Elysia slammed the dagger back into its sheath, her mouth pursed.
“That wasn’t the answer you wanted.”
She shook her head, staring at the top of the tunnel. “I don’t know what I wanted.” She gave Beatriz a tight, unconvincing semblance of a smile. “Sorry I bothered you.” Stalking off, she had no idea where to go, only that she couldn’t go to the death realm. Not yet.
“Wait, you annoying shit,” Beatriz called out to her back, jogging to catch up. “Why are you wearing this face again?”
Elysia scoffed, pushing away Triz’s reaching fingers. “What kind of stupid comment is that?”
“You look like you used to after meeting with Father.”
A terrible burning ache filled Elysia’s eyes as she looked away. “The market is incredible. You should be proud of yourself.” She paused. “And I don’t care if Lily is better than you. I’d pick you.”
Concern crossed Beatriz’s face, but then the yelling began.
Side by side, Beatriz and Elysia raced back to the market, but the calm, sensual evening market was gone. Smoke wafted through the air, but every booth, lantern, and person was nowhere to be seen.
Beatriz went pale. “We need to get out of here.”
Elysia grabbed her hand, turning them around, already breaking into a run. “Don’t worry, I know how to get out.”
Soon she was nearly dragging Beatriz. “It’s not much further. We’ll exit into the main square. I used to do it all the time.”
Staggering to a halt, Beatriz put one hand on the tunnel wall, dark specks dotting her lips. Chest heaving, she closed her eyes. “Just need a moment.”
“The guards are coming. We can’t stop yet. Come on, you can make it.” Fear tightened Elysia’s lungs. She couldn’t leave her sister, but she could already hear the guards clanking and stomping in the distance.
Beatriz nodded, and relief coursed through Elysia as she grabbed her sister’s hand again and took off. Two more tunnels and they were slipping out into an old shut-down eatery and then into the square. Laughter tumbled freely out of both their mouths, and Elysia grinned, mirroring the wide curve lighting up Beatriz’s face.
She squeezed her sister’s hand. “We made it.”
“That’s her!” a male voice shouted from behind her back.
Twisting to look, she never saw it coming.
But Beatriz did. Beatriz, who tackled her to the ground without a second thought. Elysia groaned, rolling over only to see a cracked, wooden hilt protruding from Beatriz’s chest. An unskilled, lucky shot straight through her ribs to the heart.
“No, no.” Tears were already spilling as her hands frantically pulled her sister closer. Ripping her own dagger from its sheath, she returned fire at the man who approached. He wasn’t even a guard. Merely a hungry commoner who had seen the notorious Parker girl emerge and wanted his chance at the prize. Her dagger stuck out of his eye socket, his body hitting the ground hard.
Elysia clutched her sister’s too-thin body closer. “Beatriz, you can’t. You’re all I have.”
A strange, murky mix of blood and soot spilled out of the cavity in Beatriz’s chest, but her fingers weakly grasped at Elysia, her gray eyes straining to focus. “I pick you too.”
Sobs wracked her as the sharp, ever-present light in her big sister’s eyes went out. Someone let out a blood-curdling scream and through blurry vision, the familiar shape of the Doorman hurdled closer. Her sister’s body was torn from her arms as theDoorman poured herself out over it, rocking and murmuring agonizing pleas.
Makeup smeared, she pierced Elysia with a look she would never forget. “You were supposed to stay away. Wetoldyou to stay away.” The Doorman stroked Beatriz’s smooth, silver hair, whispering something in her native language that sounded like a blessing or prayer.
Endless silent guilt claimed its home in Elysia as she slowly backed away. It was another death in the square, and for the first time in years, she was unable to tear her eyes from the sight. A crow flew past, its wing knocking into her face, and then she was running, throwing herself into the ether, traveling to the only other person she could think of to see because now, more than ever, she couldn’t go home.
Chapter 36
A plain,unremarkable off-white building stood in front of Elysia. It might have been the most boring building she’d ever seen, functional and bereft of any character. Topp Blatz’s broad back had just disappeared through the temple’s faded and scratched black door.
Hurrying, she slipped in behind him, trailing Topp down several flights of stairs and into what looked like barracks. Topp strolled down the long hallway, dim orb lights brightening with a quiet buzz as he passed them. Built into the walls were beds, stacked atop each other from floor to ceiling. Each bed had a singular small white pillow and a black medium-weight blanket on the mattress. Whatever temple this was, it gave her the creeps.
The prince stopped in front of a bed that looked exactly like all the others and picked up a small red gift box. Untying the golden bow, he opened the flaps, and pulled out a cute chocolate confection. On edge, Elysia’s magic shot out, blaring an alarm.
Sprinting as fast as she could, she was screaming. “Don’t eat that!”
