Rain fell steadily over the cathedral.

  Midnight had already passed.

  Clouds swallowed the moon, leaving only the dim glow of lanterns along the church walls. Water dripped from the stone arches and ran across the courtyard like thin streams.

  Two shadows slipped along the outer wall.

  Miha moved first, crouched low, her cloak dark with rain. Sushank followed close behind, trying not to step on the loose gravel scattered across the path.

  A guard stood near the corner ahead.

  Lantern in hand.

  Half-awake.

  Miha raised her hand.

  Stop.

  They both pressed themselves against the cold stone wall.

  The guard shifted.

  His lantern lifted slightly, light brushing across the corridor.

  For a moment it looked like he would turn.

  Sushank held his breath.

  The guard frowned slightly, staring into the darkness.

  Then—

  Thunder rumbled in the distance.

  The guard grumbled and turned away, pulling his cloak tighter against the rain.

  Miha exhaled silently.

  She motioned forward.

  They slipped past him.

  Inside the cathedral, the halls were dim and quiet. Only a few candles burned along the walls.

  Their footsteps echoed softly on the stone floor.

  They moved quickly through the corridors toward the west wing.

  Sushank finally whispered,

  “Cassian once told me to take a parcel for him.”

  Miha glanced at him.

  “When?”

  “Before the attack.”

  “What kind of parcel?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Sushank frowned slightly.

  “He told me if something happened… I should take it.”

  Miha slowed.

  “…You think it’s still in his room?”

  “Maybe.”

  They turned the final corner.

  Cassian’s room stood at the end of the hall.

  The door was locked.

  Sushank stared at it.

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  “…We don’t have the key.”

  Miha reached into her right pocket.

  And pulled one out.

  Sushank slowly turned toward her.

  Really looked at her.

  His mouth opened—

  Miha immediately raised a finger.

  “Shhh.”

  Her voice was barely a whisper.

  Sushank blinked.

  “…Miha.”

  She scratched the back of her head awkwardly.

  “One year ago I made it.”

  “With magic?”

  Miha nodded.

  “Earth and fire.”

  Sushank stared.

  “…Cassian was always scolding someone for breaking into his room.”

  Miha smiled nervously.

  Sushank’s eyes slowly narrowed.

  A memory surfaced.

  Cassian shouting down the hallway.

  A completely destroyed room.

  Papers everywhere.

  No one ever admitting what happened.

  Sushank rubbed the bridge of his nose.

  “…Miha.”

  She looked away.

  “…Yes?”

  “You remember. One year ago?”

  Miha gave the most awkward smile possible.

  “I might have… forgotten to mention it.”

  Sushank sighed deeply.

  “I might have suspected.”

  Miha quickly unlocked the door.

  They stepped inside.

  She immediately locked it from the inside.

  Cassian’s room looked almost untouched.

  His bed.

  His desk.

  His wardrobe.

  Everything exactly as it had been left.

  The air felt strangely heavy.

  Sushank walked to the wardrobe and began searching.

  Clothes.

  Books.

  Letters.

  Nothing.

  Miha checked the desk drawers.

  “Anything?”

  “No.”

  Then she noticed something.

  A book resting beside the pillow on Cassian’s bed.

  “That wasn’t there before,” she whispered.

  They both approached.

  Sushank opened the book.

  Only a single word was written on the page.

  Henson.

  Sushank frowned.

  “What—”

  Click.

  The sound of a lock opening echoed in the room.

  Miha’s eyes widened.

  She immediately grabbed Sushank’s arm and pulled him down.

  They both slid under the table just as the door opened.

  Henson stood in the rain outside the cathedral.

  He couldn’t sleep.

  Something felt wrong.

  He couldn’t explain it.

  Just a faint disturbance somewhere inside his mind.

  His eyes slowly scanned the ground.

  Night vision allowed him to see clearly even in darkness.

  Then he saw them.

  Footprints.

  Small ones.

  Fresh in the wet dirt.

  Henson tilted his head slightly.

  “…Interesting.”

  He turned toward the cathedral doors.

  And stepped inside.

  Inside Cassian’s room, the door opened slowly.

  The High Priestess stepped in.

  Keys rested quietly in her hand.

  She stopped.

  The room was not the same.

  Water footprints stained the floor.

  The book beside the pillow was open.

  She closed it slowly.

  Then sat calmly on the edge of the bed.

  Under the table, Sushank and Miha remained perfectly still.

  Their hearts pounded.

  Miha leaned close to Sushank.

  “When she turns toward the window… we move.”

  Sushank nodded slowly.

  Risky.

  Very risky.

  The High Priestess stood.

  She walked toward the window.

  Just as she turned—

  Miha and Sushank slipped out silently and began moving toward the door behind her.

  One step.

  Two.

  Three.

  They were almost there.

  Then—

  “You two are going to give me headaches.”

  Both of them froze.

  Slowly they turned around.

  The High Priestess stood behind them, pinching the bridge of her nose.

  Miha began murmuring something under her breath.

  Sushank stared at the floor.

  Miha opened her mouth to speak—

  The High Priestess raised a hand.

  “You know how bad it is to sneak into the church at midnight?”

  Silence.

  “How did you even get here?”

  Miha slowly pulled the key from her pocket.

  The High Priestess looked at it.

  Then at Miha.

  Realization appeared in her eyes.

  “…One year ago?”

  Miha froze.

  The High Priestess sighed quietly.

  She closed the window.

  Then locked the door.

  “The church is not what it used to be,” she said calmly.

  “It’s dangerous to be here at night.”

  She gestured toward the hallway.

  “Follow me. I’ll help you leave.”

  She wasn’t asking.

  Miha and Sushank exchanged a glance.

  Then followed her.

  Outside, Henson walked slowly across the rain-soaked courtyard.

  The footprints had already begun to fade.

  But he had seen enough.

  He entered the cathedral silently.

  The High Priestess led them down a quiet corridor.

  It grew darker the deeper they went.

  Finally they reached a staircase descending into the basement.

  Her posture remained calm.

  Hands folded in front of her.

  She stepped onto the first stair.

  “Not so fast.”

  All three of them turned.

  Henson stood leaning against the wall.

  Watching.

  He pushed himself away from it slowly.

  “High Priestess,” he said politely.

  She remained composed.

  “Henson? I thought you were in your chamber.”

  He smiled faintly.

  His eyes moved from the staircase…

  To Miha…

  Then to Sushank.

  He stepped forward.

  Shadows shifted strangely around his feet.

  Then suddenly—

  Several shadow tendrils shot forward, stopping inches from the High Priestess’s throat.

  Miha gasped.

  Sushank froze.

  But the High Priestess did not move.

  Henson studied her quietly.

  “…Perhaps we should talk.”

  His eyes moved to Sushank and Miha.

  “You two should go home.”

  His tone remained calm.

  “Tomorrow morning I want both of you here.”

  He paused.

  “Bring your parents.”

  Then he looked at Miha again.

  “Chosen One… perhaps you should restrain yourself from activities like this.”

  Miha didn’t respond.

  Henson’s gaze returned to the High Priestess.

  “Now…”

  His smile thinned slightly.

  “Shall we have our talk?”