Chapter 20

I Have A Brief But Important Conversation With Spindler

I heard cheers when I arrived in Nightingale's lair. Nightingale still lay on the ground, but I still wasn't sure if she was dead or not. Theodore's remains were scattered across the floor. Tears still streamed down my face when I looked at those.

"Good job, Avery," Spindler said. I looked at him, but I couldn't read his expression. Was Spindler sad about the loss of his friend or was he happy to be returning home soon? I couldn't tell.

"It was all thanks to you, Spindler. I would have drowned in the river if it wasn't for you," I replied.

"I suppose that is true," Spindler stated. I laughed. "But you were the one who found the Azurro and defeated Nightingale."

"Where's Raven?" I asked.

"I have no idea," Spindler said. "Probably angsting over something or another. She's been through a lot."

"So when you touch the Azurro, you'll be going...back, right?" I asked.

"That is correct."

"Will I ever see you again?"

"Probably not, but you never know."

Now would be a good time to ask, I told myself. "Do you like me?" I held my breath and waited for the answer.

"Like you? I'm not sure if I'm the best judge of that, but I can say that you are a talented magician and are highly intelligent, therefore you are an excellent companion."

"No, Spindler. I mean...do you like like me?"

"Adding an additional like to your sentence does not change its meaning."

I rolled my eyes. Spindler obviously wasn't getting what I meant by this. His amazing blue eyes held so much intelligence, yet there was so much that he didn't understand. Spindler smiled just a little bit and I grinned back. His smile...it was too cute for words.

"I mean, like, as more than a friend," I explained.

"Oh," Spindler said. "No, Avery. I don't see the point of beginning a relationship that I will have to end within a few hours. I would prefer that we simply remain friends."

I felt my heart shatter inside me. I should have known this was coming, but it surprised me anyways. How had Theodore and Spindler managed to rip me apart, one after the other? "To quote OneRepublic, apathy in disguise crept on you like a spy," I mumbled as the tears began to fall.

Spindler didn't respond. He ran upstairs in the restaurant, leaving me alone with the Azurro. I hugged it closer to me. Tears dripped onto the crystal, making it shine even brighter.

Something else lay in the pile of fur and stuffing. I crawled closer and found it to be Raven's journal. I slowly opened it to the first page.