Interitus makes a shrill, hideous sound that skitters around my teeth, setting them on edge, and then passes out.
I roll over and peel myself off Gellara.Her blood marks my clothes, there’s even a patch on my hand where I’ve landed on her.
“Oh, no.No, no, no,” I cry out.
I wipe at the blood, quick, desperate movements to clean it off.But it spreads.It’s on my clothes and arms.I’m covered and it won’t come off.It shouldn’t be there.
Tears fall now, big round plops that remind me far too much of Gellara’s blood pooling beneath her.
My knuckles brush her rapidly cooling cheek and it only makes the cries come harder.She was my everything.This is my fault.All of it is my fault.If I’d only been strong enough to stop Interitus when we were younger, none of this would have happened.
I stand, and for the first time, I realise the devastation that has been wreaked over the land.
I do not care.
That is how I know I have changed.That Interitus may have looked like the evil twin, but she was born that way.It was in her nature.
I am choosing this.
Gellara cannot stay here.I will not allow her to be another body amongst the ruins I’ve left behind.I slide the unconscious moth into my pocket and scoop my hands beneath Gellara’s torso, lifting her into my arms.My wings extend and I carry us up, up, up.
My sister is curled in the foetal position, her face still mimicking mine.I will be blamed for this.As I should.
For once, I did it.And, I would do it again.
I will do it again.
This is not over.I may have taken her moth and the source of her power, but she will not rest.This is far from the end.And before our fates can play out, there will be more ruin.
I will take her life apart piece by piece, feather by feather, and I will not stop no matter who gets in the way.
33
Midnight
Nothing is right without Bastien.We were hoping Finis might call him back and we could tell him that we love him and make sure that he’s okay, but so far, nothing.
“That’s the thing about death,” Lex says, pushing porridge around her bowl.“For all our studies and learning, we still can’t control it.”
She’s talking about her sister as well as Bastien, that much is certain.We’ve spent the last year as a threesome and now a limb has been cut out from our family.
It aches and gnaws in my chest.There are traces of him in the flat, on campus, in every hall and corridor and classroom.He left a mark everywhere he went, and now all that’s left are fading shadows.
It’s wrong.All of it is wrong.We can’t even have a funeral until the mess with Architecti and Interitus is dealt with.
So he’s just gone.And we can’t grieve, and I am so godsdamned tired.
Lex pushes the bowl away and leans her head on her forearms.So I slide into the seat next to her and lean on her.
Lucy strolls into our apartment, a grim expression on her face.
“Architecti has been trying to push Interitus away from campus, but it seems the angels are circling.I don’t think it will be long before Interitus comes for me again.”
I breathe deep and let out a heavy sigh.
Lucy frowns at me.“Are you okay?”she says.
“Not really.”I sit up, but everything hurts.I know I’m thirty now, but I’m somewhat fit.I didn’t expect age to hurt so much.
