I open my mouth to protest, but Aslan quickly raises her hand to stop my words from escaping. “Before you say anything, Odeyssa can come. So Sin, make yourself scarce.” She adds a wink at the end, and now I’m even more confused than before.
Sin excuses himself, and after he’s lost amongst the dragons, it reminds me that I never asked if he has one of his own. Aslan wordlessly turns around, acting as if she expects us to follow her, no questions asked.
Odeyssa does without hesitation, which makes sense, considering they know each other, but I can’t get my feet to move forward.
“Can’t we just talk here?” I shout to their retreating forms. They both turn around as if just now realizing I’m not behind them.
Aslan offers me a kind smile. “I’m afraid there are too many prying eyes around for us to talk freely.”
Go. You’ll be fine, and if not, I’m only one thought away.
I don’t need you to protect me,I sneer, but as soon as the thought leaves, guilt settles in my stomach.You know what I mean.
Even if you don’t need protection, it doesn’t mean you have to fight all your battles alone.With those parting words, he takes flight, and even as the distance between us grows, I still feel him close. And that’s all I could ever ask for.
They both continue forward, and I have to jog to catch up to them. We trek deeper into the forest, branches clawing at my arms like they want to keep me here. The trees grow thicker with every step, pressing in until the path behind us is nothing but shadow. And then, a single white flake drifts past my cheek, melting on contact. More follow, cascading from the sky I hadn’t realized had turned pale.
“Is the weather always this temperamental?” In Nefarium, it was a constant state of overcast, with moments of sunlight. But since leaving, it’s a never-ending question mark of what Mother Nature is going to hurl our way.
“Sometimes, it tends to be more erratic when things are unbalanced,” Aslan answers.
It only takes a while longer before we come across an old tower. Cracked stones and chipped markings cover the outside, and gargoyle statues are placed near the front, acting as guards or to ward off pests, I’m not sure. But I have a sinking feeling this is where she wants to talk.
And I’m more on edge than ever.
“I don’t want to go in there.”
“It’s the only place I can ensure our privacy.” But that’s what I’m afraid of. This thing could collapse at any minute. I would be trapped, entombed with no way out. Panic sets in, and stars dance in my vision as I fight for my next breath.
I vaguely see Odeyssa come to my aid, but Aslan mutters under her breath, “I wouldn’t do that.” But it’s too late. The instant Odeyssa’s hands touch me, my whole body erupts in flames. Fire licks up my arms, and it’s invigorating, but I know the destruction it can cause. It festers until embers float onto the ground next to my feet, the warm orange hue intensifying.
“Oh dear,” the queen whispers, like she can see the whole thing playing out before it’s happened.
“I can’t go in there. I can’t. You don’t—you don’t know. Ican’t…” My plea is drowned out as thunder crackles above.
Aslan’s face scrunches. “Kalliope, you aresafe.I swear, your mother as my witness, that I will not bring you harm. You must go into the tower.” Gone is the woman who offered me pleasantries and a warm welcome, and in her place is the Queen of Vaiterra.
“But you don’t know!”
“I do! I understand your reservations, but you came tomefor aid.Notthe other way around. Let me help you.”
I know it’s hard, Firebird. You’re strong. Follow her, and let’s make them pay.Why does he trust her all of a sudden? Did I enter another dimension when I woke up? My eyes meet Odeyssa, who looks frightened, unsure of how to proceed.
The fire around me dies out, and I try to regain my composure. My steps are slow and hesitant as I walk toward the door. Once we’re all inside the stone slab, the door shuts with a bang, and we’re shrouded in darkness.
NINETEEN
Subject 763
Being inside her mind was like entering somewhere holy. Divinity at its finest. And I wanted to immerse myself in the feeling. The sliver of ecstasy was intoxicating, and after she shut me out, it was like being sucked into a whirlpool of never-ending obsidian, grappling at the edges in search of my next fix. But all it took was those few moments to know exactly where to find her.
Once I got the information, I had no use for the couple. 306 didn’t stick around, saying something about needing to check the perimeter, which left me to deal with what came next. Neither of them pleaded or begged for their lives to be spared as I stood before them. Instead, they held hands and knelt in the middle of their living room, accepting their fate. Both were willing to die in order to keep Kallie safe, and it piqued my curiosity. There weren’t many people—if any—that would sacrifice themselves for a stranger. There was no fear in theireyes. Even when my shadows took over the room, they did not waver. The inky tendrils itched to be unleashed, but there was an insistent voice whispering not to. My power surrounded their forms, and all it would’ve taken was one command. One simple command and my duty would’ve been fulfilled. Yet, I couldn’t make it.
There was a ringing in my ears that became persistent, a pounding against my skull that was unbearable, and I had to get out of there.
I needed to kill them.
No, I didn’t.
