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The memory evaporates as I open my eyes

The room is quiet, and so far from home

Cassius’s blood has dried on un to itch I wash theot tells ot once ain My hands are still pink I sit back on the sleeping pallet and wait, focusing on slowing my breath till I slip into a shallow slumber

I wake at the sound ofinstinctively that it is Seraphina But ould it be?

The Pink, Aurae, stands there nervously, her hands clutched together, her eyes on the ground There’s blood under her nails

“Doht sent me”

“Is Cassius alive?”

She shifts on the soles of her gray slippers

“Is he? Be plain”

“No” Her eyes flutter up to meet mine “He has passed”

I say nothing for a full minute “When?”

“Not long ago I am sorry, dominus”

I drift to theThe darkness and cold outside creep in “That long? I didn’t even feel hi

The roar ofworld drowns out the woht I had saved hi To help hi Darrow and convince hiood he could do in the world Still peace he could bring Soether, and one day he would follow me as I follow him

Instead, he’s gone into the void