Page 121 of Possession

Who knows if he’s alive? Who knows if it even matters?

A few members of the Following look up as I pass, recognizable by their dark clothing and masks. Apparently, they weren’t only for the party. One stands to do… something, and I brace myself for whatever might come next, but it’s not necessary.

Let her leave.

Aris’ voice burrows in my head, and I slam against the wall, covering my ears as the words echo like a hammer striking metal, vibrating and bouncing in my skull. The cult members beside me are affected in the same way, grunting in obvious pain. I hurry past before they recover, still protecting my ears.

I’ve lived at the Institute for a while now, but I only know of one plausible exit: the golden doors. I rush towards them, thinking through things one step at a time. Get to the portal. I repeat the words over and over.

As for what happens next, I don’t know. That doesn’t matter.

When I finally make it to the room, I meet yet another familiar face. Silver eyes twinkling, the man watches me with the same amusement from when he watched me bleed on the altar.

“Hello, Mary,” Silva says and begins to smile, like he knows where my thoughts have turned.

“Stuff it.” I look between him and the portal, evaluating. The large, golden doors are shut, and he’s standing right beside them. Though he looks old, I’m not sure what he’s capable of. I try to make my voice as firm as possible as I say, “And get out of my way.”

He raises his hands, sleeves dipping to show more of the tattoos on his hands. I still can’t make out the pattern. “I’m not here to fight,” he tells me. “Did you not hear Aris’ order? I'm here to help you.”

“Like I’d trust you.”

“I would not risk my master’s wrath. Not again.”

I glance behind me, tensing as other members of the Following fill the room, also masked. Silva has his own pushed up, while the members boxing us in are anonymous.

“Why do you serve him?” I ask quietly. “He murdered half of his own worshippers in a fit of rage. Your people.”

“We are His people. We are honored to exist alongside him.”

I laugh, which he watches patiently. He then replies, “You saw yourself the blessing he bestowed upon our member.”

“Ryan is a monster, and Aris will kill all of you!”

My words don’t affect him the way that I hoped they would. I want to make him angry; I want him to understand, but he just shakes his head like I’m a silly gnat, and don’t I know how foolish it is flying into a spider’s web?

“I don’t want to condescend to you; the Dark Lord wouldn’t like it,” says Silva. “But you are young, and there is much you don’t understand.”

“I understand that Jaegen gave you immortality. Why aren’t you loyal to him instead?”

Silva stiffens, then shakes his head. “Ignorance clouds your reasoning,” he tells me. “Aris is Chaos, which is the beginning and end. Think of the Big Bang and our existence as humans. It’s happenstance. You, yourself, had your life upended by chance—a cruel strike of fate. That’s what Aris is; that’s his power. Jaegen cannot compare. We must worship Aris.”

“Must?” I say and laugh again.

His gaze is not angry, but almost; it’s taking something out of him talking to me this way, like an equal. “You will learn,” he just says, then nods at the portal. “Where do you want to go?”

“I’ll find my own way.”

“Without alteration, this doorway will take you to a store frozen in time,” he says, and I falter for a moment. How does he know that? Who told him that information?

He just perks a brow. “I can’t imagine you’d enjoy staying somewhere like that.”

I recover from my shock with a scoff, crossing my arms over my chest. “Well, I don’t trust you to alter the portal.”

“I thought you might say that.”

The cult members by the door part for Ryan, and I gasp at who he carries: the Grand Mage. Without his magic rings or red robe and ceremonial hat, he looks like someone’s grandfather. Just an old man.

The sight brings tears to my eyes. It’s such a contrast to the proud man whose fellow mages bowed and deferred to. A dim part of myself is aware, and briefly even considers, saying something cruel. He allowed me to suffer and waste away, and I have the chance to kick him while he’s down. But what would be the point?

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