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“It’s an illusion!Don’tfear them!” she reminded her priestesses. “The enemy is full of air while El is full of power!”

The door to the temple swung open, startling the priestesses into silence, and turning the shadows’ heads. A quiet breezeswept through the sanctuary from the entrance, cooling the sweat on Geovani’s brow.

Someone stepped inside. A great blade of light was in her hand, its glow rippling off the walls and illuminating the path at her feet. Geovani released a shaky breath, clutching her chest, holding fast to Nebulin’s hand.

Every dark thing in the sanctuary turned to face the maiden at the door, and a smile spread over Geovani’s dry, cracked lips. “El,” she murmured, “what’s happened?”

“Adassah faced her first test.”

Geovani huffed a laugh. It seemed Adassah had passed.

She wondered if Adassah knew she was glowing.

27

XERXES

A breeze rolled into the lookout tower, fresh and clear. Xerxes shook as it brushed along his skin. He stared, not really seeing the sprinkles of dawn lighting the Mother City.

Silent tears streamed down his cheeks, dripping off his jaw, hitting the ground at his feet. He couldn’t stop them. He simply stood there as they came.

The quiet was overwhelming. Birds sang softly in the distance, whispers of the wind brushed over his ears. He heard it all, and yet, he heard nothing he didn’t want to.

So, this was what freedom felt like.

He’d spent the whole night in the basement, sure a hole was growing inside of him. Waiting for the voices to come back and fill it. But they never came. Nor did the hunger. Xerxes felt nothing when he thought about the pears, even now. It was an empty feeling, and yet…

Xerxes almost smiled.

After he’d finally picked himself up off the basement floor and came upstairs, people had tried to speak to him. But Xerxes hardly heard them. They’d said things like, “The palace is haunted!” and “Everyone is going mad!” and “Belorme has been found dead!”

Belorme.

Xerxes finally found his voice. “You kept me in bondage for over a decade,” he rasped, though he knew no one, especially Belorme, could hear him. “You lied to me. You must have known that tree was keeping me ill.” Xerxes dragged his gaze up to the morning sky where pale blue was beginning to form. “How could you do that to me?!” he shouted.

Weakness took his knees. He nearly lost his balance, but he grabbed the rail for support and leaned against it.

“I hate liars,” he whispered.

Belorme was gone now. Xerxes couldn’t even yell at the man in person. It didn’t feel fair.

“Xerxes.”

Xerxes’s hands tightened on the rail. He looked behind him at the stairs. When he saw they were empty, he leaned out the balcony and looked down at the palace, wondering if someone had miraculously scaled the wall. No one was in sight.

No. That could not be…

Avoice.

Warm wind brushed along his white knuckles. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt warmth; he’d been ice cold for so long.

Perhaps he’d imagined it. Perhaps it was a side effect of being set free from his torment.

“Xerxes,”it called again, and Xerxes inhaled a sharp breath.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“I have many names,”the voice said.“Do not be afraid. I’m your friend.”