“Adrian…”
I froze.
There was another voice. One I’d heard only moments ago. But it wasn’t possible, was it?
“Adrian,” my mother spoke again. I whirled around in the direction I thought the voice was coming from and took a step. “Come to me, Adrian. Come here.”
“Mom?”
“I’m just here, Adrian. Right here. Come.”
I took a step. Then another, moving blindly through the darkness.
“Right this way, darling. Trust me. Just trust me.”
It was her, itsoundedlike her but…something was wrong. Something was off. Why would my mother be inside the Trial? It didn’t make any sense. She was not only far beyond the age bracket to participate, she’d also never taken the Oath. I stopped moving.
“I’m here, Adrian. Come here.”
I lifted my foot to take another step but again hesitated. A fly, or perhaps a bee, buzzed in my ear, but I waved it away.
“Adrian,” my mother barked. “Come here this instant.”
I didn’t move.
“Now, Adrian,” she commanded.
I bat at the darkness beside my ear again—and frowned.
The voice sounded just like her, the way she called to me, the way she said my name, even the way she snapped when she was angry. But that buzzing, it was an almost imperceptible whine resting just under her tone…
Do you hear them?Dante’s query entered my mind, his tone laced with concern.
But not accompanied by a buzzing…
Adrian?
Yes.I nearly forgot to answer in my confusion.Yes, I can hear them. Well, I hear my mother. Do you hear more?
I hear my mother too, and my grandfather, and…Olympia?
“Adrian, why aren’t you listening?” a different voice spoke from the opposite corner of whatever strange place we stood in, clearly frustrated. I whirled. Maurice.
“Leave her alone, idiot.” Warren. I whirled again.
“Don’t call me an idiot.”
That banter, the brotherly argument, it was so real, so believable. And yet, underlying each of their voices was that faint ringing whine.
Are we supposed to…choose?Dante asked, clearly distraught by the idea.
I don’t—I’m not sure.
“Adrian,” another voice spoke, much closer and firmer.
“Dahlia?”
Don’t get distracted, Dante warned but he seemed farther away somehow, duller. As if he were underwater.
