Page 32 of Lost and Stolen Gods
“These are the demigods,” Umbra said. “The divide is what must be surpassed to qualify for the labyrinth. As you can see, there are several who are close to meeting that goal. They will take the labyrinth at the same time as you begin your first pareekshan. It is an ever-turning cycle, and in a moment, you will become a part of it.”
The board melted away, and Eben’s face re-emerged. “Please step forward and provide your offering.”
Umbra drew a blade from the holster at her waist. It was a small, curved, shiny thing, which I was sure had a wicked edge. “A small cut and a little blood is all that is needed. Who would like to go first?”
Dharma stepped forward. “I’ll go.” She held her hand out.
Umbra pricked the offered index finger. “Press it to one of the smaller stones.”
Dharma chose the smallest stone, and a hush of anticipation fell as she pressed her cut finger to it. A low hum filled the air, and it felt as if the room held its breath.
Long seconds passed, and I was beginning to wonder if the hum was all we were going to get. Dharma must have been wondering the same because she looked to Umbra, brow arched in enquiry. Her answer was a sudden blast of air. It blew her hair up and off her face, and a beat later, the moss on the stone began to glow.
Power buzzed over my skin, leaving me breathless, and a quick glance at everyone else told me they were feeling it too.
“You have been enrolled,” Eben said. The glowing moss dimmed. “Next.”
Priti followed her sister, pressing her bloody thumb to the same stone as Dharma had. Once again, the air hummed, her hair whipped back on a breeze summoned only for her, and the moss glowed brightly.
“You have been enrolled,” Eben announced.
Umbra looked to me and inclined her head in invitation.
I barely felt the bite of Umbra’s blade because my stomach was in knots, and I didn’t understand why. The process looked easy enough.
I was being ridiculous.
I approached the stone next to the one the sisters had used and pressed my thumb to its surface. I was expecting it to feel cold, but it was warm. Alive. A shudder passed through me, along with the urge to pull away, but a phantom hand gripped my wrist and held me in place. Panic bust inside my chest as I tried to pull free. This was wrong. This felt off.
The ground rumbled.
A gust of air hit me in the face, stinging me with power, and every stone in the circle burst into a glow that burned so brightly it hurt my eyes.
Eben bellowed something in the language I didn’t understand, and Umbra grabbed me and pulled me away from the circle. The phantom hand released me, and a whisper skated across my mind, speaking foreign words.
The cavernous room fell into gloom, and dots danced in my vision.
“Leela?” Umbra hugged me tightly to her chest. “Leela, can you hear me?”
I could feel her heart beating wildly against my back, could still feel the impression of the phantom hand around my wrist. “What was that? What just happened?”
“Eben?” Umbra’s voice trembled.
“You have been enrolled,” Eben said smoothly, his stone gaze impossible to read. “Next.”
Umbra released me. “Who’s next?”
“What? Wait a second. You didn’t answer my question. What the heck just happened?”
“A power surge and nothing more. It happens sometimes.” She smiled, but it looked odd, like it didn’t belong on her face. “Now please step aside so we can continue with enrollment.” She ushered me away. “Who’s next?”
I joined Dharma on the other side of the stones, and she gave me awhat the fuck?look, shaking her head slightly, which I took to mean we’d discuss this later.
My thumb tingled, and I held it up to examine the cut. But it was gone.
I’d healed.
After enrollment,Umbra whisked us straight out to the main corridor that bordered the arena, then through a set of glass doors to an overhang area with empty benches.
