"Questions?" Sam blinked.
"You're the first person we've met who was enthralled by the Infernal Legion, and you were able to break free," Darian said. "That means you can provide us invaluable information about the enemy. Do you remember anything about how you became a thrall?"
Her expression might be haggard, dark circles around her eyes, but her voice remained confident as ever. No sign of flagging, despite the incredibly long day they'd all had. It seemed to pierce the entire room, even puncturing Sam's giddy mood for the first time.
"Hmm...." Sam tapped her chin, her gaze becoming thoughtful. Darian watched her with ill-disguised impatience, and Theo had to admit he sympathized. Before he'd been too busy fighting for his life to give much thought to it, but now he wondered how his best friend's path had crossed with the Infernal Legion's in the first place. Indeed, he realized he barely knew anything about the Legion, despite them being his enemies. His enemies, and Victor's allies.
"I don't really remember too well," Sam said after a while, earning a sigh from Darian.
"That's fine, I wasn't expecting – "
"But," Sam cut in. "I'm pretty sure it happened right after school. Yeah. I remember I left school and I was worried about Theo...."
Another guilty squirm. Illogical as it was, he couldn't help but feel that this had all been his fault.
"And then I...." Sam wrinkled her brow. "I...I....I ran into someone...? Who was it again...? Oh, no good, it's all slipping away...."
She rubbed her head, giving Theo an unpleasant flash to how she'd clutched her head on her knees during the battle. Without thinking, he moved toward her, but Darian spoke before he could say anything.
"It's all right. I understand if you can't remember. Thank you for trying."
"No, wait, wait!" Sam snapped her fingers loud enough to make Theo flinch. "I think....I think...this is gonna sound crazy, but I think it might have been...Michel Rose...?"
"Michel Rose?" Theo blurted. His mind skipped back to just that morning, Sam showing him pictures on her phone.
"Michel Rose," Darian repeated, low and thoughtful. "You mean the Instagram model?"
Theo wondered if he'd ever stop getting surprised by all the mundane stuff Darian turned out to know.
"Oh, you know him?" Sam squeaked.
"Yeah. He does some pretty impressive shoots, nice production values. Are you saying he made you a thrall?"
"Uh, I mean...I don't remember what he did, but I do think I met him....?" Sam scratched her head. "He was saying something to me...about power? And being enthralled...and that's the last thing I remember."
"Being enthralled," Darian echoed. Theo could detect the subtle shift in her stance, how she'd straightened her shoulders and leaned forward ever-so-slightly.
"But, uh, how is that possible?" he asked. "Isn't Michel Rose a human?"
'Well, so is Victor. And that hasn't stopped him from joining the Infernal Legion.'
"Demons can use glamours too," Meg said. "Though I'll have you know I'm completely lost as to who this 'Michel Rose' is. Alas, I'm too old to keep track of what's hot with the kids these days."
"He's some Instagram model," Darian said dismissively. "At any rate, this is a lead. The first we've gotten in a while."
"Sorry I can't remember anything more." Sam sounded abashed.
"Don't worry about it. It's given us a place to start. And, actually." Darian blinked. "He's holding a masquerade gala at the Fortunato next month, isn't he?"
"Ooh, you wanna go too?" Sam leaned forward, looking excited. "Well, I mean, I'd like to go, if I could just get my hands on some tickets...."
"We'll get tickets for all of us." Darian spoke with her usual matter-of-fact confidence. "All right. That's our next step. We're going to investigate Michel Rose in person at the gala."
"My liege." Zenith turned toward her, looking alarmed. "If he is a member of the Infernal Legion, he will have the advantage on his own territory."
"Perhaps. But we have time until them. Time for all of us – " Darian swept her sharp gaze over Sam and Theo " – to train and prepare."
"Awesome!" Sam pumped her fist. "I can't waa-aaaa-aaaaiiii – "
Her voice trailed off into a jaw-cracking yawn. The longer it went on, the harder it became for Theo to hold back a yawn of his own.
When they both finished, Lodo approached them, his expression kindly. "Pardon the interruption, Prince Darian, but it seems it's gotten rather late."
"Right." Darian glanced toward the window. "Still raining, huh? Guess we should call a ride."
"Actually," Meg cut in, "Theo in particular looks like he's dead on his feet. The two of you are more than welcome to spend the night here, how about it?"
"A sleepover? Ooh!" Sam grinned at Theo. "How about it? We can tell my folks I'm spending the night with you. It's not technically a lie."
Meg's suggestion had caught Theo by surprise, but it certainly appealed to him a lot more than having to get into a car again. Who knew, he might even sleep better surrounded by friends in Meg's cozy place than in his big empty house.
"Excellent," Lodo declared when Theo nodded. "I believe I can rustle up some spare sleepwear for both of you – you should fit in Lady Meg's, Miss Sam, and young master Theo can use Sir Zenith's, though it may be a tad big. Now I'll see about brewing up some lavender chamomile tea...."
He bustled away, whistling a jaunty tune. The others dispersed as well, Meg declaring she had first dibs on the shower and Darian going off to "finish up some business." When she gestured for Zenith to come with her, Theo started, but Zenith offered him a reassuring nod before striding off after his prince.
Leaving Sam and Theo alone for the first time. Theo sagged in his chair, feeling like he might fall asleep on the spot.
But despite that yawn earlier, Sam seemed positively sparkling with energy. "This is so great, Theo! Oh man, it better not turn out to all be just a dream!"
"I'm sorry, Sam." Theo couldn't meet her gaze. "I shouldn't have lied to you."
"Hey, it's okay." Sam linked her hands behind her head. "I get why you felt like you had to. But I'm glad you're finally telling me the truth! Let's become awesome wizards together, okay?"
Sam's happiness was infectious; despite his weariness, Theo couldn't help but smile too.
"So those spell designs you were always drawing are actually wizardry diagrams, huh?" Sam chirped, kicking her legs. "Wonder why I never drew them though? Or dreamed about Tielos?"
"I don't know...." Sam's questions pierced some of the fog in Theo's mind, sending prickles down the back of his neck. "Meg made it sound like it wasn't normal even for a wizard."
"Maybe your mom was a wizard? I mean, since your brother is too. There's no way anyone in my boring old fam's also a wizard, but maybe for you – oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't just run my mouth like that...." Blushing, Sam rubbed the back of her head.
"It's okay," Theo said quickly, his heart pounding. Truth be told, he'd gotten so absorbed in learning wizardry that he'd stopped wondering about his dreams or the spells he innately knew. He sensed answers wouldn't be fast coming, and he had more important things to worry about like bringing Victor back.
But now that Sam had brought it up, he did wonder. His mind skipped to the photo of his mom, the only one he had. Some dim part of him suddenly longed to see it this instant, in case it stirred up memories or made him feel anything, but the urge drifted away as soon as it came. He was just too exhausted.
Maybe Victor knew the answer. So Theo would just have to face him again. A daunting prospect, but one he'd prepared for all along.
In the meantime, he was here with Sam. Sam, his best friend, a wizard just like him. "Thanks, Sam," he mumbled, his chest tight. "For...for staying with me."
"Eh?" Sam blinked, then a huge grin brightened her face. "Don't sweat it, Theo. Besides, I gotta thank you too. So we're even!"
Warmth swelled in Theo's chest, the same he felt whenever Zenith smiled at him or Meg praised him for a job well done. The same as from all those years ago, when Sam had plopped onto the bench beside him and asked about his drawings.
That was right. No matter how difficult this coming battle might get, he wasn't alone.