Page 79 of Anatomy of the Immortal Species

Love is the brightest light, even where the sunrays do not reach. If you follow that light, you will find the right path.

Why did that sound familiar?

It hit her all at once – those were the words she’d spoken to Nyavolski and Helena during the first Council meeting she’d attended. Words she’d received from the Creator, though she’d never understood their meaning. She’d spent so many nights pondering them, searching for an anagram, a hidden message, anything…

“Love is the brightest light, even where the sunrays don’t reach!” she shouted. “If you follow that light, you will find the right path!”

“What…” Helena turned to her, confusion on her face. She followed Amelia’s gaze and her eyes widened. “It’s the message…”

Nyavolski also stared at the carvings.“That ugly mug’s back, damn him!”

“What do you think it means?” Amelia asked, her voice brimming with excitement.

Helena beamed.“It’s a sign to proceed.”

“It’s the message Amelia passed on to Helena and Nyavolski!” Alex inspected the cliff.

By her side, Viktor’s features darkened with concern. “Symbols in the immortal world rarely mean anything good.”

Nyavolski kept pacing back and forth. Helena grabbed his wrist, stopping him with a gentle tug. Then she whispered something in his ear. Whatever it was, it made him unclench his jaw.

“All right, Helena. All right, woman…” He sighed. “If you insist so much on the bloody temple, let’s go in. If the Oracle has said it, let’s do it. It’s clear the whole damn world is against me! Starting with that horned bastard staring at us from up there!”

Helena brushed her fingers against his chin and smiled. “I wouldn’t say the whole damn world…”

Amelia fought to suppress the thrill that the message stirred in her. Finally, something made sense! “I suggest we get going.”

Alex faced her. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I have an excellent memory, and I recall the words you told Helena and Nyavolski after these.”

Amelia remembered them, too.‘Because where the most cherished lie, it is dangerous for others to approach.’

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m still all for going into the temple, but if one message is connected to it, the other might also be,” Alex said.

“Perhaps that’s exactly why it’s us who must enter, and no one else?” Helena suggested.

Viktor couldn’t take his eyes off the Devil’s face carved into the rock. “I still believe it’s a terrible idea.”

Helena pointed to the gap in the rock. “Let’s just go into thedamntemple.”

“Your blasphemy will send us straight to Hell, woman!”

“Look who’s talking…”

“Can’t you see we’ve been warned not to enter the temple?”

Amelia’s blood boiled. The indecision that marked every part of her life threatened to tear her apart.

Enter the temple or not.

Amelia or the Oracle.

Mikhail or…

“Alex, give me your coin,” she said.

Alex pulled the coin out of her small crossbody purse.

Helena crossed her arms. “What are you going to do?”