Page 144 of The Trials of Ophelia

“You’re very wise, Cypherion,” I said. “Has anyone ever told you that?”

He rolled his eyes, understanding my implication of how that wisdom should be used, and brushed me off. But I saw the small smile he tried to hide.

“He’s right.” Jezebel squared her shoulders, and Tolek moved over so I could remain between him and my sister as we continued our progress on the rope. “Sorry, Malakai, you had questions? I’ll do my best to answer.” She flashed him a soft smile.

He fidgeted with the rope. “I only wondered how it works. Can you reach any spirit?”

“Only those who are passing.”

Malakai mulled that over. “And are they lucid?”

“In a sense. They are aware they’re no longer here, but most are so close to being gone, they’re more focused on that loss than communicating.”

Our father hadn’t been, though. He’d hung on to pass us a last message, a light in the dark.

He said he loves us and he’s proud of us. Reminded us to protect each other.

I wrapped an arm around my sister and squeezed, determined to adhere to my father’s last wishes with my dying breath.

“That’s…interesting.” Malakai strung out the last word, considering whatever theory was brewing in his mind.

When he did not ask any more questions, Jezebel continued. “The only thing that had a…different reaction than dying was that beast in the forest on our original journey to the Undertaking.” Everyone in our circle stilled. I supposed she hadn’t told them of this piece after she told me.

“What did that one say?” Cyph asked, voice guarded. We were likely all remembering that first encounter with the threats beyond our haven of Palerman.

I thought back to what Jezebel had revealed about that experience.

“It screamed. It sounded confused.”

“I wake,” I murmured, the memory coming back. “That’s what it said to you, right?”

Jezebel nodded. “It repeated it over and over again.”

My second pulse sped, and I knew it well enough now to recognize the sign. Whatever instincts the Angelblood birthed within me reacted to this story.

There was no way to say for certain, but it seemed like a thread of this larger tapestry.

I wake.

Chapter Forty-Eight

Ophelia

“You’re certain these things are stable?” Tolek nudged one of the hooks screwed into the rock at the edge of the pit with his boot. Anchors, Ric told us they were called. They were installed throughout the descent for me to clip the ropes into as I went, too.

“That’s the tenth time you’ve asked, Tolek,” I chastised as Ricordan circled me, tightening the buckles on my harness and checking every clip.

“And I’ll ask ten more,” Tol responded, kicking the metal a little harder this time. When it did not move—again—he sighed in acceptance.

Cypherion clapped a hand to his shoulder. “We’ve been looking at them all night, Tol. They’re secure.” Cyph had been personally checking each and every anchor around the rim of the pit with Ricordan, deciding which were the most secure. A few other Mindshapers had offered to help, but Ricordan allowed us privacy, telling them we had it under control. Only one anchor had cracked from the ledge when weight was applied.

We would not use any near it.

The hooks we’d slid the ropes through and knotted them around were safe. It was the only possibility I would consider.

Tolek was before me, then, hands traveling over the harness. “Hey,” I said, gripping his wrists and pulling his attention to me. “I’ll be okay. I can do this.”

The concern in his eyes melted. “It’s not your ability I’m worried about, Alabath.” But he removed his hands from the equipment and cupped my cheeks. “Just ensuring you come back up from that descent for my own selfish sake.”

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