Burning stars, why couldn’t I stand? Why was my body choosing now to betray me?
“I don’t think so,” Asarah said.
In quick succession, she shoved her talons into Evanae’s spine three more times. Then she threw my little sister’s body into the air, blasting her with a vortex of starlight morphed into deadly spears. The volley of spears went up, piercing Evanae so decidedly, there wasn’t an inch of her that wasn’t stuck by the spears. Then Asarah crushed her hands, yanking out the spears. Evanae’s body tumbled back down. She fell to the marble.
Lifeless.
The chamber tipped to the side as I felt all seven of my hearts give out. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t make any sense of this world.
“Remember this dawn when you choose to rebel against this temple, against me, again,” Asarah purred. “Remember thatyoudid this.”
She blasted Evanae with hardened starlight, then squeezed her fist. Evanae’s body began to burn as her spirit was choked out. My ears rang with cymbals. I could hear the sound of screaming in the distance, a voice shrieking at the top of their lungs, but the sound was far. Foreign.
My body moved on its own, leaping into the air to grab hold of Evanae’s spirit, tucking it to my chest, as I crumpled to the floor, watching her body burn. My ears felt like they’d been stuffed with cloud balls. I couldn’t hear a thing except for that ring. Someone was screaming loudly at the top of their lungs. And I was pretty sure that someone was me.
I snarled savagely when Asarah slipped forward as if she’d pry away my sister’s spirit, too. When she saw the gaze in my eyes, she stumbled back. After looking at me with utter disappointment, she turned away.
“Congratulations on completing your first level of Ascension, Disciple Safah. I’m not proud yet. But for now, your succession will suffice.” A brittle, vile chuckle. “You’re dismissed.”
Then she flew out of the chamber without a backwards glance, leaving me behind with Evanae’s spirit and her body’s ash.
Chapter 60
For a long time I couldn’t do anything but scream. Anything but wail. Anything but break.
Bend, but do not break.Burn, but never bleed.
What a burning, monstrous lie.
Misery swallowed me whole as I tipped my head back and sobbed. I was inconsolable, my grief drowning me beneath their waves.
A long time passed before I realized I was in the chamber alone, except for Farasees Davithius and Esau. Everywhere Evanae’s blood had been spilled, I began wiping with my wings. Until my gown and my wings were dripping with gold. Until I was covered with my sister’s essence. Covered in the last moments she held life.
“Please send me back to my wingtower,” I begged, my voice broken.
“Of course, Disciple Safah,” Davithius whispered.
In a moment, I went from being in the Council chamber, to the great room of the wingtower. As I landed on the floor, Quazar was stomping over. When I lifted my head, he paused mid-stride his eyes widening.
“Safah,” he whispered. “What?—”
Seventh Choir was instantly on their feet. I noticed some were covered up in new bruises and open wounds, all forgotten at my crumpled form on the floor. Quazar’s Talons looked down at me, the same measure of concern wrinkling their faces.
But it was Quazar I looked at as he slowly approached me, taking care not to walk too hard, lest he startle the wounded, broken creature sprawled out before him.
I had no words.
I had no strength left.
My hands were still cupped to my chest.
“They…” I started, my voice hoarse.
Quazar lowered himself in front of me, careful not to touch me. Not yet.
“They…the…they,” I spat out. “They beat her,” I screamed at the top of my lungs. My voice rang out, bouncing off the walls. “They beat her. And…and clipped her wings. And shred…shredded her feathers. And bro…broke her bones. And ripped out her hair. And cut…cut her open. And they touched her…and…and…”
I couldn’t breathe. I was hyperventilating. I struggled for air as that thing, that knot of anxiety, that knot of despair began choking me from the inside.
