Page 55 of Tear of Destiny

“And now I can’t go back to the Odyss. I was on the verge of finding the mystery behind the door. I know I came so close to summoning that door. And now I can’t go back and try again.”

We enter the cafeteria and order something to eat, although I don’t really have much of an appetite. We find a free table, and I push my pasta around on my plate.

“We could try without Noah,” Kate says suddenly.

I almost drop my fork in surprise.

“Gray and Yoru would have to come with us – they can sense the fallen approaching. We would have less time in there because our spirits would be with us and that will draw attention. But a few minutes might be enough. I’ll stay with you and keep watch with the spirits while you try to summon the door.”

I stare incredulously at Kate. “We can’t do that. I can’t drag you into this. What if one of the fallen attacks us?”

I’m reminded of my first visit to the Odyss when I found Yoru and was chased by one of the fallen. That’s something I don’t want to experience again. And I definitely don’t want to expose Kate to that kind of danger.

“Tess, I know how important it is that you find this library. I believe that it’ll happen sooner or later anyway. Because Patricia said it was your destiny. And as much as I’m afraid of the goddesses and distrust them, I believe she was telling the truth. So we should give it a try and not waste any more time.”

I gulp, my thoughts race, and I can’t decide what to do.

“We’ll be fine,” she promises. “And we won’t have to rely on anyone else. We can do this.”

She fixes me with a confident gaze. I really hope this won’t turn out to be a mistake.

Late that afternoon, we open the door to the Odyss through Frida’s painting. I insert my key into the keyhole that appears in the painting, and I’m immediately pulled through with Kate. As soon as we arrive in that dark world, I jump up and glance around anxiously. I can’t see anyone, which is a good start. But I can’t deny that I’d prefer to leave again immediately. I look at my little fox, who returns my gaze, mirroring my anxious expression.

“You need to keep a close watch on what’s happening around us,” I say to him, bending down and ruffling his fur. “Let me know as soon as anyone approaches, and we’ll get out of here immediately.”

I feel a little uneasy when he turns around and trots away. He soon disappears in the darkness, which is only punctuated by the light from the doors. He’s good at hiding, and he knows when he needs to be careful. He’ll be fine. And yet I’d feel better if I could see him. Kate sends Gray out too so that we have two key spirits on guard duty.

“You can start,” Kate says. “I figure we should try for ten minutes and then get out of here. I’ll keep a lookout and let you know if anything happens.”

I nod, take a deep breath, and extend my arm. Ten minutes isn’t long, and the time constraints won’t make it any easier. Plus I keep thinking of Noah, who was with me the last time. I can still feel his presence, and at the same time, I’m painfully aware of his absence. That moment when he held me, when we were close and kissed. I try to push him out of my mind and out of my heart. We’re here to do something important. This has to work.

I close my eyes, slowly exhale, and picture the door I want to summon. It’s not long before I see it. The curved silver handle, which I imagine myself grasping. I recall Noah’s words and try to hold his instructions in my mind. My muscles begin to burn under the strain, my arm trembles, and it takes all my will power to hold it up. I can’t give up now. The door feels incredibly heavy, but it’s not anchored to the ground – it’s attached to an elastic band, which I can simply pull toward me. It’ll stretch and put up a little resistance, but in the end, the door will come to me.

I bite my lip and taste blood, and at the same time, I feel a slight quiver, a faint movement… and I know it’s not coming from me. I open my eyes and feel the door gliding toward me. I did it! I turn happily to Kate, who can tell from the look on my face thatI’ve finally succeeded. She opens her mouth to say something, but at that moment, I see a chalky-white face looming behind her.

I want to scream out a warning, charge at the figure, call Yoru, but my body is in no state to do all that at once. So I let my arm drop, and the door snaps back to its original position. I hurry forward to help Kate, but the figure is already stretching its white hand toward her.

“Finally, an opportunity. I’ve been waiting so long for this,” the person says in a strangely rapturous voice. The figures steps so that it’s illuminated by the glow coming from the doors, and for the first time, I can see him clearly. Black unkempt wavy hair hangs down to his shoulders. The young man’s frame is thin, almost gaunt, and he walks slightly hunched forward. He’s wearing torn jeans, a sweater, and a dirty black coat that hangs loosely around him. But the worst part is his pale face, its huge dark eyes bulging out at me. The whites of his eyes can hardly be described as such because they’re so bloodshot. He reaches his hand toward us. His fingers are long, and Kate recoils in fear.

“Who are you?” I ask. “I know you’ve been following me. I saw you. Once near the temple when Travis was being taken to his hearing and then a couple of weeks ago when I was here with Noah trying to summon the door.” I stare at the guy, and a smile appears on his split lips.

“Travis. I watched him die. It was quick. Far too quick. The blink of an eye and the light was extinguished. He should have known.” The guy shakes his head and takes a couple of steps without taking his eyes off us.

Travis is dead? I’m surprised, but I suppose I shouldn’t be. It was clear to me that the Noctu wouldn’t let his betrayal go unpunished.

I stare at the stranger, who’s circling around us. I instinctively feel the danger emanating from him, and I don’t take my eyes offhim either.

“I watch everything. I’m everywhere. Invisible. Nobody knows. Nobody sees. The pain, the torment. My heart is long gone. A dead soul in my chest. But it’s better that way. A conscience just gets in the way. And I can’t afford that. It would mean my death. And I don’t want to die. No, I don’t want to. Not like that. Surrounded by the gloom eating away at me. Devoured by the darkness oozing out of every pore. No longer animate. Damned for all eternity.” He flings back his head, flicking his greasy hair through the air, and stares at us. “You’re… one of them. You’re the enemy. I know about you. I know a lot more than you think. Someday, everyone will see it. They’ll see me and know that I did it. But then it’ll be too late for you.” He cocks his head and stares at me. “You’ll die.”

An icy shiver runs up my spine as he comes a step closer. He only seems to have eyes for me. He walks past Kate without even glancing at her. Well, at least she’s not in danger.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I snarl at him. I keep talking in the hope of getting through to him. “Why do you want to kill me?”

He stares at me, his mouth half-open, eyes big and round. “You… look like her.”

I frown. “Who do you mean?”

But he doesn’t seem to hear me; he’s lost in a world of his own. This guy is clearly out of his mind. But that doesn’t explain why he’s been creeping around after me.

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