Page 114 of Children of Anguish and Anarchy

I see the first time I ever saw her face, all those moons ago in Lagos’s marketplace. I feel the pain of every battle we’ve fought. Every time I’ve held her hand in mine.

I don’t know what it means to fight without her at my side.

Mae’e moves to me. She places her hand over the medallion in Zélie’s chest. Mae’e’s forehead creases, and she looks up at the shaking mountain.

“Where is your brother?” the hierophant asks.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE

INAN

STANDING AT THE BASEof Mount Gaia, I feel the world closing in. Everything I fought to stop unleashes under the Blood Moon. The woven city unravels before my very eyes.

The New Gaians continue to clamor underground. Cries ring out as people fight to clear the canals. Villagers leap from plot to plot. The few vineweavers inside the city walls race to usher the youngest to the front.

Outside the city’s mountains, the rampage of the Skulls builds. Their collective boots thunder. The sound of clashing iron fills the air. Fire rages through the forest outside the city’s center, blazing as the enemy draws near.

I think of Tzain and the vineweavers approaching Orïsha’s front. Of Mae’e and Zélie down below.

If she doesn’t wake…

My mind brings me back to the cage I found Zélie in. The night we shared on the island. I promised to keep her safe.

I promised she would see her homeland again.

Baldyr’s onslaught rages, yet I don’t know where to fight. I don’t know where to go. The weight of my failures threatens to drag me down to the ground—

BOOM!

I whip around. A string of explosions rings beyond New Gaia’s mountain entrance. Another explosion rings, and the roaring waterfall comes to a stop. Plumes of fire shoot into the night.

With one final blast, the mountain crumbles before my eyes. Even from a distance, the heat burns my face. Blazing boulders crash into the canals.

Then hundreds of Skulls charge through the black smoke.

No…

Shouts of battle rage as the Skulls descend. They ride longships sculpted from their bloodmetal, using them to sail through the floating civilization.

Red torches set flames to floating plots of vines. Glowing hammers smash through the ornate temples and square huts. Skulls pull the grenades at their belts, setting bombs off throughout the city. Mushroom clouds erupt as a pair of Skulls blast through the red bricks of a schoolhouse.

Horror chokes me as the city of New Gaia burns. The Skulls take over the canals. A collection of boats moves past the town center, heading toward Mount Gaia.

My hands tingle as I ignite my magic. I don’t know how many Skulls I can take at once. But I won’t let them get to the others.

Even if it costs me my life.

A sudden pulse ripples beneath my feet. I’m brought to my knees as the entire mountain quakes. A powerfulcrack!echoes through the red night. My lips part as I look up to the carving of Mama Gaia. The emeralds light in the sculpture’s eyes.

Be okay.My heart thrashes in my chest as I run to the stairwell. Steam rises out of the entrance. New heat sears through the obsidian.

Mae’e and Amari struggle up the black steps, the shaking mountain fighting them as they rise. Each holds one of Zélie’s arms around their necks. Zélie’s body hangs limp between them.

I move forward, taking Zélie’s body into my arms. Every wound has been healed, but she’s still cold to the touch.

“Her spirit isn’t gone.” Mae’e grabs Zélie’s hands. “I felt her when I awoke. A piece of her still lies with Mama Gaia. She’s been connected to our Mother Root since Yéva and I brought her back.”

“Your vision?” I ask.

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