“Of course not. I mean, my telepathy goes in and out. It was kind of overwhelming, so I learned to narrow the beam, or whatever. But if you think at me, I should be able to hear you.”
I ignored his immediate thought, which wasI hope she didn’t catch me thinking about her boobs.
I stood with Percy’s help, and staggered to the final door. Well, I hoped it was the final door. There was no humming of thought, but Percy seemed certain Ry was right behind the door.
“If it works,” I told him, “I might not be able to walk out. Prop this door open, just a little. I’ll conserve my energy to get the exit of this level open again, but you have to promise me you’ll carry Ry out, even if I can’t keep up. Come back for me. Hope is the highest ranked Protector besides Ry. She can probably speak a word to open the doors. Or find Truth and tell him. The younger Protectors are our best shot, if I get taken.”
His thoughts were clear, as if he’d spoken them.She’s magnificent. Like one of the Great Souls from the stories. So beautiful and compassionate, and generous, with those curves as well, and sexy in that strange dirty way that makes you wonder what she’d be like in… and listening to me right now. Oh, Great Maker, how humiliating.
I winked. “Last week, I heard a Protector who shall remain nameless thinking about having an orgy in the Dining Hall with four other Protectors, a video camera running, and a ten-foot-tall naked Yeti waiting its turn. Your thoughts are fine. Fine for my ego, too.” I boosted my boobs up to make him laugh.
“I believe in you, Feather,” Perception said quietly, his blush fading as quickly as it had appeared. “I believe in you; I trust you. And I like you, too. I promise I’ll watch over you and Righteous, if it means my life.” As he spoke, he began to glow brighter and brighter, as if he were changing inside.
“Wow, Percy.” I knew what was happening, though no one had ever explained it. “You’re only one stab wound away from making a Great Sacrifice there. I think you might have just ascended.” I grabbed his hand and felt something zip from the floor through his body, to my hand, like static electricity. I tasted metal, my ears ringing. “Correction.Nowyou’ve ascended.”
He staggered for a moment, as if he were going to faint. “That’s… That’s not how it works. There’s a ceremony.”
“You’d know better than me. Does it feel like Sanctuary’s… pulling on you?”
He screwed up his features, concentrating. “Maybe a little?”
I shrugged. “You might be some sort of almost-Angelus. Anyway, I think you’re close enough to learn the word. I taught some young Protectors a few words, admittedly less powerful ones. But their heads didn’t explode so… listen. I’m not going to put the power into it, but this is how it’s supposed to sound.” I went over Mikhail’s angelic word foropena few dozen times with him. By the time we were done, and he’d learned it well enough to speak it, he was complaining of a migraine and ringing ears.
“That means you’re doing it right.” I patted him on the back. I felt a lot better, knowing Percy could get Righteous out of here without me if he needed to. “I’ll open this last door—listen tohow I channel my power into it, okay? It will hurt, but it gets better after the first dozen times.”
He listened, and I felt him catch me as I fell, the back of my throat coppery and warm. And then I couldn’t feel anything else.
Chapter 24
Feather
Iprobably shouldn’t have tried to open that last lock,I thought to myself.I think I burned out my final battery. No batteries in Sanctuary now. How are they gonna keep the lights on?
A rough voice answered my dream question. “I’ve done fine without light for a long time.”
Rumple? Is that you?I flailed with my arms and legs in the darkness, but didn’t feel anything.Rumple,I repeated, when waves of sadness from somewhere outside my mind washed over me.What’s wrong?
“Why are you here, Feather? Why are you so tired?”
He sounded lost. Empty, almost. I didn’t want to tell him about all the Guides, and the problems in Sanctuary. I settled for,I needed a nap. And your lap was always my favorite place to sleep.
The sadness diminished a bit. “Well, let’s see if I can help out one more time.”
I did not like the way the last three words sounded: final, defeated. But I felt strong legs appearing underneath me, and then arms wrapping around my shoulders. I let it go, for now.
After a few minutes, I sighed.Rumple, I missed you. You’re more tired than I am, though. I feel like I should hold you so you can sleep instead.
“I can’t sleep. It’s hard work keeping the Abyss from encroaching on your safe haven, Little Sacrifice. The shadows are getting more desperate. Why are you here?” he repeated. “Your spirit is so diminished. Fragile, almost.”
I used up too much of myself to keep Sanctuary going, I think. Gav and Mik are on Earth. There’s a, um, a demon baby thing down there. Do you know anything about that?
“A demon… baby?” A tiny flicker of curiosity lit up the void, and I saw it gleam in one weary eye before it went out. “It’s not from the Abyss, I don’t think. We don’t get children here. Ever. The shadows have been fighting my hold, though. I’ve been reinforcing the Sanctuary gate, but I can’t do thatandkeep them from slipping to Earth. I hope Gav has a handle on that.”
I hummed noncommittally.I’m the only High Angelus in Sanctuary, Rumple. It’s exhausting. It keeps taking my energy, and I’m not big, you know.
“No, you are not. Have you asked Sanctuary to stop?”
I blinked.What?
