JACULUS WEAKLY RAISED HIS HEAD, RUBBING HIS DRY BLOODSHOT WITH SHAKING HANDS.

He was sitting in a windowless room, the cold, wet air telling him he was probably underground. There was no furniture to be seen, so Jaculus had settled for sleeping on the floor. He had arrived at Vedast’s temple late that afternoon, unceremoniously drug across the floor and dumped in the cell. The silence was immediately suffocating, letting his shock fully settle in with waves of tears and shouting. Despite the noise, no one came to the door. Once again, Jaculus was entirely alone.

Heavy footsteps beat against the concrete floors, and Jaculus froze, the blood running cold in his veins. He ducked his head when he saw the tall, twisted figure of Vedast, blue eyes flickering from beneath his mask. He rapped his knuckles across the door, glowering down at Jaculus.

“You’re a sneaky little beast, aren’t you? Stealing something out of my private collection and then hiding out with a powerful witch to avoid capture.” Vedast’s voice was like silk, but dripped with venom.

“It wasn’t yours,” Jaculus hissed, “It was my parents.”

Vedast’s mask concealed all emotion, sculpting him more as a wooden figure than a human being. “But once I killed them, it became mine.”

Jaculus fell into a frightful silence, his eyes growing wide as he seemed to shrink under Vedast’s overwhelming presence.

“Now,” Vedast started, “I will ask this only once. Where is the orb?”

“I don’t have it,” Jaculus spat, mustering a smile, “And you’ll never find it.”

---

“I think it’s finished,” Abiathar breathed, staring up from the table, shoving aside a cup of tea. He held up a notebook, the spine of the book worn from constant page flipping. Abiathar’s hands were covered in ink, his table covered in scrap paper, and his face smudged with sweat.

“You think?” Rene asked, peeking around his shoulder.

“It’s everything I learned about higher spirits from Jaculus, including my own personal observations and thoughts. I hope it’s enough.” He looked down, gritting his teeth. “It has to be enough.”

Rene placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “I’m here to help however I can.”

Abiathar gently slipped the book into the pocket of his robes, taking a shuddering breath. “After all of this is over, how would you feel about becoming my student once again?”

“Are you starting another coven, Witchmaster Abiathar?” Rene gasped.

“I think I’m ready for it again. But…” he paused, tugging at his collar, “I also want to train higher spirits. I believe they’re capable of witchcraft. Are you comfortable with that?”

“I want to learn, Abiathar.”

---

Jaculus trembled before Vedast’s chair, keeping his eyes peeled to the floor. Vedast hovered above him, eyes burning with malice. He wasn’t sure why Vedast had dragged him out of his cell, but he knew it couldn’t be good. For all he knew, Vedast was finally going to inflict judgement on him.

A voice rang out, a voice Jaculus didn’t think he would ever hear again.

“Vedast!” Abiathar barked, throwing open the door.

“Abiathar,” he growled, standing to face him, “Do you really want to lose your license over this creature?”

Abiathar’s contorted features were stark in the dim light, his jaw clenched and brow narrowed. “Vedast, you’re wrong. Jaculus, or any of the higher spirits, aren’t just ‘creatures.’ They’re beings just like you and me. I’ve been conducting research ever since meeting Jaculus. I’ve learned things about higher spirits, things I would have never believed possible. Please just listen to me, hear me out.” He held out the notebook, fingers quivering.

Vedast slapped the book from Abiathar’s grasp, sweeping his hand at Jaculus, who flinched and covered his face. “This thing is nothing more than an animal, Abiathar! Whatever you think he felt for you is a lie. Stop kidding yourself.”

Abiathar sighed, reaching into his pocket, withdrawing Jaculus’s orb. “Isn’t this what you want? Isn’t this what you thought Jaculus stole? The treasure that belongs to his parents?”

“The thing’s parents were pests. They just happen to get in my way, and my dogs cut them down. I claimed everything they had on them.”

“Do you realize what the orb symbolizes? It represents the love between a parent and child. But I suppose it really means nothing to you. If you really want it, just take it.”

Abiathar offhandedly pitched the orb across the room, Vedast scrambling to catch it. Abiathar shoved him aside, taking Jaculus by the hand. Jaculus threw his arms around his waist, starting to cry. “But in return, I’m taking Jaculus. You may not want to believe it, but he’s more of a human being than you are, Vedast. He can love and feel.”

---

Abiathar poured Jaculus a cup of tea, giving him a warm smile. “You’ve really advanced in your studies, Jaculus. I’m sure in a few years you’ll be on Rene’s level of witchcraft.”

Jaculus jumped up, pumping a fist. “You really think? I was so worried I wouldn’t be able to heal that spirit.”

“When will the next coven meeting be?” Rene asked, looking up from his own cup.

“Next month, but it will be a special one,” Abiathar said with a smile, “I’ve found a group of higher spirits willing to work under me.”