I want to die.
The guilt, and the pain. Unbearable, tearing me apart.
Vera raises her voice at me. “Get. Out. I don’t ever want to see you again.”
I don’t have another choice.
Slowly, I rise, gather my stuff, and leave Vera’s studio behind.
VI. TRIAL OF STRENGTH
Old Ekiosh: Korrash’kael
Often translated as: The measured flame.
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
PHOENIX
I made a grave mistake. And now I have to pay for it. That’s fair. But I can’t let Vera pay for it, too.
She may not want to see me now, but she needs me. She needs Jax. We’re stronger as a trio, no matter how much I don’t want to admit it.
If she doesn’t want to see it now, that’s fine. I’ll make her see it.
With determination, I charge through Jaakii’s streets. It’s still early, so it’s not crowded.
The hole in my chest deepens when I notice none of Vera’s spies following me. She really has given up on me. On us.
I know my way to Daegel’s estate well.
As always, the two Ezkai are at the main gate. I make my way around the estate and climb the tall fence at the same spot, like last time. The gardens are quiet.
Daegel must be training or meditating.
I’m surprised when I don’t find him in his meditation garden, nor at his usual spots where he trains in the mornings.
He’s not home either.
Where the fuck is he?
Damn. This may be my chance to snoop around. I may not even have to confront him, to try and play him the way he has been playing me all this time.
I sneak up to the sliding door to the home library. Right as I’m about to open it, three Ezkai clad in black leathers enter the library and pause, chatting amongst each other.
I duck to the side and press my back against the wall. Carefully, I watch them.
I’ve never seen them before. But they look as if they’ve been at Daegel’s house in the past. And they don’t look like they’re about to leave.
I watch through the corner of the window as two settle on the armchairs in front of the fireplace, while one leaves. Daegel’s not with them.
Okay, something is happening. My gut tells me these Ezkai are no ordinary Ezkai. They must be Caligos.
But where’s Daegel?
Until he’s back, I can’t go inside. It’s too risky with strange Ezkai roaming around. I look around the gardens, trying to find the perfect hidden spot that allows me to survey the house from a distance.
I decide to climb one of the plum trees that have a view of the library and Daegel’s bedroom on the second floor. I scale the trunk and find the only sturdy branch to settle on. It’s not comfortable, but I’m hidden away from sight while having a great view myself.
