Page 62 of The Fate of Eternity

“Boys, if you don’t mind, hands on the globes,” he murmurs, placing the familiar sphere-topped stands in front of them. He comes to me last as I try to ignore the quietpleaseand whimpers from Flora, but when she only gets louder, I can’t take it anymore.

“I’ll do this without a fight and make your life a hell of a lot easier, but just let me speak with her and calm her down first,” I insist, looking at Orenda and no one else. He might be just as mad as the rest of them, but he’s the most likely to have a hint of compassion in the room.

He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose, considering me as Holloway scoffs. “No. Don’t be fooled by her bullshit. She’s up to something.”

“I’m trying to calm her down. I’m not asking for you to remove my restraints; just let me console her. How are you going to focus on your chants if she’s making so much noise,” I hiss back, hoping Flora doesn’t take offense because that’s really not my intention, but I’m trying my best here.

“Fine. Quickly,” Orenda mumbles, waving his hand at me.

I move before he can change his mind, stepping around Raiden and Brody to find her still on her knees. I drop down in front of her, lifting my joined wrists in the air before pulling her in the best I can, given the circumstances.

“Please, Addi. Don’t do this,” she pleads, and I take a deep breath.

My eyes settle on Arlo over her shoulder as I all but breathe into her ear. The words on my tongue are so quiet I’m certain she won’t hear them, but when I stand again, I see the fight in her eyes. The pleading is long gone.

“It’s okay, Flora,” I state, and she nods, keeping a straight face as I make my way around to the remaining stand.

“Addi,” Brody murmurs, pulling my gaze to his, but I don’t respond. I offer him the smallest smile I can muster as nausea roils in my stomach. All I want to do is crawl into myself, curl up into a ball, and forget the world exists, but I don’t have a choice in the matter.

“Do it,” I order, placing my hands on the stand before me. It’s more to keep me stable than anything, but Holloway was right: the quicker they get on with it, the quicker I can face the next onslaught from them.

Orenda stands center to the five of us, palms facing up as he starts to chant softly. It almost sounds like a lullaby, but in reality, it’s far from it. My grip tightens on the sphere under my palm, not by choice but by magic, followed swiftly by a sharp sting as if the damn thing is cutting into my flesh.

Magic bolts through my body, claiming me in every sense of the word as a scream parts my lips and everything turns white.

30

ADRIANNA

White light explodes in my vision, and I’m lost, feeling like I’m free-falling into an abyss. Only, there’s no fear or panic etched into my every breath. Instead, it’s almost comforting.

There’s a familiarity to it. One that envelops me in a warm embrace, and although I feel like I’m spiraling, it feels guided.

Safe.

Until I blink, and the white light is gone.

It’s not the room at The Council that comes into view, though.

It’s worse.

Much, much worse.

The weight of the drugs has lifted, the worry over Flora and Arlo has evaporated, and even though my Kryptos do not surround me, I still feel at ease. A sense of contentment tries to wind its way through my bones, but the sight that greets me makes it impossible.

My boots settle on the grass beneath me, the moon glistening like a beacon overhead, but the chaos in the distance holds my attention. I’m carried toward it, whether I like it or not. My feetghost over the ground as the noise gets louder, and the pain I once felt grapples to capture me once again.

The castle looms in the distance, the cries of my sister hang in the air, and my nightmares of that night hold me captive like they always do. Only, it’s not quite the same as usual because I’m still me, conscious and aware of everything that has happened since the night this all took place, but there’s a smaller version of me standing a few feet away.

It can’t be a nightmare, but what else could it be? A vision?

I shake my head, willing the scene to change in front of me, but it doesn’t. As always, a younger version of Kenner sneers down at my smaller self, filled with rage and destined to change my life forever. Along with Nora’s.

Nora.

My gaze shifts to where she stands, my heart racing in my chest as I gasp. I need to move, and I need to do it now before he can act. I will my feet to move, but nothing happens. I try to scream, try to get his attention and bring his focus to me, but it’s futile. Whatever this is, wherever I am, I have no control over any of it.

Not even myself.

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