51
The soldiers fired without warning, killing any creature who resisted.
More troops filled the courtyard. All creatures who crossed their path were forced to kneel on the ground.
The soldiers spread out across the yard and took up defensive positions, but none of them moved towards the Hospital’s entry doors.
Maybe they would back off? Maybe they were waiting for orders?
Amelia stood beside Mikhail while they both scrutinised the military incursion unfolding below them. His broad shoulders remained firmly squared, his entire frame emanating tension. She intertwined her fingers with his. Mikhail said nothing, but his hand tightened around hers with a fierce grip.
Was he worrying about his friends? Was he figuring a way out?
Mikhail had attempted to contact Presiyan and Constantine, but both of their phones were unreachable. He’d got through to Zacharia, but before he could relay much of anything, the signal had cut out.
She had no sense of how long they stood there in silence, but at some point, her attention shifted from the scene below to focus on Mikhail’s face, the single sight she wished to see. When his jaw clenched, Amelia knew something below had changed.
She stared back through the window just when a blonde woman strode into the courtyard.
To her left was another female, dark-haired and clad in military fatigues.
To her right, also dressed in camouflage, walked the reptilian who had attacked Amelia and Mikhail on the anniversary of her family’s death.
Amelia let go of Mikhail’s hand and whispered, “It’s her…”
Ana’s glimmering hair was recognisable from miles away.
“It’s her, Mikhail! Ana. The woman who wanted to steal your ring!” Her voice cracked, rising in a thin, uncontrolled pitch. “But why is Ana with them?! I thought she was fighting against the Mother of Reptilians!”
Mikhail slowly faced her. His expression sent a chill through her.
The anxiety and rage had vanished, replaced by a terrifying calm.
He offered a bitter smile. “Maybe there isn’t a ‘Mother of Reptilians,’ Amelia.
Maybe Ana is the Mother of Reptilians. I have no idea how they breached the Hospital’s defences, but they did… ”
A sharp burn flared in Amelia’s throat. “What do we do now?”
They couldn’t stay here forever. The building was under siege. Within minutes, the soldiers would advance through the floors. Just minutes. Ten, nine … The compulsion to count returned. Eight, seven…
Mikhail stepped in front of her. “Amelia…”
His voice was so gentle, such a stark contrast to the anger of moments before, that for an instant, Amelia thought, It’s just a nightmare. Now Mikhail is waking me up, and I’ll find out it has nothing to do with reality.
His hand caressed her cheek again, but his next words struck like a slap. “They’re going to separate us now.”
Her eyes widened in fear. How much time did she have left with Mikhail?
Six, five, four…
“No, Mikhail!”
“Don’t be afraid.”
She shook her head. “I’m not afraid for myself…”
Mikhail reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. “So, she wants this, right?” His burning eyes examined the lion’s head as if seeing it for the first time. “Then give it to her!” He placed the ring in Amelia’s palm and forced her fingers to close around it.
“Mikhail, no…”
He clasped her fist with his hand, keeping it closed. “You’re the Oracle. You should be safe, but I want to be sure. Convince this woman that you’re on her side. Tell her you stole it from me. Tell her you hate me.”
“And you? What will happen to you?”
“I’ll wait for you to get me out.”
Her eyes darted around the four walls of the tower before returning to the face of the man she loved. “What if… they kill you?” she asked, her throat dry.
He smiled. “I’ve already died once this year. Don’t you think that would be too much?”
Her heart pounded harder and harder, its beat near-deafening in her ears. “Can’t you transform? Can’t we escape?”
Mikhail gripped both her hands in his. “They’ve got the entire building surrounded, little beast.”
“There must be a way…”
“There is.” Mikhail lifted one of her hands and kissed it. “ You are the way. Come on, let’s go.”
Despite her resistance, he led her towards the lift and stepped inside the cabin. When the doors closed, Amelia finally accepted that this was happening. The Hospital, Mikhail – her anchors in this new world she had been thrust into with full force – were burning down.
She sought reassurance from Mikhail, her golden-eyed prince she had dreamt of since she was a little girl. There was no fear in him, only determination. She would be like him.
But how could she command her heart to calm down when it was determined to break through her chest?
Mikhail pinned her back against the wall and leaned over her. His lips found hers, and his tongue invaded her mouth with primal aggression. It was a kiss born of both passion and desperation, where each wanted to take as much as they could, knowing it would be their last.
“You know what you need to do, right?” he asked when he pulled away.
Amelia nodded, able to breathe once again. This was one of Mikhail’s effects on her body – he could ignite it and relax it better than any technique against panic attacks. She didn’t want to show him how afraid she was of what was to come. He needed to know he could rely on her.
“Mikhail…” she murmured. “I’ve loved you since I was four.”
His pupils dilated, filling with a satisfied gleam. “Four?”
“Four years old. I’ve dreamt of you since I was a little girl, and I promised myself that when I grew up, I’d find you and erase your sadness.”
He curled his lips into a smile. “Well, you did it, little beast.” His smile faded, and his features tensed.
His eyes blazed with that intense gold that set her soul on fire and stripped it bare.
“Amelia, I don’t want you to think for even a second that this is the end.
I’m letting you go so you can be safe, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be together again very soon. You won’t forget that, will you?”
She held back her tears and squared her shoulders. “I won’t, Mikhail.”
Moments before they stepped out of the lift, their fingers untangled.
In the courtyard, Ana awaited them with her lackeys. Amelia started walking towards her.
“Amelia, stay by my side!” Mikhail growled.
She pulled out the ring, ignoring his words. “It took me a while, but I have something for you,” she said to Ana.
Ana raised her eyebrows, her seductive lips curling into a smug smile. “I was beginning to think you’d given up on the plan. Good girl.”
“What plan?” Mikhail shouted behind her. “What is she talking about, Amelia?”
Ana plucked the ring from Amelia’s hand and held it up to her face to examine it. “Perfection!”
“Amelia, what have you done?!” Mikhail shouted.
Amelia glanced at him over her shoulder. The colours in his eyes had dimmed, leaving only darkness. Just like in her vision. That same darkness wrapped around Amelia’s soul.
Ana laughed. “Your Oracle was lying to you all along, manticore.”
A storm of emotions played out on Mikhail’s face, with confusion and rage battling for dominance.
“Oh, what’s this?” Ana sneered. “Did you really think she was on your side?”
Amelia gave her a stony look. “You promised to leave the Hospital alone if you got the ring.”
“I promised not to burn the Hospital to the ground. Not that I wouldn’t take it over.” Ana’s smile never left her red lips.
Amelia gestured towards Mikhail. “And what will happen to him?”
“Why, dear Amelia? Are you concerned about this animal?”
“I don’t care what happens to him. You were right about everything, after all. He’s incapable of loving anyone but himself,” Amelia said, piercing her own heart. She prayed she sounded as repulsed as she was trying to appear.
“And what about all your vows that you loved me?” Mikhail’s eyes burned with hatred.
Though he stood defeated and resigned, the fire in his gaze promised he would make Amelia regret her betrayal. She trembled inside, despite knowing it was all an act.
“I behaved that way to gain your trust and get the ring.” Amelia waved her hand before turning back to Ana. “I still hope you will keep your word that the Hospital won’t be harmed. There are creatures inside this building that have done nothing wrong.”
“Don’t worry. Everything will carry on as before.
Sevar will ensure that.” Ana nodded towards the reptilian who had attacked Amelia and Mikhail at the cemetery.
“I believe you’ve met him already. Apologies for sending him after you, but I needed to push you into making a decision.
Sevar wasn’t informed about our agreement, either. Your encounter had to be convincing.”
Sevar smiled at Amelia. “Hello again, love.”
Amelia fought hard not to look at Mikhail – not even when soldiers’ footsteps resounded behind her. They’re encircling him now. He won’t be able to escape…
With effort, she concentrated on the dark-haired woman standing on Ana’s other side.
Their eyes met, and Amelia almost gasped.
She had seen her in a vision – the moment she had become the Oracle.
It was a memory from the previous Oracle, recalling how her body had dangled high up, clinging to the hand of this dark-haired woman… Kathrine. That was her name.
Amelia’s attention shifted to the peculiar object in Kathrine’s hand.
Ana followed her gaze. “The mirror of Hecate. My Kathrine won it in the Al-Hatib Tournament. It can dismantle any spell, even the strongest in this world – including the one protecting the Hospital.”
So that was how they’d gained entry. Amelia was tempted to glance back at Mikhail, but didn’t dare.
“Does that mean the building is now visible to humans?” she asked.
“No. That’s the beauty of the mirror. You can manipulate the magic in countless ways.
The building is only visible to our allies.
” Ana gestured towards the soldiers spread throughout the courtyard.
A man in a general’s uniform stood to the side, observing the scene with a sly grin.
“And this is General Petrov. The man without whom none of this would have been possible.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” The general bowed to Amelia. His voice was soft, but his eyes bore into her with such intensity, it was as if he was imagining slicing her open and tearing out her heart.
Amelia swallowed her revulsion and refocused on Ana. “What happened to the Mother of Reptilians?”
The woman sighed. “I am the Mother of Reptilians, my dear. I’m sorry I had to deceive you, but you wouldn’t have agreed to help me if you knew who I really was.”
Amelia folded her arms across her chest. “How can you be both?”
“Ana died centuries ago. Don’t be misled by our physical resemblance.
I have nothing to do with her schemes. I’m fighting solely for a better, shared existence among species.
In my realm – Antambazi – I have a laboratory where I’m developing methods for faster recovery and healing.
I want a new, better world where individuals like Mikhail Korovin and that scoundrel who created the Tribunal don’t oppress everyone under the guise of the greater good. ”
Amelia stared at the woman who was not Ana, her chest burning with pain. Once more, she longed to check on Mikhail, but she knew that if she did, she wouldn’t be able to keep going.
“I see you’re still not convinced,” the Mother of Reptilians said. “You know this world through the manticore’s eyes. Let me ask you: what have you learned about yourself while being with him?”
That was easy.
That I can feel whole again. Protected. Loved.
Amelia remained silent.
“Unlike him, I’m giving you a choice, Amelia. Come with me and help me create a better world for everyone, or rot with the manticore in the dungeons of Antambazi.”
The dungeons of Antambazi. Amelia’s heart fluttered. So she didn’t plan to kill Mikhail but to imprison him somewhere. This gave Amelia a chance to get him out. If she played her cards right…
The Mother of Reptilians tossed her hair over her shoulder and unclasped the thin golden chain hanging around her neck.
Then she threaded it through Mikhail’s ring and fastened it back around her neck.
“This ring is a weapon, Amelia. I hope you realise the good you’ve done by giving it to me.
In the wrong hands, it could cause a lot of trouble.
Kathrine, give me the mirror, daughter…” She held it up to Amelia.
“I want you to look into it, Oracle, and tell me what you see.”
She did. There was no reflection in it, just a black void spread with a swirling sparkle.
“I don’t see anything,” Amelia said.
“That’s because it’s not a real mirror – as you’ve probably guessed by now. This is yet another powerful weapon in my hands. Now that you know all this, is it still hard for you to decide whose side you’re on, Oracle?”
“Amelia…” Mikhail’s voice cut through her. “If you’re with them, then you’re against me. You know very well what I do to traitors.”
Amelia spun around. “Those threats are just as empty as your delusions of satisfying me in bed, manticore.”
Sevar and the soldiers around them burst into laughter.
“That was cruel,” the Mother of Reptilians said with a thin smile.
Mikhail growled. “I promise I’ll kill you.”
“I’ve changed my mind,” Amelia said. “It’s not true that I don’t care what happens to Mikhail Korovin. I want you to promise me that I’ll have the chance to make him pay for every single day he took advantage of me.”
“A girl who doesn’t forget…” The Mother of Reptilians gave Amelia one of her knee-weakening smiles. “It will be my pleasure to grant your wish, my dear. I have a feeling you might just become my favourite secret weapon.”