“Are you okay? Is it bothering you?” I ask.
“I’m fine. It’s actually sweet and funny. Kind of makes you forget we’re doing things that could get us in really big trouble.”
Well…that dampens the mood a bit.
“Okay, everyone,” Kyzen says as he pauses with his hands gripping the handles of the Athenaeum doors. “As soon as we step out, my power’s going to wrap around you. Speeding up canmake you feel a little off balance, so be mindful. Shit hurts when you fall going fast.”
Everyone grimaces and straightens their shoulders.
I’m quite used to his power now, but I still suck down a breath and center myself.
He gives us all a nod, then pulls the doors open wide.
The greenery of the Assembly blurs by as we race across the space to the Sanctum. I don’t bother sparing the Beginning Gods statues a glance.
Our shadows flicker across the floor from the dimly lit lights and the unsettling quietness has me holding my breath.
Really, though, it’s always quiet here. Even during the day, the gods who have a role here walk around in silence, like having a conversation will disturb the statue heads or some shit.
Kyzen’s power gradually fades from our skin as we approach the hall with all the locked doors, and we stroll at a normal pace the last ten or so feet to the corner.
I release my breath as we all align ourselves together, staring down the hauntingly ominous hall. Four doors are on one side, four on the other, then one all the way at the back.
Small light fixtures are mounted on the walls, separating, yet highlighting each door as if they all have a special significance.
The sense of power floating in the air around us doesn’t seem as strong as it did the first time Kyzen showed Yemi and me this hall. That’s more than likely because I have more power now than I did then. Plus, I’ve been in the presence of the Beginning Gods, but still…the atmosphere itself feels different.
Maybe because our tour was in the middle of the day, and bright light glistened off the marble floors. There wasn’t a whole group of us thrumming with anticipation and excitement.
“Let’s check them out,” Kyzen whispers.
Amick, Lambrit, and Riven practically race to the single door, while the rest of us maneuver to a random one each.
I choose the one closest to me on the right. They all match, so it doesn’t really matter.
My hand hovers over the wood, getting a sense of the power pulsing in the grain.
It’s definitely the essence of the Beginning Gods. Not one, but all.
My thumb grazes the small, dainty gold plate that’s flush behind the door handle. A small smirk crosses my lips as I recall being afraid to jiggle one of them in case one of the gods decided to strike me dead.
I trace the decorative grooves engraved in the finishing and tilt my head at the familiarity of the design. I can’t place where I’ve seen it before. Maybe Ellian’s office or Kyzen’s old one?
Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve really ever paid much attention to any door handle fixtures.
“Welp, what an adventure. Too bad it was a big ol’ waste of time. The doors are sealed with power and a key. Paranoid assholes, if you ask me,” Riven says with a small chuckle. I tilt my head and frown at him. “Aww, don’t look so offended, little burden. It was still a successful night for the geniuses of our odd group.”
“No. What did…” My attention flicks back to the handle for a moment, then back to him. The others crowd around him, and my eyes catch on Doren. “Oh my gods.”
“What?” they all ask.
Doren’s forehead wrinkles as I continue to stare at him.
“I wish I could trace the location of the Binding for you, Thayla, I do, but even with all my power now, it’d seem that’s still an impossible task for me.”
My head jerks.
“The key,” I whisper. Then focus on Amick. “Where did you put the key that Doren gave me in the Lost Sea?”
