Page 123 of The Silent
The music grew louder. It filled the room. No longer a scraping hum but a resonant hymn of unearthly beauty. Prija was playing opposite the Fallen, matching his frequency and tempo with her own. No music came from her throat, but Prija was singing. Not old magic, but new. Not Irina song, butkareshta. Wholly new, yet ancient atitscore.
Kyra opened her eyes and saw her sister’s faceglowing.
“Do you see it?” Vasu appeared, kneeling beside her. “The little one saw itimmediately.”
“The stars we see in visions,” Kyra said. “They aren’t starsafterall.”
“They are. But we are the morning stars, and every star hasasong.”
“Intira canseeit.”
“Prija’s brother saw it too. That was how they killed their father, though they did not understand how. Their minds were tied together. The effort killed her twin. And his death nearly drovehermad.”
“Do we need to be concerned about Intira?” Kyraasked.
“No.” Vasu smiled. “I saw her dreams and recognized her genius. Her mind is a work of heaven, and it is beautiful. It is the young who are most interestingtome.”
“Because you’re young too,aren’tyou?”
That was what Kyra recognized now. The truth that had eluded her about this odd Fallen angel. Though Vasu was ancient to the earth, as an angel, he was a mere child. Of course he had an affinity toward children. Hewasone.
Vasu put his head on Kyra’s shoulder. “Do you seeitnow?”
“I see it now.” She turned and kissed Vasu’s forehead. “Thank you forshowingme.”
“You’rewelcome.”
Hedisappeared.
Kyra continued to watch Prija play, her face glowing with peace, her eyes closed, rocking in time with her instrument. She wasn’t playing music. Shewasmusic.
“…when you’ve found your voice, you’ll singtome.”
This was what Leo was talking about. Prija had found her voice. Not an Irina voice, but akareshtaone.
Wholly and beautifullyunique.
* * *
Leo and Niranrushed toward the Fallen, throwing themselves on the creature’s back as he struggled to rise. Whatever magic Prija was working had caused the angel to stumble. Alyah stood on the edge of the courtyard, guarded by Niran’s brother, singing over the chaos of battle. Her song lifted Leo, and his magic grew stronger. Histalesmglowed. His hand was firm on hisknife.
“On his back,” he shouted at Niran. “Takehimdown!”
Leo ran around to face the angel, who was snarling. He didn’t appear in his bird form anymore, but in the still frightening and beautiful form of an angel. He was seven feet tall and broadly built. His hair was black as a raven’s wing and tied in a knot at the back ofhishead.
“Away from me, Forgiven get!” he shouted in the Old Language. “You have no poweroverme.”
Ava’s teasing voice rang in the back of his mind.Remember, big guy. The bigger they are, the hardertheyfall.
Leo ran toward the Fallen, knowing that if the creature got him in his grip, he was likely done for. But at the last minute, Leo curled and bent down, rolling into a ball and ignoring the slice of rock against his shoulders. He hit Arindam’s shins, knocking the angel forward as Niran and Rith jumped onhisback.
Leo quickly uncurled and flung himself on the angel’s legs, pinning him down with his weight as Niran lay over the monster’sshoulders.
“Do it!” he screamedatRith.
The black blade rose. The angel roared. Rith plunged the blade into Arindam’s spine, and the roaring monster fellsilent.
* * *
