6. Callum
CALLUM
“This is complete bullshit,” Axel muttered under his breath beside me as we stared at the circle of temples, taking in each of the five structures in sequence, before settling our gaze on the temple in the center of the circle.
The High Temple. “They can’t possibly be stupid enough to believe that worshipping glorified gods in fancy buildings will save them. ”
“And yet . . .” I forced the words out as we watched unmarked angels enter the High Temple, chattering excitedly as they passed through the onyx security gates. “It appears they believe just that.”
“I almost don’t want to know what goes on in those temples,” Axel stated as we stared at the ornate doors leading to the High Temple. “How can they call this worship?”
“I don’t think they do,” I replied. “They’ve been trapped behind that stars-damned wall for so long that I doubt the citizens of Solis Quarter can even recall the true origin of Marking Day. That it was a gift from Aeternus for all who follow him.”
We stood in the shadows, the suns bearing down on us as they rose to their peaks, high above the desert sands.
The first of the unmarked angels exited the High Temple, chattering lowly as they admired the new markings on their arms.
Black Markings.
Not the gold markings the rest of Aurelia bore.
Black.
Axel cursed beside me. “That explains everything and nothing, all at once.”
“You don’t say.” The words were a slow drawl on my lips as I studied the markings from a distance. “We need to get inside one of those marking rooms and see what’s actually happening.”
“And what, exactly, do you think you’re going to find?” Axel muttered from beside me with annoyance. “It’s not like the markings can be tampered with. They quite literally come directly from the heavens—from Aeternus himself.”
“I don’t know, Pierce,” I bit out, his last name a snap on my lips. “But I can safely bet we won’t find anything standing here in the stars-damned shadows,” I finished as I pushed off the wall, heading toward the center temple.
Sticking to the shadows, we moved silently past the throngs of unmarked angels anxiously awaiting their markings.
It pained me to see so many of the citizens of Solis Quarter willfully following a quintet of gods, as they were led astray from the Eternal.
But I also knew that the Remnant had been spreading word of the Eternal—warning the citizens of Solis to turn away.
That they’d helped those who chose to believe in Aeternus escape outside the boundaries of The Wall.
With a shake of my head, I cleared my thoughts, focusing on the back door to the temple, the one that was currently unattended, as we approached.
Axel pulled out the lock gun, passing it to me as I fastened it to the keypad and lock, listening for the barely audible whirl of power before it broke the seal on the door without triggering any alarms.
“We’re in,” I muttered under my breath as I cracked the door open, pushing out my vitas affinity to sense whether there was anyone in the hallway.
I was careful not to extend the power fully—Elion’s warning stark in my mind—as I checked for any life on the other side of the door.
When I couldn’t detect any heartbeats pounding in the near area, I opened the door further, slipping into the High Temple, Axel close on my heels.
“If the maps Elion gave us are still correct, there should be a stairwell close by,” Axel stated as he began moving to my right. We quickly tested the doors, careful not to leave a trace behind as we cut through the hallway with ease.
I thanked the Eternal that all temples in Aurelia adhered to the same respect, not allowing cameras to be used on sacred grounds.
We could slip through these halls without having to hack and wipe video footage.
Not that we didn’t have to worry about hidden triggers and alarms, but I would take those over swiping surveillance footage any day.
“Let’s check the marking rooms first,” I said, my voice low as we silently crept through the stairwell that was surprisingly devoid of angels.
“Not the library?” Axel questioned from beside me as we rounded the corner, taking the steps two at a time.
“No,” I ground out as I stopped on the third floor, pausing to listen through the door for any incoming sounds. When the hall sounded empty, I turned the handle to the door.
“I want to watch what happens during their ceremony—compare it to what happens during ours.”
“What are you hoping to uncover?” my second inquired as we slipped through the door, keeping to the shadows.
“I’ll let you know once I figure that one out for myself.”
“Brilliant,” I heard him grumble under his breath as we began to approach the first door on the floor. “Sure, Cal. Of course, Cal. I’ll follow you into the temple based on nothing but good vibes and dreams to go off of. No, there’s not a thing wrong with that plan.”
“For the love of Aeternus,” I ground out as I glared at the male. “Just shut the ever-loving-fuck up and let’s get through this door undetected.”
“This door?” He gestured toward the frosted glass door before us. “But how can we be sure this is the right room? Is it giving off a certain feeling? Is it calling to you?”
“Are you done putting on a show?” I demanded. “Because if so, I’d love to get a move on and actually finish this mission today.”
He chuckled before he closed his eyes, resting his hand against the door’s keypad as he went to work detecting the code. I stayed silent, hand on the gun resting against my waistband as I scanned the hallways, ensuring we were undisturbed if we were to get into these rooms undetected.
I heard the lock spring free, and then the door slid open by itself.
“Stars-damn.” Axel’s voice was a low grunt, then a soft flare of gold peeked through the sleeves of Axel’s shirt as he called on his affinity. I felt the moment his shield went up, surrounding us, should there be anyone on the other side, waiting to strike.
After a moment, the golden hue of light faded, his eyes snapping open as he sent a grin my way. “All clear.”
And we entered the room.
I could tell the moment we’d entered that we were too late. The male in this marking room was unconscious, strapped to a chair, his markings already emerged on his forearm.
“How is that possible?” Axel bit out under his breath.
“It’s not,” I replied as my blood began to boil. “At least, it shouldn’t be.”
But we’d both seen it. We’d both see the mark on the angel in this room. Only, it hadn’t been a mark like we’d expected. It was nothing like our own Marking Day in Aurum Quarter.
My thoughts flashed back to my own Marking Day ceremony in the Temple of the Eternal. I remembered spending the morning in prayer, then feeling the presence of the Eternal wash over me, and as it did, golden markings emerged from my skin painlessly.
We hadn’t been strapped into a chair. And we certainly hadn’t been unconscious during our Marking Day ceremony. I remembered the entire event, from start to finish, as I spent the morning in Aeternus’s temple, worshipping the Eternal.
“Well, this could explain the black markings,” Axel stated, his voice tight as we stared at the angel shaking on the chair in the room where we remained hidden.
The male was restrained against the hard chair, leather cuffs circling his wrists and ankles as his body shook more violently. “We should help him.”
“No,” I growled out, even as the word felt sour against my lips. “We can’t risk being detected. Not here. Not now.”
“He needs help.”
“And we will be of no use if we are discovered here,” I said tightly, my golden eyes firmly focused on the male strapped against the chair as charcoal gray wings sprouted from his back, emerging for the first time.
The slits on my back tinged slightly at the memory of my own wings first emerging—at the excruciating pain that rippled from my spine when my wings first burst forward. That may have been the only aspect of my Marking Day that I wished I had been unconscious for.
I stared at my wings in the temple’s reflection in the window, the gold feathers shining as the sun’s light hit them.
My brows furrowed as I studied the three marks on my forearm.
Two triangles marking the elemental affinities for fire and earth were on my lower forearm.
They pointed up toward a slightly different symbol—one I recognized only from records. The symbol of a vitas.
I heard footsteps approaching, but I didn’t need to turn to know who was approaching.
“I suspected as much,” Elion’s voice rumbled as he stopped behind me, and it was only then that I turned to face my mentor.
“You suspected what?” I asked, meeting his weathered gaze.
“That you would mark with multiple affinities. That Aeternus himself had called you to be of service to him.”
My eyes narrowed, my footsteps faltering as I studied the male who’d become my father in the past decade. “W-what do you mean?” My voice wavered ever so slightly, and I hated that it did.
“It is important that you keep your strongest affinity hidden from those outside the Guild. Many may wish to take advantage of your gift.”
“How?” My eyes narrowed as I studied the diamond shape on my arm, marking me as a vitas.
“That affinity . . . it is one of great power, but it comes at a great cost. It is an affinity that can only be truthfully wielded under direct command from the Eternal by those who follow in his light.”
“And what if you use it without his instruction?” I asked as my gaze flicked back toward Elion’s.
“It will end you as well.” His voice was solemn as he held my gaze, ensuring I understood the severity of the affinity.
“His wings aren’t gold,” I heard Axel state as he began walking toward the digital display of screens beside the unconscious male, and my mind instantly snapped back to the present.