Chapter 743: The Core
Ameline's unhappy scowl actually helped, pricking my temper and making my egos all surge in anger. A nice change from the spinning fear we all fell into after Fate's little "loss" pronouncement.
"Took long enough," she said before turning her back on me, confronting Mabel. "I take it my turn is coming sometime in the near future?"
Her ass was right there in front of me, beneath the black cloak she wore. One swift kick-
Do it, my demon snarled.
Use earth magic, Shaylee sent.
Temper, temper, my vampire's calm voice finished with, don't miss.
If only.
"Travel safely." I turned, surprised to find Fate standing behind us, empty eyes on Ameline. "Listen carefully to what my brother has to tell you, Dark Child. Your Fate will lead you where you need to go."
Ameline didn't turn, shoulders stiff, and the Light Fate sighed. Waved to me.
I wanted to ask her, to drill her for information, but there wasn't time. Only the horrible knowledge someone I loved was going to be lost to me.
That doesn't have to mean death, does it? My demon's heat cooled as she coiled, unhappy, inside me. Not necessarily.
Perhaps it just means someone is moving on? Shaylee's hint of hope did little to make me feel better.
You are immortal, my vampire sent. Those around you are not. You must prepare yourself for the inevitable.
Sigh.
Max's hand closed around mine as Mabel opened the veil this time, not even bothering to travel outside the city first. I spotted Iepa watching, hands clutched to her chest, but refused to answer her sad little smile.
Told myself there wasn't time as Max and I followed Mabel and Ameline through the gap in the veil.
Liar.
Why was I not surprised to step out of the other side and into darkness? Really, could they have been a bit more predictable? And while, yes, the city stretching out before me down the path was stunning in the night, sparkling with multi-hued lights, I caught myself heaving a reflexive sigh.
Max's smile shone in the dark. "They call it Core," he said, laughter in his voice.
Of course they did.
Posers, all of them. Kids who refused to play nice together, to share a sandbox. Seriously.
I hated the fact some of the most powerful beings in all the planes were way less grown up than I was.
Not promising.
Trinol waited for us at the entry to the city, black skin almost lost in the night.
"Welcome," he said. Stepped aside.
I let Ameline and Mabel take the lead, hanging back a little with Max. Nervous. Just in case I wasn't welcome. These were the dark maji, after all. Surely, they'd be unhappy about me showing up to rain on their little parade.
How startling to discover the contrary was true. The maji of this city seemed as interested in me being there as those of Center did about Ameline. And when we reached the center of the city, forced to grow and expand once again to climb identical stairs to an identical building, this one's columns and walls of jet marble, I found the leader of this place had a smile of greeting for me.
"I am Yosha," she said. "Be welcome here, those of the prophecy."
Huh. Nice. Zeon needed to take notes. I bowed my head to her as Max let me go.
Ameline didn't bother, pushing past the dark maji woman. "Where is he?"
Thunder boomed, a lightning strike creating a flare of white. My insides shuddered from the aftereffect of the change in air pressure as a massive voice echoed above us.
"Ameline," the voice said, fury in his tone, "come to me."
Whoops. I grinned at her before making a moue of fake concern she seemed to be in trouble.
I really didn't think the rude hand gesture she flashed me in answer was called for.
So childish.
Snort.
No way I was being left behind, though. I followed her into the building, Max and Mabel keeping pace, the maji leader remaining behind. It wasn't long before I spotted the other Fate sitting next to a roaring fire. Max's hand on my shoulder held me back as Mabel turned with her hands folded in front of her, like some drach bodyguard.
"We must remain," Max said.
Grumble, mumble. But fair enough, I supposed.
Still, after what Fate told me, it would have been nice to eavesdrop. But no amount of poking and prodding made it past Mabel's guardian magic so I gave up and crossed my arms to wait.
My foot wouldn't stop tapping in anxious irritation. Pacing didn't help much, either. Was I really gone this long? It felt like a few minutes I talked with Fate. Ameline's little chat was freaking endless.
Needing a distraction, I turned on Max. "Mind telling me what the whole love thing was about?"
Syd. Sheesh. Tactful.
He flinched a little, but didn't back down. "My people were first," he said. "And I am first of my people."
Wow. Okay.
"Fate was next," he said, "and I have loved her since."
Tears rushed to the surface, a choking sob escaping me. Already on a tightrope with my own worries and emotions, that simple statement almost broke me for some reason. I reached out, squeezed his hand, let my magic flow to him, allowed him to feel my regret, my sadness for him.
His answered with gentle sorrow, as ancient as the planes themselves.
"You can never be together." Wow, I thought my life sucked.
He shook his head.
My sorrow retreated even as a zing of understanding almost made me gasp.
Syd, girl. You're holding hands with the oldest living creature ever.
Holy.
I was so wrapped up in the knowledge of Max's reality I almost forgot what I was really waiting for. So when Ameline appeared, speculation etched in her features, I had to jerk myself back to the task at hand.
She'd definitely lost her flat emotionlessness, and I, for one, was glad. Considering I had a hard time not showing every single thing I felt on my face and in the way I carried my body, it was gratifying to know even the ice queen could be human.
The young man she'd spoken to joined us, identical to his sister Fate, though his hair was shaved to a soft stubble and his voice deeper than hers when he spoke.
"My friend," he addressed Max. "Love of my sister. It is good to see you again."
Max bowed to Fate. "And you."
Fate's face took on a hint of sorrow as he spoke again. "You understand your part? You will fulfill your task at the appointed time?"
Max nodded. "I am ready," he said.
I really would have loved to know what that was all about.
No time. Not for anything anymore.
"Be well," Fate said. "The moment of prophecy is nigh." He waved to me, then to Ameline. "The Dark and the Light are well met."
If he said so.
Max's hand on my shoulder was all the warning I had. One last look around Core and we were in the veil, while my nerves woke up and gave me a nice double-tap to my ribcage.
Game on.
Time to kick some Brotherhood ass once and for all.
I hoped.
***
