Page 123 of Children of Virtue and Vengeance

CHAPTER SEVENTY

ZÉLIE

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

It’s like a line of dominoes falling at once.

The first fuse is only the trigger.

Dozens of bombs go off.

The gods pull the ground from our feet as the cave collapses in every direction. My body throbs with a vengeance as I tumble through the water and darkness.

“Roën!” I try to shout, but water swallows my screams. My ears ring from the string of explosions. I can’t see anything.

Falling rocks slice through my skin. The madness only stops when my back slams against the hard ground. The collision knocks precious seconds of air from my lungs. I grab my neck as water fills my throat.

Help!

My throat burns as I choke. Before I can figure out which way is up, large boulders hurtle toward me from the cave ceiling.

I grit my teeth as one lands on my leg. The stone digs into my flesh, cutting through muscle as I pull. I open my eyes to darkness as the truth sets in.

No one’s coming to save me.

This is it.

The realization makes my chest tight. I kick and I scratch and I claw, but my fingers only hit gravel.

I always thought my life would end in a flash. Now I feel each second that ticks toward my end. I press my free leg against the boulder for leverage, but the jagged stone cuts like a knife. My shin sears as the rock scratches against bone.

Let go…

The whisper rises from deep inside. Tears well in my eyes as my body sinks onto the cold floor.

There’s no war after this. No more scars that’ll never heal. I know the peace of death’s embrace.

I’ve already tasted the freedom that lies beyond the pain.

Let go,I mouth the words, holding on to them as my lungs scream for air. I can almost hear Sky Mother’s song when Mama’s silhouette shines through the darkness.

It shimmers with white light, growing brighter when Baba’s silhouette appears by her side. I lift my head from the floor.

Then I hear Mâzeli’s voice.

“Jagunjagun!”

I almost laugh at the third silhouette that shimmers to life. He stands by Baba’s side, ears still too large for his head.

I reach out my hand toward Mâzeli’s glow, everything in me wanting to grab on. I can’t bear the pain anymore.

There’s nothing more I can give this world.

His light reaches out toward me, a hand pulling me into the beyond. But when it hits, my Second doesn’t grant me aid and pull me to the other side.

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