Lyra's POVShe tilted her head at us. "So," she said slowly, her eyes flicking between Orion and me. "What did the trial demand of you?"I glanced at Orion before I spoke. "They forced me to give up a memory. A precious one. And Orion gave up his emotions. That's what they desired, isn't it? That was the test."The witch let out a soft, almost pitiful laugh. "That's what you believe?"My eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?"She stood, dusting dust from her cloak. "They tricked you. What you two just did was not a trial in the way that you understand. You made an oath."Orion furrowed his brow. "What kind of oath?""A blood oath, made on emotional sacrifice," she said to me. "The coven compelled you to swear that you'd never harm a witch again. And if either of you ever does, by mistake or by design, the other will be required to kill them." My throat closed up. "What? No, they didn't use those words.""Witches do not speak in the plainest of terms," she told me curtly. "They speak
Lyra's POVThe corridor that lay behind the red-lit door was narrow, the walls throbbing faintly as though they were alive. I didn't dare touch them. The heavy warmth getting heavier with each step we took penetrated my lungs with the smell of something akin to blood. Neither one uttered a word. There just wasn't the need for any. The narrow corridor finally widened to the size of a circular chamber, not nearly as large as the throne room but far more intimidating.The walls were marked with symbols that glowed faintly. At the center was a stone platform.Behind us came the witches, who did not fully enter. They remained on the threshold, as shadows in tattered cloaks, their voices joining as one to say,"This is your trial. You spilled sacred blood, and blood must answer for blood."I stiffened, my fingers clenching at my sides almost instinctively. "We came for forgiveness. We didn't come to shed any more blood."Then one stepped forward-most definitely taller than the others-her
Lyra's POVI felt a chill crawl up my spine the moment we arrived at the cave. It stood there like a severe cut in the side of the hill, the air around it heavy and humming with unseen energy.I hugged myself instinctively, but not for cold. Something else caused the hairs on the back of my neck to want to rise.The witch was about yards from the door. She did not look our way. "This is it," she said to us, her own voice even crisper than usual. "The witches are all indoors. Take off your shoes, you don't want to enhance your offense by entering with shoes."I caught a glimpse of Orion. He was already getting down to remove his boots himself. I did the same, ignoring the fact that the grass was wet and clung to my feet."You're not going to remove your own shoes," I said to her. "Or is there some exception for witches?""No, everyone is treated equally under the law," she snarled."Why don't you take off your shoes?" I retorted, my eyes narrowing."Because I will not go in with you,"
Kate's POV"Are you sure this is the place?" I asked Keto, and I watched the dense fog crawl sluggishly along the roadside.He had not looked at me; he was still gazing at the map on his tablet and nodded to my question. "Yes, according to the map, the hotel should be just right around here. That's where Ravenna and Orion last stopped."I tightened my coat. The atmosphere felt wrong. It was chilling and instilled a horrid form of terror within me.Captain Zack made a deep whistle as the old building curved into view, carefully lit dimly by a bulb overhead the door."Set up a perimeter," he ordered his men, raising a hand.They moved out, quick and silent like shadows.He turned to me. "Something’s creepy about this place. Gives me the chills."Kira, who had been mostly quiet the whole ride, gave a dry laugh. "You saw a giant serpent a few hours ago, and now you think something’s creepy?"I chuckled. "Looks like the stuff you drank from me earlier is just wearing off."Kira laughed aga
Lyra's POVI got out of the bed slowly, pushing the blanket aside and letting the chill of the room wrap around me.My legs were tight and weighted, but I pushed them aside. That nightmare still lingered, the aftertaste bitter, cold, and hard to shake off. Orion edged away a bit from the window seat, his gaze on me.I put my clothes on silently and began dressing. "Do we head back to the hotel?" I asked, without turning to him.Orion's voice was stubborn and gruff. "No. We're not heading back. It's too dangerous."I hesitated for a second, pulling my sweater down over my head. "Too dangerous? Why?"He stood himself up and approached me. "Witches can locate people, and just in case they decide to locate us, always moving around prevents them from being able to do that."He bent to scoop me up into his arms, but I avoided him. "I can walk, Orion. I'm not fragile."His eyes flashed with something indistinguishable, maybe concern. He nodded at last. "Okay. But stay close to me. Whatever h
Lyra's POVI was stirring from slumber when I felt an unusual cold sensation circling my leg. My eyes lazily opened with hardly a sight of the dim light seeping through the curtains. The very first thing my eyes settled upon in the room was Orion, still sleeping beside me, breathing slowly and steadily. I turned away again; I just could not bear the rising chill feeling as it climbed up my leg. With my eyes shifting towards my legs, I almost felt my heart stop. There upon the ground was an enormous serpent coiled around my leg, the likes of which I had never even seen in my life. The three-headed eyes opened wide and glowed an unearthly golden hue! I froze in terror, unwilling to even move or utter a sound, as the voices clamoring inside my head erupted in an ugly chorus from the worm. "First, you. Then, him." And it hissed under its breath. I shuddered to see one of the heads open its gaping mouth, ready to swallow me whole. My body tightened up, my heart picking speed with f