I took a slow, steady breath, then spoke, keeping my tone even. “I’m not afraid of you.”
“No?” The lights died again, and when they flashed back on, a horrific, elongated face loomed inches from mine—lips peeled back from blackened gums and inch-long, yellowing teeth. An aged, browning blindfold covered its eyes, below which rested two crimson slits for a nose.
Those slits widened and contracted as the thing inhaled. A fist of terror formed in my belly, stealing my bravado and leaving me limp and weak-kneed.
The lights flashed off, and when they turned back on, the face was gone.
My chest trembled, but I held my ground. “You’re not that scary.”
Raspy and chilling laughter surrounded me. “We like you. You have backbone. But we can tear that backbone from your body if we wish. We can strip your skin from your bones and use your essence to feed the glorious Weave.
“We can do all those things. But not today. Today, we grant you clemency… a reprieve from carrying the burden of the chosen betrayer. You will taste the power of the Weave.”
A strange sensation spread across my thigh, tingling and jarring. I slapped a hand to it. The sensation almost echoed what I remembered of pain. It was gone too soon for me to examine closely.
“The mark has been lifted,” they said. “But the veil remains—for now. A precaution while the Weave tests how you will fit into its web. It may grant you protection in this time, or it may not. Your connection will be fully restored in two blessings. You will take the first blessing with the Unwoven, andifyou prove yourself thereafter and pass all classes, you can return to us on the Weaver Moon, to be made whole. Fail, and forfeit your chance to be restored.”
The light dimmed, and icy fingers ran up my arms and along the back of my neck. “But be wary. Be aware. Be vigilant,” they whispered. “The earth senses all but cannot speak. Much is hidden in memories lost, but eyes born of ancient power can see.”
“What? What does that mean?”
“We have said more than we should. More than is permitted. Go now.”
The lights went out completely, and when they came back on, I was standing by the hearth in Trinity Tower.
Heidi leapt up from her armchair, her gaze sweeping over me. “You’re all right?” she said in a rush.
All right, but bloody disoriented. “Yeah…I’m… I’m good.”
“They let you return,” she said softly, giving me the impression she was speaking more to herself than to me.
From what the Unwoven had told me, there were rumors of students going to see the Weavers and not returning. Mainly students who’d transgressed in some way. But considering they’d sent me down there to find out what could be done to lift the ban on my power, I hadn’t expected my survival to be in question.
“Are you saying there was a chance that the Weave Watcherswouldn’thave let me come back?”
“Who knows? But they found you worthy, and you’re here. Although I must admit, I panicked a little when I was ejected without you.”
I swallowed past the thrumming pulse in my throat. It was over. I was fine. “When were you ejected? When the lights went green?”
“The lights went green?” She frowned. “Not to my knowledge. You stood beside me while they spoke through the tunnels and told us how to restore your power.”
“That’s all you heard?”
“There was more?”
The rest had been for my ears only. A riddle that I needed to file away for later examination. “Nothing. It was all just so strange.” She continued to look probingly at me. “So, how many times have you been down to see them?”
She blinked sharply and looked away. “A few.”
“But this is the first time a student has returned,” another voice said.
“Libby!” Heidi snapped.
“What? It’s true.” Libby flicked her tail, peering up at Heidi. “It makes you sad, and I don’t like it when you’re sad.”
Heidi sighed, then crouched to stroke her cat. “I was worried about how this meeting would go, but all is well.”
“So, the whole feeding students to the Weave Watchers thing is true, then?”
