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There was no point trying to explain, not to him. I just nodded—it seemed easier.
“And you love her?” He looked even more curious about that.
“Yes.” There was no doubt. “I love her beyond the universe and back. I love her from this world to the next.”
He blinked, expressionless. “Well. That’s very serious.”
I almost felt like smiling. “Yeah. I tried to tell you. It’s like that.”
He stared at me for a long moment, finally nodding. “All right. Follow me.” Then he disappeared up the dusty pathway in front of me.
I followed him as the path twisted into an impossibly rocky staircase. We climbed until we reached a narrow cliff that dropped away into what seemed like oblivion. When I tried to look over the edge of the rock, all I could see were clouds and darkness.
In front of me were the imposing black Gates. I couldn’t see anything beyond them. But I could hear terrible sounds—chains rattling, voices wailing and crying.
“It sounds like Hell.”
He shook his head. “Not Hell. Only the Far Keep.”
Xavier moved in front of me, blocking my path to the Gates. “Are you sure you want to do this, dead man?”
I nodded, keeping my eyes on his disfigured face.
“Human boy. The one called Ethan. My friend.” His eyes went pale and glassy, as if he was going into some kind of trance.
“What is it, Xavier?” I was impatient, but more than that I was terrified. And the longer we stood outside listening to the terrible sounds of whatever was going on inside, the worse it seemed to get. I was afraid of losing my nerve—of giving up and turning back—of wasting everything Lena had gone through to get The Book of Moons to me.
He ignored me. “You propose a trade, dead man? What do you offer me if I open the Gates? How do you propose to pay your way for entrance into the Far Keep?”
I just stood there.
He opened one eye, hissing at me. “The Book. Give me the Book.”
I gave it to him, but I couldn’t move my hands away. It was like the Book and I were one thing, yet somehow connected to Xavier as well.
“What the—”
“I accept this offering, and in return I open the Gates of the Far Keep.” Xavier’s body went limp, and he collapsed in a heap around the Book.
“Are you okay, Xavier?”
“Shh.” The sound coming from the heap of robes was the only thing that told me he was still alive.
I heard another sound, like rocks falling or cars crashing, but really it was just the enormous Gates opening. It seemed like they hadn’t been opened in a thousand years. I watched the black walls give way to the world inside.
As a rush of relief and exhaustion and adrenaline made my heart race, one thought kept running through my mind.
It has to be over soon.
This had to be the hardest part. I paid the Ferryman. I crossed the river. I got the Book. I made the trade.
I made it to the Far Keep. I’m almost home. I’m coming, L.
I could picture her face. Imagined seeing her and holding her in my arms again.
It wouldn’t be long.
At least that’s what I thought as I walked through the Gates.
