Page 727 of Coal Hearts

I lost all sense of direction as we turned left then right and left again.

My numb toes hobbled over pebbles and grit, my eyes slowly growing used to the brighter light as we reached a staircase. Memories of traveling down them so many weeks ago on the night of the Halloween masquerade came quick and sharp.

The crowd of Masters as we’d been carted like sheep to the slaughter.

The Temple of Facets. The altar.

Swallowing hard, I followed Peter and the first guard.

My heart pounded at the exercise as we climbed up and up and up.

I squinted as light slowly stopped being artificial and became sunshine instead.

I could barely see as we spilled out at the top and stepped into the small courtyard with its spearing tower and flapping flag far in the sky.

Too bright.

So bright.

Not midnight after all.

No stars.

No moon.

Just a glowing golden disc, a cloudless sky, and a monstrous acropolis ready to swallow us whole.

Chapter Five

...............................

Henri

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“YOU HAVE ONE HOUR,” THE head guard muttered as he shoved Peter into one suite, dragged Ily to the next and shoved her inside, then pushed me into a room opposite.

I spun just in time to catch Ily’s eyes as a guard stepped inside with her and slammed the door.

Peter’s door shut with a loud clang.

And the two remaining guards shoved me deeper into my chosen chamber before kicking the door closed and standing by it with their arms crossed. “Wash. Your time starts now.”

“Why can’t I stay with them?”

“Wash.” The head guard—a man with a shaved head and cold black eyes—snapped. “No questions. No requests. If you don’t wash, we’ll be forced to do it for you.” He grinned. “And we won’t be gentle.”

My heart thundered with fear for Ily.

I hated her being away from me.

I’d hated the dungeons too but at least we’d been together.

Now I stood in a room decorated in beiges and blacks and it was somehow worse than the month in a dank, dark cell.

Every inch of me itched to attack the two guards blocking my way. I needed to protect Ily but...it’d taken all my strength to walk up here. My ankle ached beneath my cast, my ribs throbbed, and my vision kept popping with black bubbles.

If I didn’t sit down soon, I’d probably pass out.