Page 179 of Dissection of Immortal Hearts

Viktor examined the barrier. “It works like electricity, right? But it’s magic.”

“Which is infinitely worse, in case you hadn’t realised, my friend,” Presiyan growled.

“Not for me. Magic doesn’t affect me.”

“What do you mean, it doesn’t affect you?” Mikhail’s words were followed by another, more violent tremor beneath their feet.

The lycanthrope pointed to the trembling façade. “You’ve seen the tattoo on my back, the one that hides the valknut? I think that’s why magic doesn’t work on me.”

Mikhail remembered it well – a tattoo a man had inscribed on Viktor centuries ago to cover the scar from his abduction.

“The underground cavern in Alberobello,” Viktor explained. “I was able to transform because the paralysing magic of that witch didn’t affect me. And when we went to the witch’s house in Byala Voda? The three of us – Mikhail, Amelia, and I – touched the note that acted as a portal to another realm, but I stayed in place because, clearly, the magic didn’t work on me!”

“You might have a point…” Constantine’s gaze shifted to Mikhail. “The tattoo must act like a rune – a sigil of protection.”

“Even if he’s right, what’s he going to do once he gets over there?” Mikhail frowned. “The place is crawling with harpies andreptilians.”

“Chosen,” Kathrine corrected.

“Call them whatever you like. Before he gets to the stone, they’ll kill him. The moment he crosses that barrier, he’ll be a target.”

“Not if I’m fast enough.” A dangerous glint appeared in Viktor’s eyes. “I’m wearing a bulletproof vest. It’ll protect me. I’ll shoot at the stone, and if things get too heated, I’ll transform. Either way, you’ll be able to enter the second the barrier drops.”

Mikhail bared his teeth. Viktor was already struggling after his last transformation. What would happen if he underwent another? What if he lost himself entirely this time?

No. It was too great a risk.

***

Amelia

Amelia craned her neck, scanning the shuddering mass of the structure above her. Screams and cries erupted from the building. The Chosen barricaded the exits, preventing anyone from escaping. Harpies intercepted those who attempted to flee through the windows.

“Wrath!” Amelia cried, her voice rising above the roar, the shrieks, and the wind. “Greed! Lust! Gluttony! Envy! Sloth! Pride! I summon you and command you to stand by my side!” She held her breath once more, waiting for a response.

The Queen half-turned towards her, eyebrows raised, the Sacreds on her body gleaming like living gemstones. “Are you trying to activate the Sacreds, you little fool?” Her tone lingered between surprise and amusement. “I must disappoint you – those are not their names.”

Amelia’s heart plummeted to her feet. She had been wrong. The Sacreds didn’t respond.

Her thoughts clashed in her mind, scrambling to piece together what she’d missed. Why had Renenutet shared that story with her, then?

The Queen shifted her attention, dismissing Amelia like a weed in a garden – something to be dealt with later. A fresh burst of light radiated from the Sacreds, their beams once again targeting the Hospital. The glowing tendrils traced the façade before sinking into the earth below.

A sudden, stronger tremor shook the mountain. Desperately, Amelia looked at the only other creature nearby, but Sevar’s expression was unreadable – neither arrogant nor concerned. Unsurprisingly, he had no intention to interfere in this madness.

“Stop it! You’ll bring the building down! If it collapses on us, we’ll all die!” she shouted at the Queen.

“I want my powers back, and I will have them – no matter the cost!”

“Why do you have to kill innocent creatures? They’ve done nothing to you!”

“Nothing?!” the Queen snapped, spinning to face her. The tremors beneath the building ceased. “And what of the fact that they built the Hospital over the place where Gord buried my powers, leeching my energy for years? Is that nothing to you?”

Amelia’s breath hitched. The Queen’s powers were buried beneath the Hospital?

‘His Hospital is less significant to me than a pebble on the road.’The Queen’s words were clear as day in her mind – her exact statement from when she’d held Amelia captive in Antambazi.

That’s whyshe had to connect the Sacreds here. And that was why she had attacked the Hospital – and Mikhail – for so long, as if waging a personal vendetta. It had never been about waiting for Amelia, as she’d claimed. Nor about treating patientsin some future war. “The creatures inside the building know nothing of your powers! At least spare them!” Amelia pleaded.