Page 118 of Queen of Shadows and Ruin

Rabin.

She didn’t say his name or even whisper it. She only made the shape of it with her lips. He’d find her soon enough if what Kishore claimed was true. In the meantime, she’d use her time to learn something about this place.

Shucking off more layers as she walked, she approached the temple. She wished she had something other than these heavy boots, but the only alternative was going about in her socks or bare feet.

When she reached the temple, she stared at the star hovering over the top.

Nightfire.

She could only guess how the twins had created this to honor their unique power.

Zarya stared at her hands, feeling the strangest sense of belonging. Her magic connected her to this place. Her fingers curled, nails digging into her palms as she looked back up. She placed a foot on the first step and then the next, drawn towards the temple. Almost as if it was calling to her.

The tall doors stood open, admitting her into a large square room that must have been beautiful at some point. Every wall and window was decorated with swirling curls carved into the stone. The floor was made of thousands of tiny white tiles that must have once been a multi-hued mosaic.

She stepped carefully into the space as light from some unknown source filtered beams across the floor. Not a speck of dust floated in the air.

The room was mostly empty, except for a pool in the center. The water was the same white, chalky material, and the sight worried her again about how she would survive without food or water.

A set of stairs led to the pool. She climbed to the top and stared down before crouching on her haunches. Reaching for the solidified surface, she nearly tumbled back when it moved at her touch.

Rippling, the pool transformed into clear blue water. She blinked in shock before crawling around the perimeter. With each touch of her hands, the chalky white stones transformed into shimmering silver.

What did this mean? If the twins lived inside her, maybe she could manipulate Taaranas in a way no one else could. She continued around the circle, transforming the entire area around the well.

She peered into the pool, wondering about the source of light. After waiting for the surface to calm, she could see straight to the bottom, where she could make out something written on the stones.

Should she jump in? That might leave her vulnerable. She was far too aware of an enchanted, feral Rabin trapped somewhere inside this dimension. Plus, what other creatures might call this place home?

A noise drew her attention to a window set high in the wall.

She knew that sound. The snap of wings. The thump of leathery membranes hitting the air.

“Shit,” she whispered, and a moment later, Rabin crashed through the ceiling with a roar.

THIRTY-SEVEN

Zarya leaped up and ran, her legs pumping as she hightailed it out of the temple. Rabin screeched so loud she winced as she pounded down the steps and onto the chalky white street.

She looked back to discover that the top half of the temple had collapsed under his weight. The star remained suspended in mid-air, overlooking the city. She heard Rabin thrashing inside, and then, a moment later, he appeared, hovering above the rubble, his wings flapping slowly.

His red eyes found her immediately, and she started running.

She wove back and forth as flames of red fire struck the ground, nearly singeing her hair and clothing. Rabin screeched again, and she looked back as the toe of her heavy boot caught the ground.

She landed on her hands and knees, her skin scraping open against the hard surface as it transformed beneath her, shifting into grey stone and the street it was a thousand years ago. She had a brief moment to note that nothing marred the strange material. Not even the scorch of Rabin’s fire.

Rabin advanced, and without thinking, she held out a hand, blasting a shield of air to hold him back. As soon as the magic left her fingertips, Rabin shrieked, rearing up, his entire body writhing mid-air, trapped in the throes of agony.

She screamed and pulled her magic back. She’d forgotten she couldn’t use it. A choked sob escaped her throat as she flipped over and used this moment to get a head start. She ducked around a corner, sliding between some narrow buildings.

Keeping her head low, she snaked through the tight alleys once home to these lost people. She heard the flap of Rabin’s wings and then the crunch of stone as he alighted atop a building. He perched on the roof, scanning below, waiting for her. Hunting her.

She wondered what he was thinking. Did he have any sense of what was happening? Could she reach him through his mind?

Slowly, she crept forward, keeping low. Even the slightest sound or movement would attract him inside this dead zone. She stepped slowly and carefully, maneuvering herself to the end of a passage where she could see him.

She closed her eyes and felt through the layers of her mind, hunting for the glowing spot that signaled his presence. After a minute, she sensed him and reached for it, forcing herself towards it. She’d been desperate before, but this had become a matter of life and death.