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There is a small voice in my head that instantly provides painful questions. What about the children? What about the people from the other world? Do they not deserve the Light’s salvation and glory?
I say a prayer in my mind, shutting it up. Being pure starts on the inside.
A tall, bald man comes up to us. He ignores me and talks directly to Koschei. I’ve seen glimpses of him before, but everyone was always removed from the chapel when he was visiting Koschei.
“Greg—no, Koschei. I’m going to leave my daughter with you for now, as we agreed. The Arcana has lit a fire under my ass.”
“Of course. Bring her to the room at the back.” Koschei sounds diminished, like his internal godliness has been dampened. Who is this man? Does he hold more power than Koschei?
We walk forward, on a dusty path of small white stones. It isn’t exactly the perfect green grass of our village, but it’s also not the smooth gray of the streets in the other world. It’s another new, unfamiliar thing.
I don’t dare look up despite itching to let my gaze roam and see if we have encompassing walls to protect us again, or if there will be a vision of the tall, sparkling buildings of Tanya’s and Ben’s world.
This reminds me that Tanya was adamant about not returning to the village. She doesn’t want to live with us. She doesn’t want to meet Koschei. She despises him.
But we would offer her immortality. Surely that’s better than the chaotic life she’s living right now?
Will I be allowed to speak to her and ask her? Will I be able to withstand watching her punished and cleansed after everything she’s done outside? Will I be punished too because I was with her?
My mind spirals in a familiar loop. I swallow, trying to get the lump in my throat to move down, but it stays lodged there. No matter how I try to wriggle out of it, punishment will come. It always does.
Chapter 27
After the second shelf came off, I handed it to Ben. Now we’re ready to do Phase Two of my questionable plan. It involves a lot of screaming and Ben not bailing on me.
“Let’s recap. After we get out of this room, we…” I urge him to finish the sentence.
“We do a quick search for Jenya and if we don’t find her, we look for a car or a phone, or both. If we find her, we rescue her if we can and then look for a car or a phone,” he says. “It’s not rocket science. And the plan is full of holes.”
“Keep that negative energy to yourself.” I roll my eyes and prepare for the performance of a lifetime.
“Sorry.” Ben shoots me a sad smile.
After we chatted about the night Lavender fell, the mood didn’t pick up. For me, it’s made worse by the prospect that I might see Koschei, or that Jenya might choose to stay with him, or worse, that my bare bones plan will fail spectacularly and I will land us in even more trouble than we’re in now.
If I dwell more on any of those possibilities, I will get cold feet, so I inhale deeply and scream.
Then I kick the door, scream some more, and pretend to cry.
“Don’t hit me,” I gasp, my heart pounding with adrenaline. “I’m sorry! Don’t hit me.”
Then I kick the door dramatically again, higher this time, and put my finger to my lips. Ben comes to join me on the side of the door, and we listen in to see if anyone wants to check out what the hostages are up to.
The muffled voices come closer, but I can’t tell if they intend to open the door and check. Better give them another reason.
“STOP!” I yell, startling Ben into dropping the shelf.
“What the fuck?” he whispers, bending over to pick it up.
“Yell something back,” I whisper-shout.
“No way. I don’t do loud voices.” Ben hugs the shelf to his chest.
“Ugh.” I roll my eyes. “I’ll do it myself. Hold that properly. Stop embracing it!”
I kick the door again, then sob into the fittings, hoping they’re hearing me loud and clear. If they think Ben is hurting me, surely they need to at least check?
“Hey!” A rough male voice booms from the other side. “Knock it off!”
