Page 77 of The Song of Sunrise
Ramona, Leaf,Castor…friends don’t keep secrets as big as this.
My heartbeat accelerates to a quick staccato in my chest. I take a few unsteady steps backward. “Gi-gi-give me a minute.”
I run to the hall, slam the door, and press myself against the wall. The cool stone is a relief to my back, a solid foundation for my soul to tether. I tip my head up and close my eyes, keeping the tears from spilling.
Breathe,breathe.
“Akemi,” Castor pleads my name quietly from beside me.
I open my eyes and turn to him. Why does this hurt so much, this secret? How long did they know about this task and not tell me?
“Is it because you want to win the Helios stone? Is that why no one told me? One less champion on the list.” I let out a dry laugh.
“No—” he starts, but I interrupt.
“I thought we were closer than this, Castor.” I close my eyes again, not able to bear the sight of him any longer.
His large hand touches my cheek, wiping away a tear. “We are.”
“Not any longer,” a deep voice grumbles from the shadows. “Do not touch her.”
From the darkness, Atlys emerges like he was formed from the shadows themselves. His boots click lightly on the stone floor, and yet the entire castle seems to reverberate with each step.
Castor moves protectively in front of me.
“Come with me, Akemi. We have training to do.” Atlys’s voice is quiet, but the command in his tone is clear.
“She can go when we are done talking,” Castor says cooly.
“I will go when I want to go.” I walk toward Atlys and look back at Castor. Leaf and Ramona are now standing behind him, looking apologetic. With time, I know I can forgive them, but that doesn’t take away my hurt or that I need space.
“I’ll see you later,” I say, and turn to follow Atlys away from my friends.
“Where are we going?” I ask, following Atlys through a crevasse in the cave under the school. Eventually, the tunnel transitions from a rough stone to a smooth, almost polished finish. Bioluminescent vines caress the stone in lazy swirls, lighting ourway as we follow the winding path and descend further into the depths of the earth.
Atlys looks over his shoulder, silver eyes reflecting off the flowing vines like a cat. A trait undoubtedly the Underlings have to see in near darkness. “A place where I know we are safe to talk. The Watch has ears everywhere on the Surface, but they do not dare venture this far Below.”
It dawns on me that perhaps my decision to go with Atlys was hasty. He is my sponsor, but he is also my enemy. An enemy that is leading me farther and farther away from the Surface. I curse myself for not paying attention to the turns we took. “Are you taking me to the Underworld?”
Atlys chuckles, as if sharing a secret joke with himself. “No. I will take you to my home another time.” He turns and looks at me with a predatory glint in his eye.
I almost choke. “Now that’s a very assertive statement.”
“Is it an assertion or is it an assumption?” He looks back at me again through locks of white hair, sharp canine poking his bottom lip as the corner of his mouth pulls up. “This is just another spot where we can meet and train together.”
Is the Soul Eatersmirking?
The luminescent foliage surrounding us reminds me of the glowing water lily left next to my bed in the infirmary. Likely a gesture, not because he cares about me. No, he is a ruthless killer trained in the bowels of earth. He likely cares for no one but himself and the people of Terraguard. In no way would he do that out of his own black-blooded heart. He only left the flower because he needs a champion that is well enough to compete and win. But therein lies my predicament. I need to win the Summit, but winning means the Lord of Terraguard wins as well.
I won’t let myself fall into his tricks or let one charming smile deter me from the fact that while our people are technically allies, we are nothing but.
I follow him into a large cavern and gasp. It is beautiful. The walls curve to a point at the top. Large crystals and stalactites that hang from a mile above, refracting light, paint the chamber in pastel rainbows. I gape, trying to take it all in, when I notice movement out of the corner of my vision.
A brown animal the size of a small bear is running straight for us.
“Watch out!” Instinctively, I reach for my staff, only to flail at nothing. Shit, I left it in my room.
“Nightmare!” Atlys says with affection, bending down and offering a hand. “What is it?”
