. The water hit my exhausted muscles, and I let out a long sigh, resting my head against the rim.

Just then. The door clicked open.

My eyes opened and on instinct, I slid under the water in panic.

Wait.

Why am I hiding?

This is MY sanctuary!

I burst upward through the surface ready to scream at the intruder. "Get the hell out of—!"

The words died in my throat.

Standing in the steamy doorway, holding a bundle of fresh towels, was Theron.