Page 85 of Hallowed Games

He cursed under his breath in the rolling Rs of Lirion, and he pulled the door back open. He crossed inside, and my nerves sparked with anticipation.

With shaking hands, I slammed the door shut. I brought down the iron bar, trapping him inside.

“Elowen!” His voice pierced the wood, and my chest went tight. Guilt twisted through me.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

I’d either be around to let him out after I killed the Pater, or the Luminari would. In a fight between him and mortals, all my money was on the vampire. Maelor’s growl echoed through the iron and wood, but he couldn’t risk being too loud—not with half the castle looking for him.

“I’m sorry,” I said a little louder. My eyes stung.

This was what the Order did. It turned you against those you loved. Because none of us could fully trust each other with the truth, could we? The Order was the hollowness that lived in our chests.

I whirled away and hurried through the darkened hall.

With a racing pulse, I pulled open one hatch after another until I found the person I was looking for. Percival sat on his bed, his head in his hands.

Trembling, I unlocked his door with the stolen key. I pulled up the iron bar and pushed open the wood into his room.

Percival’s face lifted to mine, and shock lit up his countenance. “How in the Archon’s name…”

I lifted my hand, gripping the keys I’d stolen. “I don’t have time to explain. Your job is to let the others out. Keep them hidden in the tunnels, and I will try to find you. The Pater means to execute us tomorrow, and I’m not letting it happen.” I tossed the keys to him and turned to run.

Just one story down, I ran into the first Luminari.

CHAPTER 38

In death’s dark shadow, I stalked closer to the soldiers.

They faced the other way, hands on their pommels, bodies alert. I crept up behind them, silent as the night sky.

Ring their funeral bells. I will inscribe their epitaphs with my touch…

They must have felt my breath because one of them whipped around, trying to draw his sword. But it was too late for him. My hand had already brushed against the back of his neck.

I am death.

Just as the deep purple started to creep under his skin, I pivoted. The other Luminarus’s eyes had opened wide. I brought my hand across his face in a sharp slap. I am darkness, death. I am things which are not.

Rot began to spread under his skin. The elegant lines of decay…

The Serpent was hungry tonight, and I would be feeding him.

And yet, I had to stay sane. I reached down, pulling one of the scabbards off the bodies. Better to use a sword than my curse.

I tightened the leather scabbard around my waist, under my cloak. Quickly, I reached for their daggers. I tucked those tightly into the pocket of my cloak next to the stake.

Fully armed, I ran through the hallway, keeping my footfalls light. I turned into a narrow stairwell and charged down.

At the bottom of the stairs, I slowed, moving silently. From the shadows, I peered around the corner. Two Luminari stood on the landing. Just beyond them was the door to the courtyard.

Drawing the sword, I rushed forward. As they turned, I aimed for the throat. I severed the first man’s head from his body. Lightning-fast, I pivoted to parry the second man’s blade swinging for me. My sword clashed with his once, twice. I had to end this quickly before he alerted anyone else.

I struck hard, and when his sword clattered to the floor, my blade found its mark in his throat. Blood spilled over the stone, and I pushed through the door. In the shadows of the courtyard, my gaze flicked over the stakes. They jutted from gnarled tangles of kindling like dead, inverted trees.

I crept through the shadows and stalked into the old hedge maze. Here, under the shadows of yews and hedges, no one would see me. I breathed in the scent of violets and bluebells that grew wild all over the courtyard. Such a pretty, perfumed breeze on a gruesome night like this…

If I let the Pater’s plan unfold, the only thing people would breathe in tomorrow would be the scent of burning flesh.

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