The Grand Cleric drank in my words, his stance slowly settling. “The story can shift. You are no vessel—merely an envoy sent to declare the location of the final city. But such a heinous act requires a face, not nameless heretics from the gutters.”
“Mine,” Seraphim suggested. “The crazed Cynthus daughter has returned to continue her profaned worship of the void.”
Nodding, the Grand Cleric looked to me. “Eleos is responsible for this, isn’t he? He found the solution he’s always sought.”
I nodded.
“Then, succeed.” He said gravely. “Anddo not return.”
“Agreed.” Seraphim touched my shoulder. “Give us a head start, would you? When you alert the guard, make it a big scene.”
“The largest this city has ever seen.” He promised. “Hurry.”
Another shadow darkened the hall behind me. I whirled around, expecting trouble. Seth leaned on the wall, tossing and catching his dagger. “I hear we’re kidnapping a princess?”
“And stealing her magic rock,” Seraphim confirmed.
“Do you want to play the villain, Seraphim? Or shall I?”
“Drag her kicking and screaming,” Seraphim ordered, squeezing my shoulder before stalking away.
“What are you doing?” I asked as Seth approached. “I-oof.” He threw me over his shoulder, cutting me off.
Sheathing his blade, Seth pulled out his mask and fitted it over his eyes. “Don’t worry, princess. I play a damn good villain.”
* * *
When I’d bargained with the Grand Cleric, I hadn’t imagined leaving the temple slung over a ruffian’s shoulder. Seraphim ran ahead of us, pausing at every corner to check for guards. The halls were eerily silent—we were alone.
“Where are the guards?” I hissed, trying to hold my head up to look behind us.
“Percy got them,” Seth responded. “But they’ll be back before long.”
“Got them?”
“Listen,” Seraphim whispered.
Seth paused beside Seraphim, and I listened. Distant, haunting music drifted down the hall. An overwhelming desire to approach the source of the noise consumed me, but I managed to snap out of it.
Sometimes I wondered if Percy wasn’t the most dangerous of our group.
“This way.” Seraphim spun around the corner, and Seth followed.
Grabbing onto his cloak to steady myself, I twisted my head. “Put me down!”
“No.” He responded curtly.
“I’m fine! You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be.”
From what little of his face I could see, a smirk tugged at his lips.
Seth was enjoying this.
Resigning myself, I went limp, dangling despondently as they fled through the halls, footsteps echoing on the stone.
Seraphim stopped at a set of heavy wood doors. “I need to get the stone. Meet up with Eleos.”
“What?” I asked, twisting to look at her from my unflattering position.
