Another explosion sounded from nearby. Kinzer’s instincts turned him to the seats alongside the arched curve beside the exit, and the wall exploded—rocks, stones, and dust pushing forward, moving through the air. An oh-so-familiar green tentacle pushed through. Kinzer recognized it, as surely did everyone present. It was a nightmare to behold one of these beasts in Heaven again.
Kinzer’s thoughts drifted back to the days of old, during the War, and then to his most recent encounter, when he’d lost Dedrus. Tension rose within him as he realized he and his companions were facing a very different sort of Day of Judgment than they had believed.
Two more explosions sounded as spots opened up along the walls of the colosseum, two more tentacles pushing through.
As Kinzer took stock of the events around them, he noticed Kelley’s gaze on the sky. As he followed her line of sight, he watched as six Morarkes ascended from behind the walls, their trajectory in an arc as they descended into the arena.
An ambush.
They were fucking dead.
***
As the Morarkes landed in the arena, the ground quaked beneath Treycore’s feet so dramatically, he had to brace his legs to keep from losing his balance. A riot broke out, and he noticed Aerysn at the cage of accused immortals, using something to unlock it. As Aerysn hurried out, a higherling went for him, and using his superspeed, Aerysn disarmed him, stealing the guard’s dagger.
Meanwhile, the councilmembers, who’d already broken their pyramid formation, soared into the air, clearly seeking safety for themselves. Two nearby Morarkes reached out, grabbing at them. As a Morarke snatched a councilmember, it crushed him in its grip before dropping his body into the arena.
A higherling tailed behind Marleysa. It was Jarispa, who had verified the Almighty’s letter. As he neared Treycore and his rescuers, Jarispa pulled his sword from its sheath and slashed it so that it severed through Marleysa’s wing. She dropped to the ground, her body crashing between Treycore and Kid. Before she had the chance to get her bearings, Jarispa descended quickly, landing with his feet on either side of her waist before driving his sword through the back of her neck. Marleysa squirmed about, reaching her hand behind her and grabbing the blade of his sword, her eyes wide as she seemed to realize that it was too late for her. That she had endured eons only to be stabbed in the back by one of her own.
It was in that moment, watching her fade, that Treycore realized this day had been orchestrated in the same way as the massacre at Veylo’s mansion. It was a conspiracy. Brother and sister against brother and sister.
And it was clear, as he glanced around the arena and watched higherlings turn their swords on one another, that there were many who had sided with Janka, who used this as their opportunity to advance themselves in whatever new Heaven he had promised them.
Treycore and Jarispa’s gazes met, and Jarispa withdrew his sword from Marleysa’s neck. Treycore squatted and stepped backward, over his shackled wrists. As Jarispa slashed at him, Treycore pushed to his feet and raised his shackled wrists, which clashed with the sword. He slid his chains down the blade and wrapped his hands around the hilt, jerking forcefully. Jarispa struggled to maintain his hold when Treycore bashed his head against his forehead. Jarispa’s dazed body forced him to relax his hold, which gave Treycore the opportunity he needed. He seized control of the sword and flipped it around, driving it into Jarispa’s belly. Treycore was glad that at least he could make sure one of these backstabbing bastards got their justice on his Day of Judgment.
Treycore looked into Jarispa’s wide eyes and said, “I hope your allegiance to that bastard was worth your own death. That your betrayal against this kingdom, against your brothers and sisters, was worth your end.”
He forced the sword out, and as he did, saw a team of higherlings heading their way.
“Fuck,” Kinzer said as he and his party pulled out their swords, readying themselves for battle.
Treycore figured, like with Jarispa, these higherlings coming for them were a part of some larger conspiracy. Clearly, Kinzer had come to rescue him, but these higherlings had another agenda. Perhaps they’d even discovered his plans and decided to intervene.
Treycore hurried to Kid. He sure as fuck wasn’t going to let anything happen to him. As he neared him, something moved swiftly in front of him, snatching Kid and carrying him off.
“What the fuck?” Treycore exclaimed, horror-struck, before he felt something wrapping under his arms and lifting him into the air.
He raised his sword, ready for battle, when he heard Kid say, “Don’t hurt him!”
Treycore turned back, seeing Kid on the back of a higherling. Not just any higherling—Aerysn.
What the fuck was he up to?
“We gotta go,” Aerysn said.
Kid said, “He’s with us.”
“Kid, how can you say that? After what this bastard did to you?”
“Things are not as they seem, Treycore,” Aerysn said, ascending so fast that they were already halfway up the side of the colosseum. “Let me get you both to safety, and I’ll explain everything.”
Treycore didn’t want an explanation. He wanted to stab Aerysn.
“We can’t leave Kinzer and the others!” Treycore insisted.
“Right now, you two are far more important. For the sake of all the realms, I have to get you both out of here.”
What the fuck was he on about?
