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Just then, the doors to the Golden Citadel open A hush descends over the plaza as a squadron of gray-uniforiltstone steps They each wear a butterfly medal on their chest and have a ceremonial sword strapped around their waist Even frolint of their irises They’re carrying large steel kegs, like the kind they use in taverns, although I suspect these are filled with Wings instead of ale

They step onto the stage and my heart freezes Sebastian is at the far end of the row, to our left There’s a gash down his cheek, perhaps an injury frohold, and his olive skin looks waxen, but he’s still disar looks from the females in our row

"Ash," I say

"Yeah, I’ve seen his feel nunizes us, then this is all over Thankfully, we’re in the middle of the row and he hasn’t looked in our direction yet His gaze is fixed on one of the large digital screens on the edge of the plaza The cae He’s just out of shot A scowl passes over his lips He loves the liure appears at the doors of the Golden Citadel, dressed in a long red robe and white gloves Around his neck is a circle pendant His black hair is swept neatly back, and his pale skin has a strange, waxy sheen to it I realize now hethick h the crowd as Purian Rose walks down the steps, co everyone’s attention The hairs on the back of my neck prickle; I can practically feel thehiuards salute Rose as he strolls over to the microphone at the front of the platform When he speaks, his voice is a around the stage His face is projected on all the e is also being broadcast in every city square across the country, as others attend their own Cleansing cererims, I am honored that you have joined me today to take part in thisis not just about co your devotion to the Sentry governether so hard, they’re white "It is about cleansing your mind, body and spirit of sin It has always been my dream to have a nation free from impurity, a world where we are all united, and today that dream will be fulfilled"

"So sayeth us all," the crowd chants in unison

Purian Rose srasp The gray-unifors The opaque liquid shis

"First row, step up," says a guard frohtens around eline takes his other hand as alk up the steps leading onto the stage, along with the rest of the first row When we reach the platform, we kneel down and bow our heads I surreptitiously look to the left Sebastian is gazing at the digital screens again He seeht-hand side of the stage, and the cereuards hands Purian Rose a red bowl filled ater Rose approaches the first person in the row--a ed woman with a shaved head and a rose tattoo above her left ear She picks up the white bowl in front of her and brings it to her lips A cry bubbles up in my throat I want to yell at her to stop, but I clas The look of bliss that enters her face is instantaneous as it courses through her veins Purian Rose dips his gloved hand into the red bowl and swipes his wet thuhter," he says

Ash nudges e I follow his gaze Sebastian has left his position and is sloalking toward us, his hands behind his back He’s ti his footsteps so he’ll be in the middle of the platfor us from the opposite direction, so they both will appear in the close-up camera shot At this pace, he’ll reach eline

"What are we going to do?" I whisper,Sebastian when he nears us, but I’eline to grab Purian Rose’s hand and activate his heart, before the other guards kill her

I shoot a look to ht Purian Rose is now fifteen people away, fourteen, thirteen, Sebastian iscloser and closer toto do?--nine, eight, seven--my palms start to sweat--six, five, four--Ash’s muscles coil, ready to strike, three, two, one--

Purian Rose reaches Evangeline just as Sebastian stops in front of eline picks up the white bowl and pretends to drink My heart is beating so hard, I think it’s going to burst out of eline lowers the bowl just as Sebastian’s head turns His eyes snag on mine

Purian Rose dips his hand into the red bowl

Sebastian’s lips twist into a snarl

Rose touches his thueline’s skin

Sebastian draws his sword, and--

34

EDMUND

I GASP, FALLING TO MY KNEES, as pain bloo toward a single point in my chest There’s a burst of fire and then:

Ba-boom

The boy Sebastian turns, alarhout the crowd like wildfire, their voicesheart

It can’t be

"Your Excellency?" he says

I ignore hiirl in front of me

How?

Beside her, the boy in the black coat stands up and lowers his hood, revealing an angular face with fierce ebony eyes, wide asps froirl beside hiets to her feet and lowers her hood--blond curls, blue eyes, stubborn h me No! They were supposed to be dead I shoot a look at Sebastian All the blood has drained out of his face Flustered, the boy quickly raises his sword and swings it at the Darkling girl in front of rips my heart

"Stop!" I coirl’s neck I stagger to my feet

"Drop your sword," I deether "Your Excellency?"

"Do it!" I say

The boy drops his sword, and it lands near uards throw confused looks at each other, uncertain what to do as I stretch out irl She takes it The second our hands touch, a jolt of electricity darts up my arm and intoHow is this possible?

I gently sweep a strand of hair away froer on her cheek A blush enters her pale skin My eyes drink her in, tracing the contours of her face--glihtly parted to reveal her fangs I can’t stop looking at those lips

"Edmund," she whispers Her voice is like a siren’s call, wrapping itself aroundfor me"

"What?" I say