Page 141 of Of Stars and Lightning
It was thick with haze and embers, but she spotted Jonah and Cas not far from the foyer. Jonah knelt on the floor with his arms over his face, and Cas was in the process of reaching for his bicep. Sol threw herself forward and grabbed both of their shirts. She pulled them with her whole being, but really only managed to fall back on her heels. Freezing time apparently didn’t affect gravity— or weight.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Seconds. They had mere seconds before chaos resumed and the building collapsed. Sol’s hand burned like ants feasted on it. Her neck and chest exploded into slashes of hot pain.
Let me in, dove.
This time, Sol didn’t fight it.
Everything was blue. Like before time froze, the pain paused and was replaced by a numbing tingle while sparks of blue danced around her. Her exposed skin shimmered like starlight, her hair dancing as if pulled by static.
This time, when Sol reached for Cas and Jonah, they moved easily. She pushed them to the entrance, unable to stop to question the off series of events. Just as she collapsed with them beside Phil, in the span of a hasty exhale, time resumed. Coughs erupted from all around, and Sol exhaled sighs of relief.
“Princess—” Jonah reached to her, then to Phil, who instantly sobbed and wrapped himself around his brother.
Sol held them both. “We have to get back to the cathedral.”
“Leave me—take Phil,” Jonah pleaded, his brows furrowed and voice horse. “They won’t let us all leave.”
Sol shook her head and pulled him up. “Not all of us are. Let’s go.”
Mercifully, Cas asked no questions and followed behind them, taking the end of the line to help them evade debris and flames. With every step they took, crashes resounded behind them, as if they moved any slower the flames would devour them whole. Finally, the cathedral came into view. Its pointed roof stood tall with the tinted windows reflecting the flames in a show of blood.
Sol pounded against the doors. Over and over, she knocked, each time more frantic than the last. What if they hadn’t made it?
Sol would have no way of knowing.
And there was nothing else to do if??—
The wooded doors flew open, throwing Sol into Cas behind her.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had been so relieved to see anyone. But when Penny’s little face, eyes wide and full of worry, appeared from behind the cathedral doors, Sol scooped her up into a messy embrace.
“The basement,” the girl said against her. “Miss Amana waits.”
Sol nodded and placed her back on the safety of the ground before urging Jonah forward.
Sol said, “Come on.”
“What is going on?” Jonah’s face was smeared in sweat and ashes. “Where are we going? The exit should be at the other end of town.”
Sol glanced at Cas who crossed his arms and angled his head. He also waited for an answer.
“I am getting you both out of here,” Sol said. “You’re both to board a ship North and stay there until things get resolved here.”
Jonah’s expression went from confused to hesitant, but Phil’s was a sentimental joy the whole time she spoke. “They will know,” Jonah said finally. “We won’t be safe.”
“You will. And they won’t.” Sol gestured them forward to follow Penny. “Come.”
Jonah moved forward, his brother still in his arms, and his face clad with disbelief. Penny grabbed his torn sleeve and guided them toward the spiral staircase, one that led down into a basement, interconnected by ancient terrestrial tunnels through the entirety of Rimemere. Tunnels that were almost always guarded by Enchantments.
Almost always.
“The tunnels,” Cas said, stepping beside her. “How did you know they ran beneath here?”
Sol shrugged. “Nina.”
