‘And then I will unlock the Veil that holds this realm back from the next. And we’ll be able to go through.’
‘Through towhere?’ Ezer asked.
The Acolyte smiled. ‘Into the next realm, just as my ancestors did to gain entrance to this one. They found its key and came here to conquer. My job is to carry that on, until we enter the next realm. And the next. Untilallrealms see and believe the truth. We will crush the Five, realm by realm. And when all of humankind stops believing their lies … the Five willfinallyfall. They will lose their hold on the Thirteenth Realm. We will hold all the keys to unlock the cage. And the One will finally befree.’
It was an eternal darkness he had planned.
Like dominoes falling, taking out realms one at a time.
Piece by piece.
She looked at that crevasse.
She could hear the hissing whisper now, stronger than before.
‘Why are you telling me this?’ she asked. ‘I tried to kill you.’ And then, because she guessed he could already sense it, she added, ‘I still would if I could.’
His shadows stretched towards her, but he pulled them back,reined them in with a simple squeeze of his fist. ‘Blood of my blood,’ he said. ‘You are more like me than I realize.’
‘I’m nothing like you,’ she said.
She hated this man, this monster.
He’d killed her mother with his own wolves, his own creation … and he hardly seemed to care. He was blind to all he’d done, every wrong, because he believed it wasrightso long as it was in the name of the One.
He was the villain in her story. And she was the hero that would secure his end.
Erath looked down at his hands, at the shadows swimming between them. ‘The sheerpoweravailable to meis endless. But imagine, Ezer … what it would be like if we were to jointogether. If you could take that furious magic churning inside your veins … and unleash it in the name of the One.’
She backed up a step.
Suddenly, she felt sick as the pieces began to click into place.
She shook her head. ‘I won’t join you.’
‘You will,’ he said. ‘Because you are my blood. My bones. My breath.’ His shadows slithered away from him, reaching for her across the dais. She sucked in a breath as they began to circle her.
Like sea wyverns surrounding their prey.
‘You have been lost in this realm,’ he said, ‘a fledgling with no one to show you our ways. I will teach you. I will show you just how glorious the gift of our blood.’
Something shifted in her chest.
She looked at Six and nodded subtly.
The raphon’s tail twitched once.
‘You’rehome,’ Erath said. ‘Falling into the footsteps of fate. And someday, when my time is done … I will have trained you so well, that you will be able to lead better than I ever could. You, Ezer, Child of Erath and Descendant of Wrenwyn …youare going to take my place. Someday … you are going to become the next Acolyte.’
Horror washed over her.
‘But like me … you may need a little convincing. Let us pray that you will be strong enough to survive it.’
44
She turned and ran.
She’d made it three steps to Six, ready to leap on her back and soar away, when Erath drawled, ‘Stop her.’
