Page 149 of The Star's Sword

Icame to on Simon’s back, which was moving up and down due to his flying.

My entire body felt weaker than it ever had, like it had been shattered to pieces and then put back together, but not very well.

I made an attempt to sit up, then fell back down, thumping against his back, which was oddly warm.

“You just fell,” Simon said. “I saw you drop and caught you just in time.”

“Samael,” I gasped, my eyes filled with dark spots because my vision was still burned from the explosion of my inner star.

I’d burned away the darkness. But had I burned away my love?

“I didn’t see him fall with you,” Simon said, looking upward. “Should we go see?”

I let out a scream and held my head. “Why did it have to be like this?”

“It isn’t hopeless,” Ara said, and I saw for the first time she was flying next to me. “He was only half ninth realm, wasn’t he?”

I nodded, tears still streaming. I felt traumatized by the whole thing. By the killing. By not knowing.

Even now I didn’t know if I could stand not knowing. But I also didn’t want to fly up there and see what I’d done.

What I’d potentially done to the love of my life.

My heart ached with a void of pure pain, and even now I wanted to go back. I wanted to take it all back.

If it hurt him…

“I will go see,” Simon said, as Griffin flew over for me to sit on his back instead. “Cayne?”

Cayne flew up alongside him. Like me, his face was pale, and I could see the potential heartbreak in his eyes. He was covered in blood from battle.

I looked around us. On the platform of the eighth realm, most of my friends and what was left of the vampires were waiting.

“Cayne took care of the other angels,” Mark said. “I don’t think anyone will be bothering us.” His eyes were somber. “If you want to go look.”

“I can’t,” I said. “I have to, but I can’t.”

“We’ll go, Cleo,” Cayne said.

“I have more unicorn serum,” Zadis said.

“Don’t worry, Cleo,” Simon said. “No matter what it isn’t over yet.” He smirked. “I promise.”

“Go,” I said. “Please.”

I couldn’t even finish before Simon was off like a flash, flying up into the clouds with Zadis and Mark.

Cayne flapped his wings next to me, his body limp, arms at his side as we shared a distraught look.

He gave me a nod, as if to say he didn’t blame me for what I’d done.

But how could he not? Even if he wanted to see a new world, what would it be like without Samael?

I wanted to fly up there and see him. Maybe he needed my morning sword, which was still next to me.

“I can’t do this,” I said. “Griffin, take me up. I have to see him.” I looked to Cayne. “What did you all see from down here?”

“An explosion,” Cayne said. “Louder and bigger than anything I’ve ever heard. It was hidden by the clouds at first but it spread all across the sky. I’d guess they saw it all over the planet. The rise of the Morningstar.”

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