Page 66 of Where Darkness Falls

“At this point, nothing is going to surprise me,” Gawain replies.

“Well, this might,” I mutter.

“I can assure you it won’t,” he growls.

My eyes cut to slits as I stare at the abrasive man before me. “Okay then,” I say in a clipped tone. “I wanted to kill the captain last so I could torture him slowly, just as he had my family. We dueled with our abilities intertwined around our weapons. I drained my reserves while trying to fend him off. He was about to kill me when an Eitcham attacked him—saving my life. The Eitcham killed the captain to protect me.”

Gawain shakes his head. “Why do you think the Eitcham was protecting you?” he asks.

“Because it came up to me and bowed after mutilating the captain,” I reply. Both men’s expressions are incredulous. “I know it sounds half-mad, but it’s thetruth.”

“This changes everything,” Gawain murmurs as he bolts upright, crossing the room in my direction.

Virgil steps forward to block me, but I push past him, knowing that Gawain truly isn’t insane enough to risk angering him again.

Gawain glances between us. “Is there anything else you aren’t telling me?” he asks.

“No,” I say.

A strange smirk crawls along his lips. “Are you sure?” he pushes. “No strange voices in your head?”

I’m sure that my skin pales three shades as he assesses me. Virgil growls which makes Gawain back away. However, I can’t help but notice the curiosity shining in Virgil’s own expression.

How could Gawain possibly know about Saoirse?

You must lie,Saoirse says, her voice stern with warning.

He already knows,I argue.

No, he only assumes because of what he’s been told will happen. You aren’t strong enough yet, and Celestae isn’t ready to learn about me. When you’re strong enough, it will be time, but it isn’t now,she says, her voice unwavering.

I don’t understand what you’re trying to say,I reply.

Four sides to the coin, four pieces to the enigma. Four surreptitious messages split—yet to be revealed,she says in a lilting voice.

What nonsense are you spouting now?I groan.

There’s more to the prophecy than what the oracle shared with you. She only beheld the first side of the coin—the first piece of information. The rest you aren’t ready to receive. I’m begging you, Maeva. Lie… for your sake. You need more time,she replies.

“Maeva?” Virgil’s voice interrupts my internal conversation. “Do you have a voice in your head?”

“No,” I say, looking at Gawain. “There’s nothing else for me to say, but I do have a question for you.”

He backs away a few steps and nods. “What do you wish to know?” he asks.

“Why are you in Delerauh?” I inquire.

His jaw twitches as he glances in Virgil’s direction.

He opens his mouth to speak, but there’s a loud cracking sound from above, shaking the very foundation of the old building.

What in all of Celestae?

I move toward the window, but a hand pulls me back.

“Watch out!” Virgil yells, throwing his body over me as we hit the floor. He rolls us out of the way just as a colossal mass crashes through the center of the room, leveling the inn.

“I ssssssmell youuuu,”a slithering voice echoes across the destruction. Like a vortex, my shadows swirl around me as I pull myself from the debris. The inn lies in heaps upon the ground—as do other buildings in the surrounding area. I see nothing but never-ending darkness, even though the sound of hissing comes from all around me.