Page 20 of Heiress of Fire

The Aurisan in purple brushed past Valerie. Davina was about to apologize for bumping into her when she noticed Valerie’s gaze fixated on the shore of Basalt.

By their feet, lay a black drawing over the crevices of the sand. The torches surrounding the Bridge of Basalt slightly lit the dark spot beneath them.

“Do you see it, too?” Valerie asked.

“I do,” Davina replied. Valerie raised her hand, and bright yellow light emanated from her palm over the painting.

The illustration matched the same hue as the ink that spilled from the fallen Predators’ mouths. The rumble of their marching formation rang in her ears. Davina shuddered as flashes of the moment rushed back to her, observing the black splotches below her feet. Valerie shivered. The same flashback must’ve rushed to her mind as well.

Mighty wings marked the crevices in the yellow sand. The figure of a bird with a sharp beak and feathers was formed under Valerie’s illuminated palms.

Valerie turned to Davina with alarm. “What do you think this means?”

“It’s a raven bird,” Davina said.

“Do you think the formation the Predators made was on purpose? To leave us this message?” Valerie asked.

“That might be,” Davina agreed.

Valerie stood. “We need to inform the others.”

They both nodded and marched off Basalt Island into Castellum’s shore.

She tuned into Valerie’s footsteps beside her. It felt as if the moment those Bellatormans died had been just a few minutes ago. Beacon, Snow, and Val became Apprentices when they were thirteen, only for them to become Soldiers six months after their Ceremony. But despite the ten years that they had been Soldiers, Davina noticed the deep solemness in their expressions because of today’s loss.

Her ability to conjure light was given perfectly to her. Valerie’s gift was true to her essence— she brought light wherever she went. Her smile was filled with joy and happiness.

There was a dimness in Valerie’s usual light, and she hated it. She didn’t know whether to fear for Valerie’s well-being. She was already feeling terrible. How was she going to be of much help to Val? She remained silent, hoping that her mere presence was comforting enough for her friend.

Both girls rushed their way into Castellum, almost flying past the set of stairs. Valerie and Davina pushed the glass doors of Castellum wide open. Long corridors stretched on the first ground. Davina glimpsed Caleb and Leilani taking a left turn.

“They’re going this way,” Davina said with Valerie in her trail.

As they turned to the left, they met a hallway much longer than the one before.

“I think they’re going to the Grand Archives, look.” Valerie pointed.

The group ahead of them entered the most elite two-section doorway of all Castellum.

“That’s weird. Let’s go see,” Davina noted before they paced to the room. Pulling them open, they saw the Soldiers sitting down by a coffee-hued, polished, round table.

Her eyes darted toward the lines of bookshelves that surrounded the entire room. There were four floors in total, with stairs that circled and allowed entrance to each level. The stairs were so tall that if someone reached the highest level, they would be able to touch the chandelier that hung from the ceiling.

Davina analyzed the stained-glass windows, slick and clear. She was standing inside of the Grand Archives where the most important meetings were held by the Chief Leaders. No Leaders, Soldiers, or Apprentices were allowed inside unless permitted by a Chief Leader or the Master. The Grand Archives were a mystery to many, as anyone who walked inside had to swear secrecy and discretion. Many speculations surrounded the magnificent Grand Archives.

Rumor had been that the Grand Archives had a secret passageway to an underground library, accessible only to the four Chief Leaders who had the keys to open it.

Amir and Isaiah remained standing. The others turned to Valerie and Davina.

“Is everything okay?” Isaiah asked.

Davina nodded toward Val, taking a seat in one of the remaining chairs around the shiny table. Eyes turned to Valerie as she explained. Davina watched as Beacon reached for his girlfriend’s hand from under the table.

She wished Ron was present to reassure her the same way Beacon was with Valerie. Caleb and Leilani turned to each other as Snow remained still.

Davina had joined the group five months ago, but the others grew up together, training inside the castle since they were little. Instead of rattles, they were raised with daggers; instead of baby clothes, they wore leathers; and instead of strollers, they had training mats. Their joy was ripped from them the moment those Bellatormans stopped breathing.

“I think that whoever is terrorizing the islands is trying to give us a message,” Davina voiced. “This person, whoever they are, everything they do is with purpose. So, if they left an image of this bird, then it must be for a reason.”

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