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Either it was bound to happen, or there were other reasons. The injury sustained when I tried to escape? How long I’d slept afterwards? Using the embers? Kolis feeding on me? Regardless, I was once more barreling toward my Ascension.
I numbly pushed away from the vanity and changed into the first gown I retrieved from one of the chests, giving up on searching for a somewhat decent one.
As I walked to the table and picked up my glass, I eyed the platter of sugared fruits the Chosen had left after all the other plates were cleared. My appetite still hadn’t returned. I couldn’t recall my hunger being affected before, but Kolis’s recent punishment had likely played a role in what I knew was true, as did worrying about what Veses was up to. I was further along in my Ascension now, and all the other symptoms made sense. The headaches. The tiredness. I just hadn’t wanted to connect them because it meant time was running out.
I would go through my Ascension, and I wouldn’t survive. Sotoria would be lost, and the embers…
There would be no hope for the mortal realm.
Surprisingly, my mind didn’t linger there—on the most serious of the consequences. I didn’t even think about Ash. My thoughts went to the Ascended.
If I started to die and was still here with Kolis, he would take the embers and attempt to Ascend me.
I drifted closer to the bars, thinking about what Delfai had said: that the embers had melded with me. I’d have to be entirely drained for someone to remove them. My heart would stop. According to Kolis, the Ascended never died like the Revenants did. I’d forgotten that in my initial panic upon hearing Kolis’s plans.
There was some relief in remembering that. At least I wouldn’t come back as a being swept up in bloodlust.
Hopefully.
Because there was so much I didn’t know. Like what Kolis had shared about the Ancients, or the fact that Kolis’s blood could give life—I thought about Callum. Well, it sort of could. Even if there was only a sliver of a chance that Kolis could somehow pull off what he planned, it was a chance.
I took a sip, swallowing water that tasted like mixed fruit today. About to refill the glass, I heard the sound of footsteps. A moment later, I felt the embers pulsing in my chest.
Focusing on my breathing, I emptied my thoughts and became no one as I stepped back from the bars.
Kolis entered the chamber alone, his white linen pants hanging loosely from his hips, but I could see the shoulders of the men standing guard in the hall.
“So’lis,” he greeted with a warm, breezy smile. “You look lovely today.”
“Thank you,” I replied, my tone matching his. At least two days had passed since Veses visited me. I hadn’t seen Kolis at all yesterday, not until whatever constituted night here fell, and he showed yet again to demand that I sleep beside him.
He’d held me even tighter last night than the one before.
I had no idea where he’d been in the meantime or if Veses had gotten to him.
Strangely, I also hadn’t seen Callum since her visit.
Kolis’s steps slowed as he approached the cage door. “Though you do look quite tired.”
I blinked slowly at the criticism creeping into his voice.
“Did you not sleep well last night?”
I knew better than to tell the truth: that I’d only managed to doze and was unable to sleep deeply with him present. “I slept fine. I’m not sure why I look tired.”
“Then perhaps this will help.” He unlocked the cage. “I thought you might like to go for a walk.”
Go for a walk.
Like a dog.
If he were anyone else, I would’ve kicked him in the throat. Instead, I smiled. “That would be nice.”
And it would be. Any chance to leave the cage was an opportunity to see more of my surroundings.
“Good. Come.” He motioned me forward.
I did as he ordered, taking note of the guards. Elias was there, as always. This time, the other was the Revenant, Dyses. His eyes looked even paler in the fading sunlight.
