Chapter 33
Thirty-three
Zellie
Down and in we travel, into the belly of Galatea itself.
Each step feels like an eternity, each movement closer to something waiting for me at the bottom.
My heart beats so vigorously that I feel out of breath.
As I moved to look for guards, Seb puts a hand out, blocking me at my chest. I rolled my eyes, earning me a returned glare as he stole a glance into the room.
He leans back in the nook of the stairs, holding up one finger.
One guard. I can knock him out. I point to myself and put my hands to my throat, mimicking choking.
Seb scrunches his face, raising his shoulders, as if to say, “What the fuck are you talking about?” I wave my hands wildly, repeating the choking motion before giving up and waving him off.
I lean against the cool rock and close my eyes, feeling for the air moving around the guard.
Once I located it, I willed the air to cease existing in the space.
Almost instantly, the garbled chokes of the guard gasping for air echo through the small space before a thump of him falling to the floor.
I release my hold on the air, not wanting to harm him further than necessary.
“How was I to know that was what you intended to do?” Seb’s voice is a harsh whisper. “You wicked woman.” I smile, satisfied that my trick worked and with the compliment.
“I thought the dramatic choking gestures gave it away, but clearly my acting was too advanced for you. I’ll keep it simpler next time.
” Seb scowls, and I laugh, hopping out of the stairwell and into the space.
I’m instantly frozen, rooted to the ground.
On that fourth level, carved so deeply into the planet that life itself held its breath, a tome sat, lay upon a podium.
A single orb light hovers above, casting the book in a cool glow.
The room is silent, fixed, respect demanding its quietude.
The hairs on my arms raise, goosebumps lining my flesh as I approached the tattered leather.
Etched into the cover was a circular design depicting the entire astrological accord.
It was detailed, outlining each symbol of the twelve signs.
I smoothed my hand over the soft, wrinkled top before delicately opening the weathered parchment.
Etched into the paper, as if by destiny itself, words were imposed.
This was definitely not meant to be found.
“What is it?” Seb asks from the doorway.
To restore the balance, one must dare;
To be clever, kind, and fiercely fair.
A single choice will shape the fates;
Fail, and the worlds shall bear a heavy weight.
From mortal blood and midnight eyes,
Banded with dawnfire, the Starborn will rise.
“I think…” I blink slowly, the words cementing themselves into my memory. “I think it’s a prophecy.” Seb approaches, looking over my shoulder at the words inscribed.
“What does it mean?”
“I don’t know.”
A scuffle above sounds, followed by a shout. Shit.
“Time to go, guys.” Orion’s voice whispers through the wisp. I snatch the tome off the pedestal, tucking it tightly against me. “You good, Zi?”
“Yes, on our way.” I turn to leave, but Seb stops me.
“We can’t take it!” he hisses.
“What are you talking about? We have to. This could change the fate of the galaxies!”
He shakes his head but grabs my hand, bounding for the stairs.
A guard stops us halfway up the stairwell, but Seb quickly disarms him with a blow to the ribs.
I’m right behind him, performing my air stunt, causing him to lose oxygen until he falls unconscious.
We reach the third level filled with precious jewels.
Only one floor to go. Making a run for it, we head across the room for the stairs leading up, but our exit is swiftly blocked as two guards fill the door frame.
My training and sparring days have instilled muscle memory that springs to life with the opportunity to partake in hand-to-hand combat—with one difference; this body is far more capable than my mortal one.
I dodge, bend, and block as if I were floating through water, landing hefty blows to the man’s side and cheek.
He’s strong and well-trained, managing to strike the side of my mouth.
My tongue darts out, and the copper taste of blood greets my taste buds.
This fucker split my lip. I flip my dagger, ready to jam it against his temple, when he swipes me with a blade against my thigh.
The cut is shallow, but burns madly. I hiss, ramming the dagger against his head before stumbling.
Seb’s match drops to the floor. “Are you okay?”
“Fine, let’s go.”
He curtly nods and quickly takes the stairs. My leg moves to take the first step, but the world in front of me tilts sideways. Throwing my arms out against the wall, I catch myself. Orion calls down the stairwell, “Zellie?”
“Just a second.” Something is very wrong. Glancing down at my thigh, what I thought was a superficial wound now puckers with a greenish ooze. Fuck. “Poison,” I try to say, but the words come out as a whisper.
The familiar sound of feet landing from star-shooting stirs behind me.
Mustering every ounce of wild energy in my body, I eclipse myself up the stairwell, closer to where Orion is turned, waiting for me.
Using the last ounce of strength I have, I hurl the tome at him, attempting to shout, “Get out of here.”
Slow and steady steps progress up the stairs behind me as if whoever is coming knows they have all the time in the worlds, the stairwell dancing with shadows.
“It’s too late. Go,” I plead. He can’t take both of us; I’ll only delay him.
We can’t both be caught; our futures depend on this information getting out, on the rebellion rising.
On the starborn rising, whoever they are.
Seb casts me one last look before star-shooting away, and I crumble to the ground, the world becoming a steady blur, listening to Orion’s tormented screams filling the whisper wisp as Lando likely drags him out of here, leaving me behind.
I pant heavily, my blood feeling like it’s boiling as the poison flows through me, paralyzing my movements.
Finally, the steps come to a stop, the scruff of a shoe on the rock indicating whoever it is is close by.
I can’t even turn my neck to look. I’m half slumped against the wall, my legs dangling awkwardly off a step.
“I spy something that doesn’t belong.” My temper flares at the taunt, a clear message intended to hurt.
They have eyes and ears everywhere, if they know that I played “I spy” regularly with Lenny.
A click of a tongue followed by a tutting noise, “Now, now, Zellie. It’s time to tame that temper of yours.
This is going to be fun.” A cloak full of moon and stars falls into my line of vision, as a body squats in front of me.
Dark, evil eyes meet mine with a gruesome smirk. “Ready to play?” Pluto asks.
I’m so fucked.