The Librarian

The yells came closer and I tensed. Nico was staring at the lock - doing nothing helpful - while Leo frantically tried to get his hands to light before giving up and pulling bits and pieces from his tool belt, trying to find something to unlock the door.

The guards came nearer still and a growl formed on my lips. "Will you hurry up?" I snarled, "Nico, can't you shadow-travel us out of here?"

"Wouldn't you think I would have if I could! Our powers are completely blocked."

"I just need one more second…" Leo said, lock picks in his hands. "Can you find a way to hold off the guards?"

"I have an idea." Nico said, "Can you spare a hammer?"

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"They're coming." I told him, uneasy to say the least as I stood in the centre of the hallway. I never would have agreed to his plan if I had realised beforehand that my involvement would be solely as human bait.

"There she is!" The guards said, sprinting down the hallway to try and capture me.

It took every ounce of self-control I possessed to stay completely still. "Nico…" I said under my breath, "Any time now would be nice."

The guards passed the alcove where Nico was hiding and he leaped out. I turned away as he disarmed and rendered unconscious each of the guards in turn. When I looked back, he was wiping blood from his hammer.

"Not too bad, was it?" He asked.

"Next time you can be the damsel in distress." I told him. "See how you like it."

There was a loud click as the door finally swung open. Leo turned to us with a huge grin. "Got it," he said.

Notes