I’ve only heard this undertone of terror in her voice once before. I quickly realize what it means and swear.
“Gideon is here,” I announce.
On cue, screams ascend from outside the temple.
45
EVERETT
The screaming outside isloud enough to be heard despite the thick stone walls. Maven withdraws her etherium knife, which quickly transforms into a scythe as she darts out of the temple with her unnatural speed. The rest of us are right behind her.
As soon as I throw open the double doors, the sound of terrified chaos magnifies.
Everyone at the celebration is reacting in real time to their greatest fears. Many of them run, blind from whatever they see in their heads as they crash into each other or trees. Many cultists and Reformists are attacking each other. Ex-bounty hunters shout nonsense as they race out of the clearing like they’re being chased by demons.
Felix is trying to pull a coyote that I can only assume is Dirk off of another of his quintet members. Kenzie throws a half-eaten meat skewer into a cultist’s eye to keep them from attacking her in their panic-induced insanity.
Other Reformists lie sobbing, paralyzed with sheer terror as the whispers of that mutated, sickening wraith taunt the living from the shadows of this dead forest. Several loud gunshots go off somewhere in the distance before hellhounds begin to howl.
My attention zips to Maven in time to see her dodge an insane Reformist, vault over a feast table, and swing her scythe in a glowing arc. It whistles, cutting through the center of a wraith that howls and hisses even louder than the rest of the screams permeating this forest.
The hissing laughter of another wraith echoes nearby, just barely audible above the screams permeating this forest.
There’s still fear in Maven’s voice as she speaks through the bond, which tells me Gideon is still here somewhere.The wards that Coates put up aren’t strong enough to protect these people. Silas, these people need?—
Protection.He’s already running down the steps of the temple and veering toward the edge of the clearing, throwing blood magic that annihilates several shifting shadows.Leave it to me.
A stark scream of pain nearby catches my attention as she cuts off. A fear-blinded Orlando Coates just unwittingly wandered through one of the small fire pits. Now he’s on fire as he runs through the clearing, bumping into other terrified people.
Raising my hand, I freeze him and unfreeze him in a matter of seconds, putting out the flames. The cultist leader slumps to the ground, passed out. I glance at my hand. I almost forgot how accurate I am with my element when my curse is broken.
I spent most of my life being complimented on my abilities and taking those compliments as empty flattery, since I was obviously lacking.
Now? I've never felt this strong.
“No!Maven!”
Baelfire’s roar from beside me sends fear and panic hurtling through my system. Godsdamn it, is she hurt? Is she dying again? Where is she? I rush down into the chaos of the shadow-plagued, ruined celebration, quickly growing desperate when I can’t see my snowdrop.
Darling,Crypt chokes from wherever he is in Limbo.What happened to your eyes? Gods above, you’re bleeding everywhere. Crane, get over here and?—
Maven swears through the bond.Whatever you guys are seeing, it’s the wraiths getting to you. I’m perfectly fine.
As if to prove her point, the agonized shriek of another wraith echoes in the woods surrounding the clearing. Maven emerges between the trees, still gripping her scythe, her beautiful white dress splattered with the dark blood of these intangible, fear-wielding shadow fiends.
Relief makes me weak for a second before a fear-blinded cultist slams into my side, taking me down. My head smacks against something hard, making my ears ring. When the cultist tries to claw at my skin in their blind horror, I freeze her solid and shove her off of me, getting back to my feet.
My vision is blurry from hitting my head, and I’m even more disoriented as I hear more gunshots being fired somewhere far away. But I go still as otherworldly hissing voice fills my ears.
“Favored, ye walk alone…”
Those words send goosebumps over my skin. It was never fully translated, but those lines are from my personal prophecy. Fear clots in my throat, and I can’t move as my heart’s pace increases to a dangerous rate.
Suddenly, all I can see is Maven, dead in my arms.
Gone.
I was always destined to fail her. To be alone.
