Shall they meet

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After being trapped in a stone sarcophagus, Anya never left the daitias' side. She didn't walk close to Nikk though, and he didn't try to edge to her. Why? Apparently, Anya didn't know how she was supposed to act beside him after the kiss. Pretend there was no kiss? She couldn't. Pretend it meant nothing? It wasn't true.

Besides, Rill must have suspected something, for she was glancing at Anya and Nikk, and grinning all the time untill Nikk gave her a glower. Then she stopped looking, but not grinning.

It was a relief to finally see the hallway before the main hall where The Book of Fates was kept in the dream.

"It's here," Nikk said, a vague tingle in his voice. Was he glad the journey was almost over? Or just the opposite?..

"Al last," Eirn sighed. "I worried we'd—"

Suddenly, Daphne halted midstep, and slapped her hand over his mouth.

"Quiet," she hissed without moving her jaws, peering into the darkness of the half-opened doors. She let go of Eirney, "We're not alone."

Everyone stopped, listening. Faint noises reached Anya's ears soon. She couldn't tell who, but somebody was in the hall.

Nikk and Daph exchanged glances, their faces turned grim. Nikk bobbed his head in a harsh nod, soundly put his backpack to the ground, and moved toward the doors, his hand clutching around the hilt of the sword hanging on his hip. His sister followed.

Keeping listening, Anya soon could make out some pieces of the conversation inside.

"...if we take the book now, they..."

"...what we want..."

"...why then..."

Nonetheless, these shards of voices proved to be more than enough for Daphne. The last drop of warmth was washed off her eyes.

"Ajeeva nî... Leir!" She screamed like it was a battle cry, threw her sword up in the airб and dashed inside.

"Damn it, Daph!.." Nikk hunched forward to catch her, but failed.

There was no point in staying hidden now. The others walked into the hall.

Looking around cautiously, Anya recognized the same hall of the ceremony in the dream. Nonetheless, there was no more glory in here, no lights, no statues. A pile of rock pieces, and the sun illuminating the chaos through the crashed celling. And the book! The book shining right in the middle. And...

"Hello," Leir said as he saw the daitias, not a flicker of fear his black eyes.

Anya counted the people. Leir and Charna who she remembered very well; two men—Tane and Nagal, obviously, but another man stepped out of the shadow...

"Dad?!" Anya's flinched as she heard her voice falter. Not possible.

"Anya?" Her father seemed to be as taken aback as she was. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" Anya's eyes shifted to Leir, who watched them, scowling. "Are you with the fomoires?"

Dad cocked his head at Leir. "You lied to me!" he roared. "You told me my daughter's safe!"

"She was," Leir said, slowly moving his gaze to Alexander. "Before she met us."

"Liar!" Daphne yelled. For a second, they were staring at each other like two animals challenging one another who would be the first to strike. "Like father, like son!" At moment's notice, she raced to attack.

A poisonous smirk stretched Leir's face as his blade clashed against Daphne's. With supernatural speed, other daitias rushed to aid and the fomoires to defend. In a split second, all their expressions changed beyond recognition. Their eyes were full of glowing hatred, anger, hunger for kill. Anya stumbled back, trembling.

"How did you drag yourself into this?" dad took her hand, drawing her away from the battle.

"The map on your desk," Anya forced up to her throat.

"Right, right... I always forget your curiosity is stronger than you."

At the edge of her vision, Anya saw Daphne's merciful blade swinging again and again, trying to get to Leir's flesh. But again and again, he deflected and dodged with airy ease. Nikk and Charna crossed their swords nearby; Rill and Eirney parried the strikes of Tane and Nagal in precise motions.

"What don't I know about your work, dad?" Anya demanded. She couldn't force herself to look away from the fight. It was dreadful, but... magnificent. Supreme.

"Hard to explain," her father swallowed. "We'd better take the book and leave before it's too late."

Alexander pulled Anya with him, but she jerked away as she saw a blue blade tucked underneath his belt. The dagger was the exact copy of what Daphne carried with her during the journey. "Where did you get that? Do you know they're not humans, dad? You know why they need the book?"

"I know everything, sweetheart," he looked at her kindly. "And I'll explain everything once we're safe. But now we have to go."

"Don't listen to him, Anya!" Daph shouted between the blows. "Leir and his ilk must have brainwashed him!"

Next second, Daphne managed to wave her hand without stopping the battle with Leir. Her glowing veins flashed, and Anya's father was lifted in the air. He flew several yards and collapsed unconscious, hitting the stone pillar with his back.

"You always overreact, Daph, when it comes to negotiating." Leir smirked, deflecting another her blow.

"What do you know about my reactions!"

"Dad!" Anya shrieked. She wanted to rushed to him, but a figure of ash-haired Tane rose before her. Alarmed, she glanced around. There was nobody to help her, Rill and Eirney were desperate, striving to put down Nagal.

"Let her take the book and go, Tane," Leir called imperiously. "The girl will be easy to find."

"Stay alive first," Daphne hissed.

Leir flicked his eyes at her, his gaze glowing wickedly. "It will take me just a dozen words to disarm you."

"You think?"

"Kill me, and you will never see Eleutheray even in your dreams."

Daphne froze, staring at him, devastated. The sword wavered in her hand.

One corner of Leir's mouth quirked. "Don't you recognize me, love?" he asked, taunting. "It's me, your dead boyfriend you've been talking to every last dream of yours."

"No," Daphne mouthed. She refused to look at Leir, her shoulders shuddering. "No. You're a liar!"

"A liar?" Leir raised his voice, a flicker of growing anger in his tone. "I am many things, but lie is not of them, Daphne. I warned you the last time we've met, remember? There's always a reason for your doubts." He ran his eyes over the other daitias and said, "Your moonlight-haired friend here reported your every move, every decision, every thought to me. How else would I know everything?"

Daphne blankly stared in the air before her, her eyes brimming.

Leir turned his sword in his hand, slowly circling her. If he had wanted to strike, he would have done already, Anya realized. He would have killed Daphne with no effort. But he hadn't. He didn't. Did he enjoy the pain twisting her expression?..

"Come on, Daph, think it through." Leir went on, toying with his blade. "You're a clever girl, aren't you? We've spent so much time together..."

She screamed, "No! It's not you! I know Ther! Not possible!"

"Aye. Possible. Every conversation we shared, every touch, every kiss," Leir nodded, inching closer to her. Then, he leaned so close to Daphne, Anya could barely hear him say, "It was all ours, Daph. You were mine. You are mine. And no one else's."

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