Im sure she did.

And he was able to speak to her, in her mind, telling her lies. Making her promises that theyd be together when he was released if she helped him. Timotheus didnt reply to this. He didnt have to. I hate that I feel even a little bit sorry for her now that I know how Kyan manipulated her. It was so much easier just to hate her.

Dont feel sorry for Melenia. She could have fought harder against him.

How do you know that? Perhaps she tried and failed.

Perhaps, he acknowledged.

Lucia touched the other elemental symbols. Have the other three Kindred ever been released?

Not to my knowledge. Not in a physical form, anyway.

Had Alexius known any of this? she wondered. He must have come there to meet with Melenia. This was where the beautiful elder had told him what to do. Hed been corrupted with her words and magic right here in this very place. Yet Alexius had fought in the end.

Lucia wanted to believe that he had fought from the very beginning.

You told me Alexius was your friend, she said.

Like family to me.

I havent said this before, but Im so sorry for your loss.

And Im sorry for yours.

She swallowed the lump forming in her throat, trying to focus on something else. She placed a hand on her stomach. Ive been thinking about what to name the baby, and Im struggling to find something that fits. I want to choose something strong, something worthy. A name my son or daughter will come to appreciate as they grow older.

You have plenty of time to decide.

Yes, I suppose I do. Lucia absentmindedly picked up a small golden chest sitting on the nearest glass table. It was about the size of the jewelry box Lucia had found in Princess Cleos Auranian palace bedchamber. She lifted the lid to see a shining golden dagger lying within. She picked it up and studied the blade.

Is this what Melenia used to carve the obedience spell into him? she asked, breathless.

In one smooth motion, Timotheus plucked the dagger from her hand, put it back in the box, and closed the lid.

It is, he said, looking down at the box with a furrowed brow. If I destroy it, I worry that would release the dark magic trapped within. I should put it somewhere else, somewhere no one will ever be able to find it again. The worlds will be safer that way. He paused. Are you finished looking around? I assure you, theres nothing to find here except unpleasant memories and regrets. I would know better than most.

Lucia exhaled shakily and nodded. Im finished.

Then I will have Mia show you around the city. After my unexpected announcement, my fellow immortals will want to see you again before you must return to your home.

As if by magic"and Lucia had no reason to believe it was because of anything else"Mia was waiting for her at the base of the tower. She already knew what Timotheus had suggested. Mia appeared nervous. Despite however many centuries or millennia old she might be, she seemed younger than Lucia herself. Lucia gave her a warm smile.

Mia smiled back and, taking Lucias arm in hers, accompanied her outside.

While the pressure of finding Kyan when she returned to Mytica weighed heavily on her mind, Lucia was curious to learn more about this city and its occupants"including what immortals did to pass their time.

She took in the sights around her as they walked. A couple dozen Watchers were crouched on the ground. They worked diligently, creating an expansive piece of art directly on the mirrored city square by placing tiny colored crystal fragments in intricate patterns.

This piece represents air, and theyve finally finished it, Mia said, taking Lucia to the top of a nearby building so they could see the artwork from above. Isnt it lovely?

Very, Lucia agreed. The design was of detailed spirals in many different shades of blue and white, and it reminded Lucia of a beautiful mosaic shed seen on the wall of the Auranian palace library. Only this was ten times that size and had to have taken the artists months to produce.

The artists stepped back from their work, smiling at each other and wiping the sweat off their brows.

Then, to Lucias surprise, they each took a golden-handled broom and began to sweep away the crystal shards, destroying their impressive work.

What are they doing? she exclaimed.

Mia just looked at her with a frown. Clearing the space so they can begin again, of course.

Such a waste of a beautiful piece of artwork!

No, no. This is how its meant to be. It shows that everything that exists must one day change"but what is destroyed can be created again with patience and dedication.

As Lucia pondered this, still disturbed that an incredible piece of beauty couldnt be made to last, Mia took her to the group of immortals. Their eyes filled with hope at the sight of her, and they asked if she would like the honor of beginning the next mosaic. Lucia chose a handful of red crystals, as fine as sand, from a long golden tray. She sprinkled some in the center of the area, eyeing Mia to see if shed done this correctly.

Mia smiled and clapped her hands. Excellent. Im sure youve now inspired them to make an incredible dedication to the fire Kindred.

Lucias stomach sank at the thought that shed unconsciously chosen red rather than any other color.

Well, of course I did, she thought. It has nothing to do with Kyan. Its the color of Limeros.

You must be hungry, Mia said, leading Lucia to an outdoor courtyard where fruit hung heavily from the trees. Lucia looked around, realizing just how very hungry she was. She reached up to pluck a dark red apple from its branch. Mia did as well, taking a big bite out of the piece of fruit and prompting Lucia to do the same.

When she sank her teeth into the crisp skin, the taste of the apple made her eyes widen with shock. Shed never experienced anything so sweet, so pure, so delicious.

This is the best thing Ive ever tasted! she said aloud, nearly giddy.

She devoured it quickly, having to force herself not to eat the core and seeds as well. As she boldly reached for another, she felt a sharp and unexpected twinge in her belly. She placed her hand over it and looked down, frowning.

What was that? she murmured.

Are you all right? Mia asked, concerned.

The twinge was only momentary, and Lucia shook it off. Im fine. Likely my stomach was just expressing gratitude for some food after so long.

Lucia decided to take strength from this food, from the immortals who looked at her with hope rather than fear, and from the friendship of Timotheus and Mia, as she waited impatiently to return home.

It was impossible to judge the passing of days in a place where it was always light, but Lucia enjoyed two deep sleeps while she was in the Crystal City.

Then Timotheus had Mia bring her back to the tower. Lucia gripped her new friends hands. Thank you for helping me.

No. Mia shook her head, meeting Lucias gaze with such sincerity it nearly stole her breath. Thank you for coming here. Thank you for being someone we can believe in. One day I know we will meet again.

I hope youre right. Lucia reluctantly released Mia and followed Timotheus into the crystal tower.

This time, the doors he guided her to slid open into a dark, cavernous place.

Were underground, Lucia guessed.

We are.

She was about to ask another question when she saw something fifteen paces away, an object that glowed with violet light. As they drew closer to it, Lucia realized what it was.

A monolith, she gasped. Like the one in the mountains.

Timotheus nodded, his features shadowed by the uneven light. There is one of these in each of the seven worlds"yours and mine being only two of them.

Seven? Lucias gaze shot to his. Youre saying that there are five more worlds beyond ours?

Your mathematical abilities are truly impressive. He raised a brow. Yes, seven worlds, Lucia. My kind was created to watch over these worlds before Damen destroyed everything we held dear. Now we only watch over your world. His expression darkened at the mention of the truly evil immortal. These monoliths were created to allow travel between the worlds. Damen drained that magic so he could easily walk between worlds at his whim. This destruction is what made the mountains void of life, and its the cause of your kingdom turning to ice and Paelsia turning to stone.

Lucia stared at him as he delivered this gigantic piece of the mysterious puzzle of Mytica in a single breath. Why, then, is Auranos still beautiful?

Because of the goddess they worshipped"that some still worship. The goddess who was once an elder like myself.

Cleiona.

He nodded. She managed to protect the kingdom shed claimed while Valoria failed to do the same. Sometimes it seems as if it was only yesterday that I last saw them both. Weve all lost so much, never again to be found . . . Timotheus grimaced as he spoke of the goddesses. Then he blinked hard, as if to clear his mind. Youve been here long enough, Lucia. You must go now and attempt to stop Kyan.

Lucia almost laughed at his consistently harsh tone. I think Ill miss your candor. And Im not going to attempt to stop him, I will stop him.

I hope for all of our sakes that youre right.

She looked up at the glowing monolith. How do I use this to help send me back?

Press your hands to its surface, and the gateway magic will do the rest. When she hesitated, he raised a brow. Dont tell me that youre doubting my word.

If I thought you were lying to me, youd already be dead. A small smile crept onto her face as his eyes widened. Two of us can be blunt, Timotheus.

Indeed.

Farewell, she said, ready to leave. Ready to return to her home, find her family, and ensure Kyan would never harm another soul.

Timotheuss surprised expression faded, replaced by something she could only describe as sadness. Farewell, Lucia.

She pressed the palms of her hands against the cool, glowing crystal monolith. The light emanating from it quickly brightened to a pure white glow. Lucia forced her hands to keep pushing while she squeezed her eyes shut.

The very next moment, Lucia found herself on the ground with the wind knocked out of her and her feet swept beneath her. Gasping for breath and more than a little confused, she quickly pushed herself up from the dry, brittle earth and spun around in search of Timotheus.

But she was no longer in the Sanctuary. One brief glance at her surroundings told her that she had returned to the place in the mountains where shed battled Kyan. Though it was day, she still recognized the place, and the air was every bit as cold as it was when she was there last. Cold"and rippling with an unsettling sensation that she instinctively knew to be an atmosphere of impending death.

Damen, an immortal, had caused this by leeching the magic from the monolith. His touch may have been all that was necessary to cover it in stone, hiding its magic for all these years until Kyan burned that stone away. There was nothing here"no birds, no mammals, not even a single insect crawled upon this land. There were no trees or shrubs of any kind here, save for a small oasis where theyd found the monolith.

For a moment, she felt such dread in her heart that it seemed certain that Kyan had been there the whole time, waiting for her to return. She froze, looking around, her fists clenched and ready to fight.

But there was nothing there. No one. Only Lucia.

And it was well past time she left.

As she walked across the scorched ground littered with crumbled rocks, she discovered with a flash of happiness the purse shed thought was lost. It still contained more than enough coin to pay for an inn for several nights.

Continuing on, she came upon the gaping hole in the ground where Kyan had exploded. At the bottom of the deep depression in the rock, something sparkled even in the meager light this deep in the mountains.

Nothing ever sparkled here.

She moved toward it tentatively, leaning forward to pick up a smooth rock: the source of the strange glinting. Lucia brushed a thick layer of ash from its surface. She staggered backward, clasping a hand over her mouth when she saw what was underneath.

An amber orb.

Kyans prison was no larger than the apple shed eaten in the Sanctuary.

Oh, she gasped, turning her head in every direction to once again make sure she was truly alone.

She held the thing up, squinting as she tried to catch it in what little daylight was able to emerge from behind a curtain of clouds above the mountains. The amber orb was transparent straight through: no cracks, no abnormalities, no imperfections.

Once, she might have thought such a treasure was beautiful. Not now. Not this treasure. But it was a sign that she had the lead, and for that she was grateful.

If she possessed this crystal, she had the means to stop Kyan before he put his plans of world destruction into play.

After allowing herself a small grin at this victory, she made her way out of the mountains and started upon a several hours journey west for a small village she knew, where she and Kyan had made their plans to trek into the mountains. There shed learn if anyone had seen or heard about Kyan since theyd been there last.

She would redeem herself for her past mistakes, and aligning with the fire Kindred had, by far, been her biggest mistake of all.

Near dusk, Lucia finally entered the familiar inn and warily glanced around the busy tavern, half expecting to see Kyan slurping from a bowl of soup.

Exhausted from her travels, she took a seat at the very same table the two of them had shared the morning after she realized she was pregnant.

I remember you, spoke a female voice. Welcome back.

Lucia looked up at the barmaid approaching her table. And I remember you. Sera, yes?

This barmaid had seen Lucia and Kyan together. Shed been the one who told them that the answers they were looking for could be found in the mountains"and shed been right.

Yes, thats my name, Sera said with a smile. Wheres your handsome friend?

We were separated during our travels. Has he been back since we left here?

Afraid not.

Are you certain?

Believe me, Id remember if he had. The girl winked. Care for a drink?

Yes, she said, all of a sudden realizing how desperately thirsty she was. Ill have . . . peach juice.