Page 108 of Fallacies

When I get close enough to the gates to see the spires, my stomach drops.

Skeletons hang by their bare bones, tattered fabric catching the sharp breeze. All that remains of the high-ranked Sol who were murdered the night of the attack.

It’s horrific. That’s the only word I can think of to describe it. Absolutely fucking horrific.

Bile rises in my throat, but I force myself to keep walking. Force my attention forward.

The tips of my boots meet the entrance, and I freeze, feeling the buzz of the blood ward for the very first time.

It hums in my ears, vibrating against the ground beneath my boots, and I narrow my stare on the translucent barrier before me; its sheen barely detectable in the dim light.

Blood wards don’t take kindly to intruders, Cin. Selene’s voice plays out on a loop in my head. If it doesn’t recognize your blood, it’ll kick you back.

Braving a step forward, my heart lurches into my throat when I feel foreign magic ripple across my skin.

A more powerful one might even kill you.

I take another step, practically jumping forward, and when both of my feet find ground on the other side, I freeze.

Despite how confident I felt that it would work, there’s always been a little part of me that doubted it. A little fear that it would all be for nothing.

It’s the first miracle.

The first winning hand in what will be a very long game. The first step in doing something useful with the corrupt magic I inherited. And it feels…good. Really good.

Turning back, I look out past the gate, unable to see my coven, but I know they’re there. I know they’re watching.

My lips—Alesi’s mouth—curve into a smile. Not one of those bored ones Nix had me practice. This one is full and bright and wicked.

Then I strengthen my illusion, cross the dead grass at my feet, pull open the servant’s door, and slip into the Estate.

27

Lucina

Iforce some confidence into my posture as I make my way down the dark servant passage, magic tingling over my skin.

Alesi’s complexion is more ashen, any hint of color washed out completely against the pale beige of the servant’s uniform. Looking down, the curled ends of my dark hair are now stick straight and mousey brown, and assuming all went right, my eyes should be dull yellow.

Perfect, according to Nix.

My footfalls echo, steps faltering when the sound of voices bounces down the hall. It’s two, maybe three people, and they are having a seemingly casual conversation.

Determined to not let my confidence slip, I force myself forward, nearing the voices as they approach. Turning the next corner, I see a dim glow of light, illuminating the dark stone from an open door at the end of the hall. The voices I’d heard from inside the room have ceased.

Squaring my shoulders and strengthening my illusion, I move towards the door, crossing the threshold like it’s familiar to me. This is the servant passage after all…Alesi would have known these rooms.

“Alesi?”

My throat tightens, panic seizing my body for half a second before I force it down and lift my gaze.

The girl in front of me is undeniably Rogue—wide yellow eyes and skin that is nearly translucent. Her long blonde hair is dull and stringy, nearly weightless as she twists it around her fist, pulling it up and pinning it to the top of her head.

I feign uninterestedness. Embodying the girl Phoenix told me about and fucking pray that it works.

“You're back,” she says when I don’t reply, blonde brows pulled together. “Where have you been?”

“Sick,” I reply, continuing through the room as if it’s familiar to me.