It was massive, ancient, its peak lost in the clouds. Snow clung to its upper slopes, and greenery carpeted the lower elevations. It dominated the landscape with the quiet authority of something that had watched civilizations rise and fall and would watch many more do the same.
Mount Ararat.
The name came with certainty. This was where Eluheed's sacred charges were buried beneath tons of volcanic rock and debris.
But that wasn't what drew her attention.
Halfway up the mountain, where her incorporeal body was hovering, the air shimmered and twisted, folding in on itself in ways that hurt to look at even in a vision. Reality itself seemed to be coming apart at the seams, creating a tear.
A doorway.
A portal.
Through it, Syssi glimpsed another world.
The sky shifted between purple and green, reminding her of the Northern Lights, and in the distance, an enormous cliff rose higher than even Mount Ararat.
The auroras pulsed, weaving patterns that seemed almost like language, watchful and aware.
A figure stood on the other side of the portal, silhouetted against the shifting skies. Syssi strained to see details, but other than a vague impression that it was a female, she couldn't tell much about it.
The portal collapsed, but the vision of Mount Ararat remained, the mountain standing alone, ancient, majestic, and full of secrets.
The vision ended abruptly, and Syssi opened her eyes.
The familiar shapes of Allegra's room swam back into focus—the crib, the dresser, the soft carpet she was sitting on. Her head throbbed with the particular ache that always followed intense visions, and her mouth was dry as sandpaper.
In the crib, Allegra stirred, made a cute little sound, and settled back into sleep.
The door opened quietly, and Kian slipped into the room. He crossed to her in three quick strides and crouched beside her.
"It was a long one. Are you okay?"
She nodded. "I just need something to drink before I can tell you what I saw."
Kian helped her to her feet, steadying her when she swayed. He kept his arm around her as they left Allegra's room and made their way to the living room.
Okidu rushed out of the kitchen, his expression full of concern. "May I serve you some tea, mistress?"
"Please. And also, a glass of water."
Usually, she preferred coffee in the morning, but this time she needed something gentler.
"Right away, mistress."
As Kian led her to the couch, Syssi sat down and tucked her legs beneath her. He joined her on the couch, offering his silent encouragement. He knew that visions left her disoriented, and she needed space to sort through what she'd seen before she could articulate it.
Okidu returned with a tray—a pot of chamomile tea, two cups, and a tall glass of water that Syssi drained in three long swallows. He poured the tea and then quietly withdrew.
She wrapped her hands around the warm cup, letting the heat seep into her fingers. "I asked to be shown Khiann, but as usual, the Fates showed me something else. Several other things, actually."
Kian arched a brow. "I'm listening."
"I saw a man working in a laboratory. I'm pretty sure it was Dimitri, the assistant to Dr. Petrov, whom Eluheed told you about."
"What makes you think that?"
She took a sip of the tea. "I know because the eight enhanced soldiers who turned into one consciousness came into the lab, acting like they were one entity with eight bodies. They call themselves Dave now."
