Lovely, I thought as my hands clenched. My eyes darted to her as she nodded slightly at the white masked freaks.
Two of the Ecliptuari moved slowly toward me in synchronisation. I stepped back. If I moved now, I could reach the door behind me and escape.
No. Not now.came the whispers.
"Why not?" I Said, asthe Ecliptuari moved closer.
I hated that I'd walked in here like a lambto the slaughter.I should have known better. I should have left them all in that room with the Elorium to rot when I had the chance.
The Ecliptuari clasped my wrists, guiding me forward. Their gloved hands felt like dead weight against my skin, cold and I was pretty sure I couldn’t detect a pulse. It was as if I were being handled by mannequins rather than men. I let them lead me because fighting alone wouldn't work here, not with so many Ecliptuari and Seraphina watching.
I began to hum again. This time, I wasn’t trying to block out the voices, instead, I welcomed them. It helped me think.
You are not strong enough to make the correct choice. That's what they say to all of us.
I was guided to the centre of the chamber.The torches dimmed, and Seraphina finally spoke.
“By the light of the Blood Moon and the silence of the Elora sky. The centre is chosen, and before you stands the marked. Accept this offering today and make the curse break for a decade.”
As my attention turned to her, a blade cut across my palms, sharp and merciless. I jerked back, a cry escapingbefore I could stop it. Bloodspilleddown my fingers, hot and slick, dripping onto the stone.
The stone didn’t just absorb the blood. The ancient runes flared with a celestial light. My voice shook with anger. “That’s it cut me when I can’t fight back—cowards,” I spat bitterly.
The Ecliptuari didn’t respond. They slid the daggers into the slits carved into the floor, the sound echoing like a lock turning. They stepped back and the bars groaned as they rose quickly allaround me, sealing me in.
Beneath my feet lay an engraved eye made of gold brass, it appeared old and surrounded by etched stars.
What is this?
I approached the bars, my small hands barely able to grasp the thick, cold iron. I smeared my blood across the metal, leaving a red stain as a mark of my defiance against their perfect, white-masked world. I pressed myself against the bars, enraged.
“Go on then. Light your torches. Chant your words. Let’s see your truth.”
Footsteps echoed in the background, heavy and approaching. The doors swung open, and three figures stepped through. It was the brothers. I knew it.
Each one moved with cloaks trailing behind like shadows. This time, they hid behind sculpted white masks and hoods, reminiscent of the Ecliptuari. Their white masks weren't just clay; they were featureless, swallowing the torchlight.
“You think I don’t see you?” My voice sliced through the silence. “You think those theatrical masks conceal your identities and elevate you to Gods?”
I gripped the bars tightly, my knuckles turning white. “You’re just cowards in costume.” I let out a sharp, ugly laugh. I knew what was under those masks. They didn’t wear the masks to scare me. They wore them to hide the shame they felt for doing this to another person.
As my eyes darted around, each of them walked toward the triangle and took their positions. They didn't speak, which was unsettling since Torin always had something to say. I stared at them, my heart pounding.
Torin was shorter and stood to the right; the other two were similar in size, making it hard to tell who was who. I searched for something to distinguish them—a twitch of a hand, a muscle tick, anything. Then I noticed it: the one on the left shifted slightly, one hand curling into a fist before relaxing again. That had to be Cillian. I was certain of it. I knew Fionn would never flinch, and Torin would make a show of it. But Cillian carried the passion. If anyone could be swayed, it was him.
Seraphina’s voice rose, commanding attention.
"Three born of stars. One marked soul."
Her words rolled out like thunder, not loud, but heavy enough to press against my chest. She began to walk behind the brothers, circling the outer edge of the chamber.
I could feel the blood dripping from my hands, each drop striking the floor in rhythm with her words.
The Ecliptuari bowed their heads, as if the phrase itself was a command. They moved forward toward the brothers, taking their hands and slicing them open like mine. Seraphina’s gaze was fixed on the brothers, unblinking.
"When the triangle bleeds into the circle, the heavens will open, and the blood moon of Vareth shall burn with power."
The brothers raised their hands above the rivets and let their blood drip down. The blood turned blue as it hit the grooves, glowing strangely as it spiralled toward me. I felt sick as the blue glow reached my feet.
