Something light fluttered against her cheek.

"Cady," a little voice called. "Shezinka."

This must be a dream. Cole is in the Hall of Games. He doesn't even know I'm here.

The fluttering grew more intense. Cadence lifted a hand and swiped it from her cheek.

"Ouch!" her brother's voice said. It was soft, as though muted with a piece of cloth. "You almost killed me!"

"Cole?" She felt about with her hands. "Is that really you?"

"Yes, I Shifted into a moth to spy on the surroundings. Zoroth told me what happened. We're coming to rescue you."

"You can't," she said. "You are no match against hundreds of Walker Hunters."

"Hang in there," Cole said. "I'll get you out, I promise."

Her brother rested on her cheek, lingering there for a moment, trying to comfort her with his moth form. Cadence did not move. She lay on the dirty, hay strewn floor. She wasn't even sure whether this was one of Taras' mind tricks or whether it was Kazimir playing with her mind.

Cole fluttered his wings and flew away, leaving her alone in the dark.

No, please come back. Don't leave me.

The moth was gone.

Cadence scrunched up her hands, feeling the dirt seep into her already dirty fingernails. The nails had just been regrown by Ivan after Taras had yanked them out.

Brother, please.

It could be days, it could be weeks, Cadence didn't know. Taras had tried all sort of methods on her. He had cut open her hand and soaked it in salt water, broke her bones, cut her open with a scapel and made her watch him splice her fingers.

Battered and bruised, bleeding and exhausted, she clung onto the notion that her brother would come and rescue her. He would tear this place down with his bare hands and carry her home. She wanted nothing more than to go home and cook with him and watch him shovel snow from the front door. Her will was a piece of frayed string stretched taut. All it needed was a speck of dust to settle on it, and it would snap.

I can't. There is nothing else for me to live for. Papa is gone, Khazaria is dead. Who will I redeem myself to?

She cried out for help, but this time, even her inner voice was silent.

*****

"Cady."

Someone patted her cheek. "Dewas above," the person whispered. "Wake up."

Am I dead? Am I in Syurka?

Cadence opened her eyes. A torch blazed in front of her. She squinted at the person holding the torch.

"Cole?"

She reached out and grasped her brother's face. It felt real—dirty, tear-stained, but it was him—the tall nose, the brown eyes, the messy dark hair that desperately needed a trim.

She laughed weakly. "I'm in Syurka."

"No, you're not." Cole grabbed her chains, yanked them apart and dropped them onto the ground in disgust. "Listen, we've got to be quick. Zoroth is outside waiting for us. I don't know how long the drugs in the guard's wine will last, we need to go."

Her delirium lifted. The physical pain came crashing back.

"You're Cole." She wept with joy.

Her brother scrutinized her, eyes blazing. "Whoever who did this to you, I swear to the Dewas, will die in the most horrible way possible."

"How did you find me?"

Cole smashed the chains at her feet and helped her up. Unable to walk, she hung uselessly onto him.

"Your Ancient-" He swept Cadence into his arms and exited the cell. Cole was dressed in Walker Hunter garment—red cloak, a light armor, and even their signet ring was on his finger. "-dropped down on me as I was relieving myself, that damned creature, then showed me the bracelet I gave you. Said you were in trouble, and he got me out of the Region of Games. He followed your scent all the way here. That's how we found you."

"He's not my Ancient. He's annoying."

"I can attest to that. Alright, I need you to pretend that I'm taking you to see your master, whoever he is."

"Taras," she said.

"I'm going to be rough, so forgive me. It's our only way out."

Cole let her down gently, then grabbed her by the ends of her broken chains. "Off we go."

He dragged Cadence out of the dungeon, passing the two men who had been her abusive cellmasters for the stretch of time she was there.

The other Hunters did not bat an eyelid as he marched past them. He had copied their firm and quick gait, the way the hand containing their signet ring would be held over the hilt of their sword. Her brother was a good actor. If he wasn't a Varya, he could audition at the local theater, he might hit high and go big.

However, no matter how composed he seemed, Cadence felt the unease roll off him. There were so many things that could go wrong. They both could be caught, and he would be suscepted to the torture she had gone through, but the Hunters would not Heal him. They had no use for him, he was not a Walker.

No, please no.

They were in a mansion turned hideout. Cadence recognized those features—the wainscoting ceilings, the statues, the cut of the walls and the rooms—but this one was devoid of all the riches that made a mansion exquisite. The House banners had been replaced with banners bearing the insignia of the Walker Hunters, the upholstery removed and instead stockpiled with weapons.

Moonlight shone through the broken window panes. Cadence felt the shadows tense as she passed them, as if acknowledging her presence.

"Get up." Her brother yanked her through a pair of large doors. Once he had closed the doors, he grabbed the metal handles and twisted them together into a knot. It wasn't the best form of protection, but it would buy them some time.

The outside wind kissed her cheeks. She had almost forgotten what wind felt like. It was welcoming, soft hands on her face, reminding her to breathe.

Two Hunters stood guard by the mansion gates, both deep in conversation.

"Almost there," Cole stole a whisper. "Zoroth is hiding in the forest outside the mansion. I'll disarm the guards, then he'll fly us to safety."

He hid Cadence behind a bush and approached the guards, drawing his sword.

The guards never saw him coming. Cole rammed the back of his sword into the first man's head, hard. Blood and brains exploded. The second guard drew his own sword, but Cole was faster. He slashed the second guard across the neck before dropping him with a stab through the chest. The guard died instantly—a quick, silent death.

Cole returned to Cadence's side.

"Come." He started to gather her into his arms.

Squelch.

He froze, eyes wide. Cadence felt her world crumble into dust and ashes around her.

A wicked Celestium blade protruded from his chest, all the way from the back to the front. Blood trickled down his mouth and onto her face. The blade twisted. Her brother's eyes rolled back and collapsed into an unmoving pile.

"NO!" Cadence screamed. "NO!"

She dragged her body over to Cole's, gripping his still-warm hands and stared into his lifeless eyes.

"Cole," she said. "Look at me, look at me." She tightened her fingers around his, squeezing them hard, trying to transfer some of her life into his body. "No, please, don't go."

"You cannot escape, silly girl." Taras wiped his hands on his pants.

"NO!" A sudden strength gripped Cadence. She launched herself at Taras, clawing and scratching at his face.

Taras bellowed and tried to fling her off, but she latched on with feral anger. She would claw out his eyeballs, she would cover every inch of his face with scars. She sank her teeth into his neck and ripped off a bloody chunk.

"YOU FUCKING CHURL!" Taras ripped Cadence off and flung her onto the ground. Her fragile body hit the ground with a sickening crack. She swallowed back her pain and tried to assault him again, but the man stomped onto her hand, breaking her fingers. Cadence screamed.

Taras touched the bleeding hole in his neck, Healing it.

"You shall pay for that, you stupid girl. Kazimir doesn't care if I destroy your body as long as you're still alive. We're going to have so much fun."

Her brother's pale face stared directly at her.

"You killed my brother." She snarled.

Taras kicked her in the face.

Pain, so much pain.

A furious roar tore through the air, and a darting blur knocked Taras aside. Taras skidded and rolled across the lawn from the force of the blow. Zoroth dropped down in front of Cadence, his massive black wings unfurled in a protective position over her.

"Let's go." He retrieved Cadence from the ground, but then dropped her and howled as a Celestium arrow protruded from his shoulder.

Yells and cries of "Ancient!" burst forth as tens of Walker Hunters streamed from the mansion, all of them armed to the teeth. A second arrow struck him on his back. Zoroth snarled, using his body as a shield against the sea of Celestium weapons shot toward their direction. With every strike, his flesh bubbled and hissed.

"Zoroth," Cadence whispered. "Don't."

The Ancient's eyes glittered. "A life for a life."

He turned his face skyward and howled. His bones started cracking, his limbs twisted at impossible angles as he grew bigger and bigger. His neck stretched, his wings expanded. Spikes split the length of his back while claws exploded from the tip of his fingers. Dark, glossy scales spread all over his body. His face lost its human look, assuming the body, triangular structure of a predator. His horns folded backward.

The Walker Hunters continued to fire arrows at Zoroth, but he kept on growing until he was a thousand times his usual size, towering over the Walker Hunters. Flames and fumes rolled from his nostrils as he swung his head toward the mass of Hunters.

His jaw yawned open. A massive burst of blue flames erupted. The Hunters screamed and ran, but they weren't fast enough. The wave of fire burned them into black, charred corpses on the spot. Those alive made a dash for the gates, but Zoroth bounded forward and charged into their midst. He bit the first one into two halves, struck down several others with his claws. His wings caught another three and swept them into the trees.

A Celestium dagger cut through the air and lodged itself in between Zoroth's collar bone with an ugly squelch. Zoroth roared and spun around, smoke rising from where the dagger had cut into his skin.

Taras stood in front of Zoroth, his Celestium sword drawn. The glint of the blade was visible even as fire consumed the mansion, tearing chunks of it and throwing the remains onto the grass.

"I've killed many Ancients before," Taras said. "You won't be the last."

Zoroth snorted, smoke curling from his nostrils.

He breathed a long streak of fire at Taras' direction. Taras tucked and rolled before breaking into a sprint. He yanked a crossbow out of the hands of a burnt corpse, aimed, and shot an arrow at Zoroth. The arrow hit Zoroth square in between the eyes. The Ancient roared and shook his head, trying to get rid of the lodged arrow.

He opened his maw again to breathe another burst of fire, but this time, Taras was ready. He shot an arrow, then another, all aiming for Zoroth's head. At the same time, the enraged Ancient leaped at Taras, catching the arrows directly in the face.

Zoroth stumbled and fell with a thunderous crash.

"Come out, you fools!" Taras shouted to the Hunters hiding in the bushes. "You dare call yourselves Hunters when you're scared of an abomination of nature?"

The Ancient rose to his feet, but a Celestium chain looped around one of his horns. The man holding the end of the chain yanked it hard, bringing his head crashing back down onto the ground. Other Hunters shot arrows linked to chains into Zoroth's body. Zoroth howled and clawed at his captors, thrashing and struggling to rise. Some of the Hunters were Warriors, using their brute strength to force the Ancient into submission.

Zoroth angled his head and looked directly at Cadence, his luminous purple eyes filled with regret.

I'm sorry I couldn't save you, little one. I'll see you on the other side.

Two Hunters looped thick chains over Zoroth's jaw, clamping it shut. Taras pressed a foot on Zoroth's head. The Ancient squirmed and tried to push him off, but the Hunter sliced him across the nose with his sword.

"I see the filthy bitch has managed to seduce an Ancient into helping her." Taras dragged his sword across Zoroth's scales.

"Do you like this beast, Cadence?" Taras shouted. "I really hope you do. I'm going to enjoy seeing you cry when I kill him, just like how I killed your brother."

Taras pressed his sword against Zoroth's neck and slashed it open.

NOOOO!

The shadows around Cadence twisted and thrashed. The ravenous flames consuming the mansion cast a huge, looming shadow over the stretch of grass. All around her, the shadows boiled.

Something inside her snapped.

She allowed the shadows to take over, to be a part of her, forever.

Mistress, the palisade of shadows whispered. We're here.

She felt Zoroth's Energy ebbing out from the wound in his throat. The Energy was beautiful—wispy silver lines. She latched onto them, absorbing the Energy into her own Core before she let it flow back into Zoroth. The Walkers could not see what was happening. It was only visible in the eyes of a Walker and an Ancient.

Zoroth stared back at Cadence, acknowledging what she was about to do. He nodded.

Shadows roared to life, zipping past her vision, turning her surroundings into brilliant silver. The strands of silver crept up Zoroth's body. Cadence channeled it into his heart.

Take it! Take my anger, take my pain and fury so you can feel it with me. Share all the hurt and burdens with me. Take it, Zoroth, seventh son of Aragor!

Energy burst through her body, banishing the fatigue and replacing it with raw power of an Ancient and a Walker. She stood up. There were silver lines coming from her chest, linking right to Zoroth. The silver glow was blinding, rising and coalescing into one huge burst of light.

Zoroth opened his eyes. His eyes were beautiful—the color of the sunset, a brilliant shade of orange mixed with purple. He reached out with her mind just as she did. The first tendril of their eternal bond sparked to life, tethered by their hearts, connected through their Souls. Cadence felt something burn onto her chest, right above the heart. They were one.

She directed her hand at the Hunters surrounding Zoroth. There was no need to see them, she felt their shadows quivering against the ground. She gripped their shadows and flung them away from her Yazelka. She sent all of them flying into the massive pile of fire and rubble.

With the people holding power over Zoroth gone, he rose, the gash on his throat closing up into nothing but a faint scar.

Taras stumbled backward, eyes wide in horror.

"I-impossible." He choked. "I killed you!"

Power buzzed around Cadence. Both Zoroth's energy and hers were interlinked, flowing from one individual to the next in one endless cycle.

So this was what it is like to share a mind with an Ancient, she thought. It's exhilarating.

Taras tried to escape, but Cadence gripped his shadow, dragging him toward him. She tightened her good hand into a fist, breaking both of his legs.

The Walker Hunter yowled as he dropped down onto his knees. Cadence knocked his sword from his grip and backhanded him with her newfound strength. Then, she clutched him by the throat, forcing him to look into her eyes.

"Surprise," she said.

"You aren't going to kill me," Taras said through a mouthful of blood. "You don't have the guts to do so."

Cadence's thoughts flashed back to her father, Ales, Khazaria, Master Orelik, every single person she had indirectly murdered.

I'm about to murder someone again.

Cadence released Taras. He crumpled into a heap.

Kill him, Zoroth's voice was clear in her head. He does not deserve to live, not after what he has done to you and your kind.

"Kazimir will live again!" Taras roared. "There's nothing you can do to stop him."

He tortured you, her inner voice said. Don't you want payback?

Taras' shadow was soft against Cadence's touch. She crushed what remained of her hesitation and grinned.

"Goodbye, son of a bitch."

Cadence ripped Taras' shadow into a million pieces.

The Walker Hunter's smile froze, then his eyes swiveled down. A drop of blood trickled down his forehead. There was silence, then Taras' body was sheared into a million bloody pieces. The remains of his body splattered the ground, as if the sky had opened up and wept blood instead of rain.

However, Cadence didn't feel victory, she didn't feel the joy that was supposed to overwhelm her after a battle. There was nothing she could feel except a steely calm.

Yazelka. Zoroth said. What are you doing?

Her eyes were trained on her brother's body. His eyes were wide and unassuming. Cadence knelt down beside him and caressed his cold face with her bloodied fingers.

You cannot go, Cole. If you leave, what will happen to me? Who will read to me and tell me stories? I have nothing left. Cole, you cannot go.

She rested her forehead against his, eyelashes fluttering against his skin. Closing her eyes, she dropped all bonds that tethered her to this world and sank into the shadows.

You promised me, Cole. You promised me that you would never leave me. Don't break your word.

Brutal cold lashed out. Unlike the winter cold, this cold burned, it seeped deep into her bones and shattered all she held dear.

She felt insubstantial, as though her body was made of air, weightless. Her vision cleared, but the cold remained.

A river stretched out before her, a river so long and dark, it extended from the edge of her vision and vanished into a faraway place.

Out of the blue, a boat zipped by the waters, oars rowing furiously. Souls, dead people who had either fallen out of the boats on their way to Valador or sent to burn in the frozen waters for eternity crowded by the thousands in the black water. They clawed at the sides of the ship, screeching in their inhuman voices. The oars beat down at them without mercy. Those who managed to latch onto the planks screamed as they fell back into the water with soundless splashes.

This was the Underlands, the place of eternal cold and torment.

"Cole!" she yelled. "Where are you?"

Thousands of empty eyes turned toward her shouts. The dead moaned, stretching out their pearly arms corroded to the bone. More screeches and pleads. She scanned the faces, trying to find the familiar face of her brother.

Desperation clawed at her. There were thousands of faces, thousands of voices. At this rate, she would never find him. The thought of her brother