My sweet, perfect,goodbrother.
I sob.
Lazarus, Lazarus, Lazarus.
Bile rushes up my throat.
Nebet loosens the ribbons around me, lowering me to the floor and unraveling the gag from around my mouth. “Of course. Why would you imagine that I would damage such valuable property? Now, make your goodbyes quick.”
She spins me to face my brother.
Our agonized gazes meet.
My brother is a mess.
His eyes are red-rimmed. His cheeks are tear streaked. His hair is tangled.
He is coming apart.
I bet that I look the same.
We are identical twins. No matter who parts us, we’ll bear the same souls, heart, and blood until we’re buried in the tombs, then our spirits will find each other in hell.
No one will be able to part us for eternity.
“Lan…” Lazarus’ voice breaks on the word, before he runs to throw his arms around me.
I collapse into my brother’s familiar hold, wishing that I could wrap my arms around him, or at least my wings.
I nuzzle against him as much as I can, however, taking desperate breaths of his scent.
Deep in my soul, I know that this is the last time that I will see him.
“I will find you,” I whisper. “I will rescue you.”
“Don’t.” Lazarus tightens his hold on me. “Just live for us both, okay? I’ll think of you every night. Think of me…? Don’t forget me.”
“How could I?” I force out through my tears. “I’ll remember you every time I eat cake.”
“You drink twice as much blood as I do. But you told me that it’s weak of us to eat Shadow Human food.” He lets out a laugh that is more like a sob. “You never eat cake.”
“I will now: Honey and date bat cakes. But only because they are your favorite.” Then I add, in a frenzied whisper, hoping that my brother truly listens, “Laz, be careful. Don’t trust Ruin or be taken in by his speeches. He’s conditioning you to kill yourself on command, just as the scarlet bitch here intends to train me tokillon command. You must remember that they’re lying and will betray?—"
“And that’s enough.” Ruin snatches Lazarus around the waist and into his arms. “We have a long way to travel tonight. Once you’re inside the Void pyramid complex, you won’t be leaving it again. The sacrifice must be kept pure.” He shoots me a disgusted look. “And away from polluted creatures who are a bad influence.”
“Brother.” Lazarus tries to squirm around in Ruin’s hold; his shadows reach out to me.
Held in place by the ribbons, I watch — powerless — as my brother is carried away into the night. My moths follow him like a ghostly funeral procession.
“I won’t forget you,” I yell. “I won’t let you die in the Void. I’ll throw myself in instead.”
Inside, I’m shaking apart.
This is worse than death; it is a hollowing loneliness.
For the first time, since the moment that I was born, I am alone.
I will be alone forever.
