Page 117 of Damned and Broken Gods
There was a knock on the door.
“Come in!” Blue called out.
Dharma popped her head in. “It’s time to go,” she said. “Ione just gave the order.”
Her expression was tight with nerves. I pulled her into the room and into a hug. “We’re gonna be fine. We stick together.”
She nodded. “Yeah, if they let us.”
Ida hovered behind her, large dark eyes taking me in. Her head whipped left, tail wagging to greet Joe.
He stroked Ida’s head. “I can’t find Mahira. Are Araz and Chaya back yet?”
“No,” Dharma and I said in unison.
“They’ll probably meet us at Eben’s,” Dharma continued.
Lola appeared at Joe’s feet, winding her blue body between his legs and purring. He scooped her up and laid her across his shoulders.
“Yeah, I know it’s time,” he said, stroking under her chin.
I held my arm out to Blue, and he leapt up and onto my shoulder. “Let’s get this done.”
Bina and Aliajoined us once we got down to the main lounge. Bina’s python, Garu, was draped loosely around her neck like a scarf, and Seema, Alia’s hummingbird, perched on her shoulder. Their drohi weren’t with them either. The other demigods, ones who hadn’t made the labyrinth yet, had gathered to wish us luck.
Remi, Sylvie, Poppy, and Regina arrived just as we were about to leave. There was enough time for hugs before Ione ushered us out into the late morning sun.
“The labyrinth proper won’t be till later, will it? So we’ll get to come back, right?” Alia asked.
Ione pressed her lips together. “It doesn’t work that way,” she said. “Umbra will explain. Now go.”
My stomach trembled. “Wait, what does that mean?”
But she’d already closed the barracks doors.
“Great,” Dharma said. “Thanks.”
Ida nudged her thigh as if to say,It’s okay.
“Come on, chickadee,” Blue said. “We got this.”
Dharma led the way, and we followed. The walk felt like it went too fast, like time was playing tricks. We reached the courtyard too soon.
I expected to see Araz and the other drohi waiting for us, but there was only Umbra and Guru Mahir standing by beside Eben’s stone frame.
“Where are our drohi?” Joe asked.
“Your drohi are waiting for you in the labyrinth,” Guru Mahir said.
Was it my imagination or did he look pissed?
“There have been a few alterations to the process for this test,” Umbra said. “You will not have your drohi with you in physical form, but their essence will guide you. You must make your way to the center of the labyrinth where your drohi’s physical body is resting and liberate it.”
“Liberate? What do you mean?” Dharma stepped forward. “What have you done to our drohi?”
Panic flared my belly, like the beginning of a wildfire. “Are they hurt?”
“Calm down!” Guru Mahir said. “We don’t know. We do not have access to the labyrinth or its workings. The Tantuvaya guard it. They plant the seeds of the test.”
