Page 11 of Angel Lost (Fates Academy #3)

Chapter Eleven: Lorelei

The portal flickers shut behind us, and I clench my fists inside my pockets. For the first time in my life, I’m not in Venez. It should feel good. Except I’m trapped. And the Angel King is waiting for me somewhere.

Slicking my palms down my stupid plaid skirt, I take my first few tentative steps into Elystria, the king’s own country. The country of my ancestors. The cobbled path is made of some kind of super shiny white marble, so bright it’s blinding. I trace the path away into the distance, between a few coppices of elegant trees, toward white spires stretching up into the base of the clouds. The Sanctoria. My destination, and the seat of the Priests of the Royals.

Kai smirks down at me, fingers tightening just above my elbow. He tugs me forward firmly, marching me away from the portal—away from my escape.

It’s an act. He’s acting. My heart rate picks up and I take furtive sideways glances at him. Gone is any hint of his boyish smile. His purple hair is scraped out of sight, hidden under a dull khaki cap. He sports the academy uniform, but his blazer’s lapel is adorned with several badges. I eye the shiny decorations balefully. Military accolades?

Did I just walk in here with one of the Angel King’s generals?

There’s nowhere to vanish to. No shadows to hide in. Even if I could get out of his grip, the only way back is the portal, and I can’t make it work without him .

Tiny circular movements brush the inside of my arm, cutting through my panic. His thumb moves soothingly, hidden in the crook of my elbow. It’s enough to settle my nerves, just. Enough to stop me from bolting.

We reach a pair of huge metal gates set in yet more white stone. The arch of the gateway must be three stories high. At least. I squint up. Do they all wear sunglasses? A smile tugs at the corner of my lips as I picture priests all adorned in white with massive black shades.

Kai reaches past me and yanks on a rope. I crane my neck back as a chime rings out from the largest bell I have ever seen.

“Couldn’t just have a buzzer like normal people?” I mutter, shaking my head as the vibration finally dies away to nothing.

The corner of Kai’s mouth twitches. He stiffens, standing straighter, his grip tightening again. Through the gate, a trio of hooded priests walk smartly toward us, two in gray robes and the final one all in white.

Only a few feet from the gate they halt, bowing low to Kai, who inclines his head slightly. The white-robed priest mutters a few words, and the giant gate creaks open. I watch, my heart in my mouth. It’s like a horror movie, except far, far brighter. That almost makes it worse.

The three priests glide forward as one. Kai brushes his thumb over the soft skin of my inner arm one last time, then shoves me at the priests. I stumble.

“Interested to see how this one compares,” he barks. “Keep me updated. I might watch the final test. She’s my source at the moment. Try not to let her kill herself.”

The priests incline their heads, not once uttering a sound. With that, Kai steps back and the gate shuts with a clang of finality. Shit. He’s not coming. He’s got to keep up appearances. That’s it, right? I didn’t imagine him trying to soothe me. The decorations on his collar don’t mean anything. But…he’s the stepson of the king’s sister. He’s a prince. Everything is about appearances. I chew the inside of my cheek and eye the priests .

Without a word they glide back along the path toward the turreted buildings of the Sanctoria. When I don’t immediately follow, the smallest of the three halts and glances over his shoulder. Under the hood I glimpse big bushy eyebrows and a face full of wrinkles. An intricate tattoo winds down his neck under his robe.

A mage, not an angel. Interesting.

Something oddly familiar sparkles in his eyes. He beckons, crooking one finger, then moves quickly after the others.

The hall is plain. Far plainer than I’d expected. At various points there are enclaves and stained glass depicting the goddesses, the Fates, and hundreds of minor deities. My gaze skips to the front, where the priests stand around a small fountain.

“Proceed, child, quickly,” the mage commands.

Child? I’m twenty. I stomp forward, my black combat boots scuffing the white floor. The head priest, the one in white, glares at the marks.

They pull their hoods down. One mage and two angels. I study each of them in turn. The pale, almost translucent skin of the two angels, along with their hard eyes and downturned mouths, does not give me a good feeling. My gut is screaming to get out.

“Lorelei Bal,” the mage says, his tone gruff but not unkind. “Interesting that we meet again.”

I stiffen. It can’t be. The only time I’ve met a mage before…

“I oversaw your awakening,” he continues, and my jaw drops. “You didn’t show as an aether then. But then, from memory, neither were you a demon-vampire cross.”

He peers closer.

“I…uh…”

“Spit it out, girl. We have testing to do,” the priest in white snaps.

“My magic was suppressed. Overprotective parent figure.” It’s kinda true .

The mage frowns. Please don’t let him remember I was an orphan. He sticks his tongue into his cheek, his back to the others, before grunting. “Makes sense. Right, let’s begin.”

Shit. Already? I tug cautiously on the slave bond. Almost instantly the dark, oppressive presence inside my head grows, expands. My vision blurs, tiny lights dancing in front of my eyes, and my power rushes from me, commandeered by the boys.

“Are you quite well, Miss Bal?” the angel in gray asks, his tone bored.

“I’m fine, just…on my period.” He flinches like I said something dirty. “How long until His Majesty arrives?”

The priest snorts. “Oh no, girl. His Majesty won’t personally be here for the preliminary tests. You start now.” He clicks his fingers and a small hada scurries forward, clapping bands of a dark crystal on both my wrists. “To prevent you using other elements, and to measure your aether,” he offers by way of explanation.

The bands sit cool against my sweaty skin, and I’m aware of a nasty, gnawing emptiness inside me. Without my other elements, and the boys pulling my aether, I’m seriously weak, stumbling as I follow the impatient angels behind a dark shroud of a curtain and into an antechamber.

Technology is everywhere. Giant screens dominate one wall, and cameras track my every move. In the center of the room, a pedestal holds a small electronic device—waiting. I’m ordered to complete the test in thirty minutes.

Silently, I cross the room, the priests’ eyes drilling into my back. The moment my foot brushes the plinth, a klaxon blares and a luminous purple timer flares to life, floating in the air, counting down the seconds I have left.

I press the screen frantically, fingers too slick with sweat to activate it. Eventually, it springs to life. My finger tingles, pins and needles run up my arm, and my ears buzz.

Aether Testing: Lorelei Bal

Press to continu e

I jab the screen

Part one of three

Create a whirlpool of aether

Simple. Wait. How sensitive are these bracelets? How exactly will they know if I’m only pulling a portion of my magic?

Cautiously, I tug, easing my aether forward. Nothing. Pushing the panic down, I feel for it again. It’s there…barely. A mere trickle of magic where normally a dark pool sits in my chest. My head aches with the effort. It’s okay. I can do this. This is what’s supposed to happen. I just didn’t know it would hurt.

I grunt, forcing my remaining aether out of my palm, up into the air. It protests, wanting to cling to me, like the magic senses how depleted I am. Eventually I persuade it into a rough whirlpool.

“And she thought she’d meet the king,” someone mutters from the computer screens. The machines beep in the background, little red power bars flickering on the monitors. Is that me? My aether in digital form? Neat.

Suddenly, down the bond, something snaps; a whip-crack that reverberates around my skull. What the hell was that? Like a homing missile, my aether slams back to me. I pant, absorbing it, measuring it. Not all. It’s not all back. Not everything. Thank Hecate. The boys haven’t lost control, not completely. The aether whirlpool between my fingers becomes more and more dense, shimmering, spinning faster and faster, eager to escape. The priests’ machines beep wildly, the power bars fluxing toward the top of the screen. Shit.

Just as quickly, my aether sputters and wanes, pulled back down the bond. The light in my hands peters out.

“Interesting.”

I am going to kill those idiots .

I wait a few long moments, but not one of the priests speaks. Shuffling on the spot, I run my fingers over the hilt of Naeve’s dagger. Hell, the test. Keep going, Lorelei.

I tap the screen and it lights up.

Part two of three

Create a shield

Tentatively I search out my magic. It purrs at me. Where the fuck are the boys now? Think. Think quickly. I stare at my hands, feigning confusion.

“Is there a problem, Miss Bal?”

“I’m not sure I know how.” I add a plaintive whine for effect. “I always had my other elements to use before.”

“We can add incentive.” My neck prickles. The angel sounds delighted. Without further warning, a bolt of lightning shoots from his hands, scorching the ground inches from my feet. The heat radiates up into my face. Holy shit. I dance on the spot. Another bolt screams past my ear, and the scent of burning hair hits me. Asshole. Patting my head frantically, I reach inside.

“We are allowed to use appropriate force, Miss Bal. Sometimes it is the only way to be sure.” It’s the mage who speaks this time, and my gaze flicks up just in time to see all three casting in my direction.

“There are often casualties.”

I can’t wait any longer, I reach inside, pulling on my aether, flinging it up in front of me. The bolt hits my shield directly in front of my chest. Holy Hecate, they aren’t pulling punches. Explosions rain down from all sides, each stronger than the last, stupidly loud inside the confines of my shielding sphere. I brace, willing my barrier to thin a little. My aether rebels, bunching in front of me, protecting me. It fights the boys as they pull at my magic. My gaze flicks to the screens. The power bars are dangerously close to the top of the range again. That can’t be good.

Slowly, the attack eases off. I release my aether, cracking my neck and sighing. Emptiness gnaws at my core. It’s like being hungry and having heartburn all in one. Except…the hollowness is far deeper, more painful. Hand shaking, I reach toward the pad. One more test. That’s all.

I’ve got this.