“What kind of test is this!?” I snarl, waving a hand up to the pillars. “Is it so important that the Queen of the Underworld be able to balance at great heights!?”“Watch yourself,” Death snarls, stepping close enough that I can hear his lowered voice as he glances around, ensuring that the courtier
The trial doesn’t last long.A collective gasp goes through the group and I scream soundlessly as Mahina suddenly stumbles and then shrieks as she tips too far to the side and plummets to the ground. I slap my hands to cover my face, already beginning to silently sob as I hear the sickening crack of
“Where’s her voice!?” Anton shouts the moment we arrive back in my room, glaring hard at Nic. He moves close to me, cupping my cheeks in his hands.“I – I don’t know,” Nic stumbles out, holding a hand up towards me. “Death took it – he can give it back – but –““Can you get it back for her!?”“It’s
And on those ladders, and stairs, and landings, are Priests. Priests everywhere, walking around in long grey robes, either putting books back or reading books or taking books from the shelves. And here on the ground floor – where we are – there are desks everywhere, spread with books and scrolls and
Orion sighs harshly, closing his eyes and pressing the bridge of his nose between his fingers, clearly frustrated.“Whoa,” Laila breathes, looking around perhaps for the first time. “Such dedication and technology – this is far beyond anything we have at home. It’s incredible.”“Yeah, well,” Orion m
We spend hours in that damn library. Luckily, the Priests are very nice and bring us tea and snacks, always urging us to be careful around the precious scrolls but generally being very friendly. I look curiously after them during a little scone break, sipping from my mug of tea, thinking that these
“No!” the Priest nearly shouts, his voice wavering as he reaches for his scrolls, his hand finding my shoulder. “They are mine! You must not –“But as I stand his voice fades and the High Priest stares at me in shock. Rapidly, he blinks three or four times, his eyes clearing, a great veil seeming to
Orion snarls, more wolfish than he usually is, as we all appear in his living room suite and he hurls the stack of scrolls onto his coffee table. “I don’t get it!”He storms away to the very small marble bar built into the corner of the room and begins to pour himself a big glass of whiskey as Laila