Page 53 of Ringmaster (The Kingdom of Shadow & Bone #1)

Mercy

The menacing gates slam closed behind us—with a whir and three clicks, they lock us inside.

“Marblas,” I whisper. “Is that supposed to happen?”

“It’s never happened before,” he concedes. “It’s probably best to stay alert.”

And always best to speak here, where our conversation can’t be eavesdropped on. He chuffs, projecting the message.

I nod my head in understanding. It makes sense why we might not want to attract the wrong kind of attention.

We move slowly, following the curving path until we come to a fork in it.

One direction leads on to the castle, where guards wait to apprehend intruders and defend their king.

The other appears unmaintained and abandoned.

Marbles veers left, stepping over decaying bone, swirling shadows, and barren dirt.

The least traveled road is sometimes the safest. Besides, our destination is not inside the castle. Not yet. Not this time. His voice brushes softly against my mind, careful not to say too much.

Where are we going if not to the castle?

You’ll see soon enough when we arrive.

I settle into him, marveling at the sights around me as he strolls along, carefully picking each step.

The brutal path slowly gives way to strange-looking plants, dying and decrepit as if trapped in their final stage of existence.

Spider webs cover the ghastly shrubs, and wilting blooms cling stubbornly to life.

They, too, have long since served their purpose.

The remnants of webs ripple against the shadows, breaking off to dance amongst them as an unfelt breeze blows continuously, animating the decay.

The path curves on, and we walk in silence. The barren dirt turns to black paved stone, laid in a pattern with glowing runes illuminating the way. Small trees with crumbling bark, broken branches, and a few blowing leaves appear sprinkled throughout what once may have been a whimsical garden.

It’s beautiful. Or it must have been at some point.

It was, Marbles replies, revealing nothing more.

The path widens, spilling into a pentagram-shaped courtyard. Shades of gray and black stone, covered in carved runes, stretch before us.

I gasp.

Marblas stops in the center of the castle courtyard.

I look around, squinting in each direction. To one side, black stone covers the outside of the looming castle, sweeping upwards as far as I can see before the walls become cloaked in shadows. A second entrance reveals itself a small stretch away,heavily guarded by winged creatures.

I gasp again.

Stop it, Marbles scolds. Don’t embarrass me.

Who are we meeting? I ask, projecting my words into his mind.

They’ll arrive soon. I can sense them. Be quiet, and watch for a disturbance.

I scan the abandoned garden of ruins. Lanterns scattered throughout illuminate a rotting hedge maze.

More lights flicker, casting shadows in the distance.

Around the perimeter, terrifying winged warriors suddenly appear, staring at us like the unwelcome guests we are.

They have us surrounded. I run my fingers over my corset, feeling for the blades Azrael gifted me.

They hum against my touch, filled with the magic of his love for me.

I don’t belong here; this isn’t the afterlife.

I thought I was dying—sacrificing myself.

Now all I want is to fall back into his arms. This new journey has only just begun, and already I miss him fiercely.

The universe cracks as a rift forms in midair. Three black swirling shadows explode from it, approaching from the left. The warriors part, allowing them to enter.

In that direction, a bench marks the edge of the courtyard. It’s intricately carved entirely of bone, glowing stark white against the darkness–empty and foreboding.

The three Fates stand ahead, ready to receive us.

My stomach twists in knots. I’ve come to associate their presence with bad omens.

They hover in silence, the weight of their magic filling the entirety of the garden until it’s suffocating.

Ancient, powerful magic makes my blood run cold and my hands tremble where they’re wrapped around Marblas’ bones, hidden by shadows.

I give him a squeeze, then dismount, sliding to my feet effortlessly.

My boots hit the ground with a thud that echoes off the walls.

“Thank you, Marblas,” the Fates grumble in unison. “You may take your leave.”

He nuzzles against my shoulder. Be brave and strong. I’ll see you at home.

At home. It sends a tingle of magic through me. He’s right; that’s my home—but I know I’m not going back. I made my choice. I died to save Azrael from the same end. I stroke my fingers through Marblas’ shadow-soft mane and watch as he disappears.

“What about me?” I ask the Fates. “Am I dead yet?”

The eerie figures exchange glances. At last, one steps forward.

“You must first pass a series of tests before your destiny is decided. Succeed and return renewed.”

“What kind of test?” I ask, my voice trembling.

“You may not ask questions—not without a sacrifice,” the Past snarls.

I shrink away from them, realizing for the first time ever I’m truly alone, with no one to rescue me.

“First test. Answer the question: if you could go back alone, would you? Know this: you’ll be reborn to live another lifetime.

Your next life will be full of happiness, where you’ll know what it is to be loved and will love another in return, the same way you love Azrael.

But you’ll never see him again, and will have no memory of him or this life. ”

My jaw drops open in shock. Would I trade my love for Azrael and our story for a second chance? My heart aches. I know what Azrael would want me to say—which option he’d tell me to choose. But I can’t bring myself to do it.

“No,” I whisper.

The Past bows her head. “You’ve proven you’re worthy to be his mate for all eternity. You would sacrifice your comfort and happiness for him. An act of love, and love alone. Let the next trial begin.”

A crack sounds overhead, and soon smoke fills the courtyard. The aroma of a burning fire fills my nostrils. A quick look around reveals I’m no longer in the dead garden, but instead under the big top, and everything is burning.

Azrael is nowhere to be seen, and neither is Marblas.

I don’t have time to assess anything. I can only react.

Overhead, a beam creaks and groans as the fire crackles and pops.

I bolt for the nearest opening without looking back, dodging equipment and weaving through the crowd until I burst free into the emptiness of the night.

The world spins as the breeze blows billowing around me, sweeping it into itself—and then the Present appears.

“You must be strong enough to save yourself. Azrael needs a mate, a match made to complement him. Where he is hard, you are soft. Where he is dark, you are the light. You will rule beside him, just and fair. When he calls, you will answer. When you rise, so will he. Together you will conquer all,” she howls.

I shiver. “Did I pass this test?”

“Silence. You may not ask questions, “ she shouts. “Answer my question: will you lose more of yourself?”

“Yes,” I respond immediately. “I’m willing to give up anything to return to Azrael, even if it means giving up more of who I am.”

The Present flickers into nothing as the dreamscape crumbles, revealing another. I think this means I passed. I take a deep breath and wait for the Future to appear.

When the lights flicker, illuminating the new dreamscape, the Future stands next to a bone-carved pedestal etched with pulsating runes that vine over it.

“The Past has tested your heart, the Present your strength. The Future will demand your sacrifice. Take your place in front of the sacred pedestal. You will make your final choice,” her voice ritualistic and emotionless.

I approach the carved bone in the center of the room where we stand. The Future reaches into a satchel with wispy fingers and takes a handful of something, walking around me to sprinkle a salt circle, trapping me where I stand.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“You must not ask questions, Mercy. You only have enough blood to satisfy one sacrifice. Do not waste it on me.”

I clamp my mouth shut as a sinking feeling fills my chest once more. As soon as she closes the circle, black flames erupt from the salt. Panic rushes through me.

“To walk beside him is to walk into war. Into unmaking. Into destiny,” the Future says. “If you wish to stay, you must swear your vow. And you must bleed every word.”

The air thickens as magic thrums. My body trembles, but I refuse to be afraid.

“Place your hands, palm up, on the pedestal,” The Fate commands.

I obey. Shadows climb up the glowing runes, wrapping around my hands and arms, binding them in place. Once secured, she steps through the fire, holding a gleaming black-metal blade. In an instant, she slices across both wrists.

Blood pours down the pedestal, and the shadows converge, devouring it, growing thicker and fuller as more flows. Pain sears through me, cutting into my soul, echoing through this strange body.

“Speak the vow,” the Future instructs.

I don’t know the vows, but then suddenly they’re there, as if I’ve known them all along. I wet my dry lips and whisper through my mind:

“I vow to walk beside him. Through the end of the world, through ruin, through hellfire. Not to change him, but to be changed. I vow to shield him. To guard his soul. Even if mine shatters.” With each word, the ruins glow brighter, breaking free of the shadows that ensnare them.

My body shakes as blood trickles from my mouth and nose. Is this the end? Have I failed? The shadows holding me in place vanish, and the flames surrounding me grow taller.

“Walk through the flames, Mercy. Burn for him. The world doesn’t deserve mercy.” The Future instructs, her voice far away, fading as darkness presses the edge of my vision.

I wobble, knees shaking, and step into the flames.

Instead of burning agony and pain, the fire is soft, welcoming. It laps over me, filling me with immeasurable strength, flame, and a trickle of golden magic I don’t understand.

“A gift,” the Future whispers, still far away.

The flames lick over me, and I welcome them until my body grows numb and darkness takes me.

A rumbling voice booms all around me: “You love him. But love is not enough. You may have him, but not as you are. Only as fate has yet to make of you. Will you surrender so that fate may reshape you into what he needs, not what you wish to be?”

“Yes,” I rasp.

“In order to fall, to truly be his and complete the blood ceremony, you must commit a sin. You must take a life to sacrifice in place of your own. Any life of your choosing. You have one day to complete the task. If you truly wish to become the embodiment of his mate and receive your gifts, you must act swiftly.”

I open my mouth to speak, but find I cannot. Whoever—or whatever—owns this voice silences me.

“Return to the waking world.” it booms. “Fulfill your destiny.”