Heavenly Bodies

Chapter Sixty-Four

CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

Elara bolted upright on the floor with a gasp, taking in the dank cell, the flickering torchlight. She felt power surge through her skin, the same deep, ancient thing from her dreamscape.

Suddenly, she realized what was amiss.

Pain , she thought in disbelief. The ache that constantly seemed to weigh upon her heart had gone.

A bubbling laugh almost escaped her before she caught herself. Enzo’s betrayal threatened to pull her under again. A small, fragile part of her was holding on to a glimmer of hope that this was all some cruel trick, an elaborate ruse. Something was nagging away at her mind, a thought that felt immensely important but wouldn’t surface. She bit her lip, pulling a strand of her hair between her fingers as she went over and over every detail of her memories with Enzo.

She didn’t believe that Isra could have known of Enzo’s plans. Neither Merissa, nor even Leo. She couldn’t believe it, that they would all betray her like this. But they had only known her a few months, whereas they’d known him their whole life. Who was she to them, really?

Elara pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to bring sense to her thoughts. She had felt the soul-tie between her and Enzo. That could not be a lie. Why would he have created duskglass with her only to hand it to the one they made it to kill? Why would he have maimed Ariete only to side with him?

Her eyes narrowed as she replayed Celine’s warning. She had advised her not to give the duskglass to the prince. Something about the wording bothered her. Why? Why not warn Elara more plainly about Enzo? Why had the angel been civil to him at all if she had known the truth?

Elara’s mind worked and reasoned as the Light passed through the chink in her cell window. Finally, as she heard sure-footed steps outside her cell, she knew she had reached a conclusion. There was only one way to test her theory. She saw a jewelled, bronzed hand reach to unlock the door.

Elara did not move as Enzo swaggered into the small cell, past the guards, who didn’t so much as shift from their posts. The prince kicked the barred gate shut behind him, and locked it. She feigned disinterest as her gaze swept the cruel lines of his face, catching on the sheen of his earring, the faint scent of godslilies permeating the space.

He was twirling the sharp blade of duskglass, its black surface glistening in the candlelight.

‘Careful you don’t cut yourself,’ she said, her tone lazy.

Enzo turned to her, a slow smile creeping on his face. ‘I have to say, Elara, I’m a little wounded that you’re not more distraught. I expected to find you on your knees.’

Elara snorted. ‘You always rated yourself too highly.’

Enzo’s smile curled venomously.

‘You know, I’ve been wondering why you have that.’ She pointed to the blade in his hand. ‘Why you bothered creating it with me if you were working with Ariete,’ she said, examining her fingernails.

Enzo narrowed his eyes, but no answer came.

‘A blade to kill a Star,’ she continued. ‘What a weapon indeed.’

‘I’d watch how you talk, lest you find yourself in the Deadlands tomorrow.’

Elara chuckled. ‘Oh no, I don’t think so. You see, Ariete cannot kill me, remember?’ She stood. ‘So perhaps it’s you who’ll meet the Deadlands soon.’

She blinked, and the first illusion she had been working—that of a weaponless, defenceless Elara—vanished, a blade now visible, holstered upon her right thigh. Quick as a flash, she pulled it forth, its wicked glass gleaming onyx black. Enzo staggered back against the wall, the exact same dagger held in his hand as he looked in confusion and fear to hers and then his. She approached him slowly.

‘What was it you said to me? “You’re not the only one good at illusions.”?’ She clicked her fingers, and the blade in Enzo’s hand turned into Sofia’s dagger, as Elara waved the very real duskglass blade in her own. The blade she had kept the whole time. And with a smile, she plunged it into his chest.