“The Empty has taken it,” Seraphim said, ripping from the guard’s grip. “The few who survived have come here seeking refuge.”
The Grand Cleric’s eye twitched. Focusing on me, he pushed past the others and towered over me. “You have one chance to explain.”
“The Bloodstone has lost its power,” I said, speaking before I’d fully formed my lie. “We were ordered to bring it here, in hopes it could be restored. Ikaria’s High Priest opposed the idea, and—”
“The Bloodstone has not waned in a thousand years. What could have possibly caused such a tragedy?”
“But it has!” I protested. “Every year the Empty closes in, its power diminishes—”
“Heresy.” The Grand Cleric hissed. “The Bloodstone will remain pure until it shields the final city from the end. From its lifeblood, the Maiden will rise anew.”
Falling silent, I tried to maintain composure. The final city was spoken of in prophecy, but rarely mentioned in sermons. I’d slipped up.
Gods, why hadn’t I gone to church more often?
“Take thesethievesto the dungeons.” The Grand Cleric snapped.
A temple knight grabbed my arms, but I fought out of his grip. “You don’t understand. The Maiden’s blessing has departed the Bloodstone—and entered a new host.”
Gasps rose from the priests before a hush blanketed the chamber. Seth’s molten gaze burned into my back. I stiffened, trying not to look at him.
Lines of fury painted the Grand Cleric’s face. “And what do you claim bears her blessing?”
“Me,” I said.
Stepping back, the Grand Cleric snapped at the temple knights. “Did you find it?”
“Your holiness.” The guard who’d apprehended Seraphim bowed, offering the Bloodstone.
Taking the relic, the Grand Cleric studied the red stone with hazy eyes. Snapping from his thoughts, he glowered at me. “You dare claim to grasp the Maiden’s grace? You? A mere mortal?”
“I . . .” I floundered, searching for a path forward. “No one expected—”
The grand Cleric seized my wrist and yanked me toward him. “Let’s test your claims, then.” Pulling me painfully, he dragged me toward the statue of the Maiden rising from the center of the room.
“Don’t touch her,” Eleos snarled, fighting against his guard’s grip.
“If you speak the truth,” The Grand Cleric beckoned for one of the guards to approach. “Your blood flows with her blessing.” The guard drew his blade and bowed, offering it to the Grand Cleric. “And the Maiden will save you.”
Percy tried to stop Seth as he lunged forward. Guards fell upon both of them. One crashed into Percy, restraining his arms behind his back. The other tried to tackle Seth, to no success.
Ducking out of the knight’s grip, Seth bit his knuckles, and blood trickled down his hand. A scarlet blade grew in his palm as the temple knight drew his spear.
Their clash lasted only a moment. Seth batted away the knight’s spear and twisted the shaft from his grip before slamming his blade into the knight’s helm, sending him to the ground. Whirling around, he raised his sword to throw at my captor.
A blade touched my throat as the Grand Cleric grabbed my collar. “Stop,” he shouted. “Or I’ll kill her outright.”
Seth’s grip tensed on his blade as he eyed the Grand Cleric’s sword. Snarling, he released his spell, letting the blade fall. Lunging forward, a second knight quickly restrained Seth, but I couldn’t tell if the hatred twisting his face was meant for the Grand Cleric or me.
How quickly I’d walked back on my promise to keep my magic secret.
“Good.” The Grand Cleric dragged the sword to my shoulder. “Now let the goddess reveal your blasphemy.”
Wincing, I tensed as the Grand Cleric slashed the blade across my arm. Blood poured from the wound, spilling into the basin at the Maiden’s feet. A few splotches landed on the hand restrainingme, dripping from the Grand Cleric’s fingers onto the Bloodstone he clutched in his palm.
A faint glow emanated from the stone. A soft thrum. The wrath etched on the Cleric’s face vanished, and he paled, dropping my arm as he held aloft the Maiden’s Bloodstone. He blinked at it in awe before whirling around and staring in horror at the blood streaming from my arm.
Eleos spoke up, his voice filled with a hatred I’d never heard. “You’ve spilled the Maiden’s Blood. Get on your knees before her and beg her forgiveness.Heretic.”
