Who will you choose next?
“No one. We think you might just be right. Perhaps the time has come for change—for something new and exciting.”
Thank you.
Sitting back on my heels, I rose my chest, looking up at the glass ceiling. I stared and stared at the stars, their faint hums like a soothing melody for once. Around me, the cathedral grew brighter as my chest began to glow.
“Thank you, Nova Tershetta. Know that you will be welcomed warmly into the infinite sky above. Here, you may finally rest and become one with us. With your parents. We shall see you soon.”
Goodbye.I smiled, tears and snot pouring down my face as I opened my arms and closed my eyes.
“Goodbye, Sweet Catalyst. Thank you for our chaos.”
My fingers tingled, the stars giving me one final gift before they left. Fire exploded from my skin, so hot that even the glass around me began to bubble and melt.
As the stars faded from my consciousness, the space they once haunted now forever empty, I breathed in the smoke and ash.
“No more shaytan. No more magic. No more poison.”
Around me, the Ether Cathedral burned, and Dajahim was better for it.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Azazel
“Father has been whispering out loud to the stars and wandering around the castle a lot more lately. Maybe a symptom of having the stars’ essence is losing your mind.”
-From the journal of Azazel Altair, 9254 AS
Nova and Desi were taking too long.
At least, itfelttoo long.
“Az!”
I whipped around, catching sight of Priya’s bright smile as she stepped out of the bathroom. Sighing, I rubbed my hand across my face. “Yeah?”
“What do you do for food around here? I’m starving.”
“I’ll make you something as soon as Nova gets back with the healer.”
Pri squinted her eyes, pursing her lips as she walked towards me. Beads of water dripped onto the floor where she stepped, Death nervously licking it up as she stalked behind Priya.
“What’s going on between you two?”
“Not now, Pri.”
“Why? Now is the least terrified I’ve been in months. Now is the most at peace I’ve been in years. Now is the perfect time.”
Groaning, I stomped over to the sofa, plopping down next to a shaking Zura. She looked at me from the corner of her vibrantgreen eyes, pulling her blonde hair forward and making it fall between us.
“I’m not going to bite you.”
“It’s not your teeth that I fear,” Zura whispered.
Smiling, I said, “I won’t kill you, Zura. You mean a lot to Nova.”
“Hah!” Priya shouted, snapping her fingers at me as she moved to stand before the small table in front of the sofa. She’d cut her hair since I saw her last, the black locks now barely kissing her ears and the nape of her neck.I bet that her mother lost it.“Why would you care about who means anything to Nova? Something is going on between the two of you, that’s why!”
