Chapter 18
Gaping at the Seal Gate, I floated in place, paralyzed by my fear. As a youngling I used to harass Papi for stories about the Gates.
Who made them? Why did they exist? Did angels ever cross them? Why did my brothers have to go to them?
The only details Papi would fess up was of how tall the Gates were. The Seal Gate specifically was made entirely of the whitest bone. Long bones, short ones. Bones intact, bones broken in half.
Papi always said the Gates looked like an open mouth, yawning out the cosmos from their throats while connecting realms separated by time and space, bridging them together for crossing.
Whoever controlled the Gates, controlled the endless existing realms throughout the Elledelle universe and all the planets within them.
As a youngling, so young and naive, I thought Papi was just telling me stories. Giving me nightmares early to try and restrain my curiosity.
Until now.
I stared at the Seal Gate and quivered. I was supposed to be at Temple Efysis. Why in the stars had I been sent here?
I looked up the length of the Gate, tilting my head all the way back to see the height of the open portal as endless stars swirled at its center. I was at a loss for words. I had no idea what to do. If this was a trial, what was the test?
I looked around and found the islet deserted. Which couldn’t make sense. Empyrean reports always said Legionnaires constantly fought at the Gates, especially the Seal Gate. They fought with their lives to keep all of the darkness out. But as I looked around, I found I was entirely alone.
Wait.
I spun around, searching the deserted island for signs of life. Where in the realms did Quazar go?
A cacophonous rumbling came from the center of the Gate. I backed away, looking back at the realm gate while also hunting for that traitorous Prince. We came here together. We obviously had to leave here together. At least, that’s what I thought. But like a coward, he’d disappeared.
“Not a coward, Starling. There are infinite ways an angel can die. This option isn’t particularly attractive to me.”
What was he on about? I spun back to the gate, eyes widening, as a tear started forming at the center. It was loud, making my ears twitch irritably. Then a claw poked out.
“Burning stars.” I whipped around, searching for what to do. Where to go. I was stranded. And alone.
“What a shame we didn’t get to have more fun together. I enjoyed our first dance. Even if you did sneak in a couple cheap shots. Nonetheless, say hello to your Manmi for me when you’re sent to meet her in the Hèls.”
“You can rot in the Hèls, Wicked Prince,” I spat as loud as I could in my mind. I wasn’t sure how the temple used a blasted star gate to bond us, but I’d stop at nothing until I found out how to break it.
“I’ll be there, that’s certain. Pretty sure your new friends will bring you there, too.”
He chuckled darkly, the sound curling around the threads of my mind, filling my every thought. I shook my head clear. I wouldn’t fall for his nonsense.
The Gate had attempted breaches, but most were unsuccessful. Manmi was at one of the last recorded breaches. If there were no Legionnaires here, even if it was a realm gate, it had to be because the threat of Fallen breach had been contained.
I began turning away, when the tearing sound happened again. I covered my ears. Looking back at the realm gate, an angelic head pushed through.
I froze. Starfire churned in my stomach, flooding into my bloodstream as I remained perfectly still. More and more of a body surfaced. Winged ears, tall, porcelain skin, and long, bone straight hair. Everything inside of me screamed for me to fly.
But I was too curious.
I stayed, unsure if this was a Hallowed angel coming back home, or a Fallen bursting through.
“It’s neither, Starling.” Dark laughter curled around my mind. “You’re so optimistic. I need you to think of worse.”
My knees began shaking. Something was wrong. But there was no cover here. Nowhere to hide. There was nothing on this islet except rocks, bones, and scattered twigs. Whatever life had been here once, had been razed to the ground. I was completely exposed.
I scoured my brain to place myself geographically. All around me was nothing but barren, wasted land. And with the Seal Gate being here…My eyes widened. I wasn’t on any ordinary islet. This was an island. The island of Barrenrock.
Rot.
As one head popped out of the Seal Gate, then another, I was almost relieved. They were Hallowed angels. And from the looks of it, they had to be of Seraphim rank.
The angels pushed through the realm gate with seven wing pairs, their heads bowed low, their bodies wrapped in tattered ivory robes. Then they lifted their heads.
I screamed and screamed until my throat was raw.
Cruel laughter flooded my mind.
“Have fun, Starling.”
I floated back in terror as, one…two…four…seven filmy eyes blinked at me, the largest at the center of the forehead with the other six balanced evenly on either side. Thank the stars I hadn’t eaten. I wanted to puke. The creature sniffed the air, all eyes pinned on me.
“Mmm,” it hissed. “Seraphim.”
Stars.
I racked my brain for what to do. The creature shot out of the mouth of the gate, landing on all…fours.
Not a Seraphim. Definitely not a Seraphim.
Horns the length of my arms began protruding from its head, as it opened up a mouth that stretched from ear to ear revealing rows of jagged teeth. My pulse quickened. Another of the creatures surfaced. Then another.
Dead. I was so burning dead.
“Probably.”
“Shut your rotting mouth!”
“That’s pretty foul language for a pious, little Faraseespawn like yourself, don’t you think?”
I ignored the traitorous asheater and focused on the monsters in front of me. I didn’t know what they were, but I knew I would have to fight my way out of this. Where were the Legionnaires? Why was I here alone? Why did the temple send me here?
“Maybe you’re a problem and this is a convenient way to get rid of you.”
“Shut up!”
“Why? Because you can’t handle the truth?”
I didn’t dignify that with a response. I wouldn’t listen to his lies.
“She smells like the stars.”
“She smells like the Elder Age.”
“Maybe she’ll taste like it, too.”
“This one we cannot consume. We must bring her to him.”
Before I could open my mouth to protest, the three monsters moved as a coordinated unit. They launched themselves forward, closing the distance between them and myself.
I had no chance to block the blow before it landed at the center of my chest. My body jerked, wrenching from the ground.
I was flung across the expanse of dirt, thrown like pebbles. I crashed, spine first, into a massive rock, before crumpling to the ground. I coughed, my vision spinning. When I looked down, there was large tear at the center of my chest. And golden blood spewed.
I drew in ragged breaths, working hard to use my starfire to heal myself. I pushed to my hands and knees as my chest started stitching itself together.
Only to be plucked up by my wings as long claws slashed through my gown and ribs, drawing more blood.
“Well, well. She lives again” the beast holding me said with glee. “We’ve found her. It is her.”