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Nothing happens No one moves I strain harder

Pain, seize their bodies!

This time, I can barely make out their faces They’re pinched in pain One points toward Jake

Jake! Leave here now!

Jake’s face, although filled with rage, charges both Fallen I aies in his chest They go down, and Jake escapes the e ca--at least it feels that way I shake my head to clear it, but thatpulled over my eyes, or a shadow--I can’t tell Just before I black outpast h,into darkness

"Victorian!" I bolt up, s My vision is blurry, and it takes a few seconds for it to clear It’s almost dusk, which means yet another full day has passed Gulls scream overhead The heavy scent of brine fills the air, and the crashing of waves against rock echoes It’s cold in here, damp, and as I look around I realize I’nize

Meone

The other two in the passageere the other Black Fallen And they’d had the power to make Jake Andorra freeze in his tracks They’ve sent Vic somewhere He justdisappeared Or was he dead? Christ, was that it?

Two? I’ve lost t?

"I’ own I snatch up the hem and feel for rab for it

"You’ve no need for that," Athios says "I won’t hurt you"

"How do I know that?" I ask

"Because I would have already done so Besides, I left you your dirk"

"The other two--Black Fallen?" I ask

"Yes," Athios answers "Mybrethren, so to speak" He says that with disdain, and it’s unmistakable

"They killed Victorian," I say, and an uncontrolled sob rips from my throat "Fuck!" I say, then scream it louder as it echoes off the decayed stone "Fuck!" I rand archedand look out over the ocean A fierce, cold wind blows against my face, and I welcoone I can’t even corips with it

"I arned about the powers of the Black Fallen," I say out loud, facing the sea "I really didn’t believe it until last night" I turn to Athios "You are unstoppable"

Athios, his jacket removed now, still wears the remainder of his tux The tie is loosened from his starched white shirt He moves closer "I’m not like them"

I study him for a moment I believe him "What about Jake?"

"He escaped Thanks to you"

"How?" I ask, bewildered "They could’ve gone after him Followed hi closer still "They preferred instead to come after ood "You knoe’ve found the first relic?" I ask