He threatened to kill everybody in the city. Some of them had already died, and they blamed me for it. I was certain they'd want me dead. If not to eliminate the threat of disease, it would be for retribution, for the lives my flu had cost them. I wasn't willing to go down like that. If I were to die, I'd die fighting. Who knows? I might get lucky and find a way to escape too.

Eva shared my concern too. She wasn't willing to sacrifice her memories, but she wasn't willing to explode into tiny fragments either. Dif still believed in me somehow. I knew it because he interfered to save me from Lemien once. I couldn't rely on that hope alone though. I had to make sure I was ready to fight, break through their lines and make a run for it.

Then there was the last message left by that mysterious fox. a.s.similate he said. I needed Eva's strength, as well as the other Fragment's. It was now or never. There was no time for dream s.e.x anymore. It was time to impropriate Eva's memories.

I had told her becoming one with me meant I'd remember who she was. That was better than exploding and getting lost in the spirit world. She reluctantly agreed to open up to me. She realized the danger we both were in by then.

I don't know how much time had pa.s.sed after I started the a.s.similation process, but when I came to, Zoey was sitting opposite me, observing me with keen eyes. I felt stronger, sure, but the a.s.similation process was harder than I thought it would be.

To make matters worse, or better, I couldn't judge then, Eva's Fragment had a new feel to it. It felt stronger, ready to fight back vehemently. It felt even stronger than the time Fragment Dif had blocked from me. I had triggered something that made Eva's soul fragment fight back.

I had to live through her memories, understand everything she went through, and remember every little detail of it. This last part was crucial. In order to make her energy mine, I had to understand Eva completely. It was the only way to make her energy, and mine, merge. It was the only way to achieve true synergy. But doing that triggered some unforeseen development in the Fragment.

'It's not easy to understand a lonely empress, don't you think?' Eva joked after I opened my eye.

'I think we have some things in common,' I said. 'It felt like you were hiding something from me though.'

'I'd broken through all your defenses before, remember? Remember how you fought back and s.n.a.t.c.hed this Fragment from me too? You shouldn't push it,' Eva said.

'Mine was a forceful invasion,' she went on. 'What you're doing is gentle. There are things I'm ashamed of. The memory you've taken from me is the one I've always tried to bury. Even after my death, even after I turned into a vengeful spirit, I couldn't let myself remember those episodes of my life. I need time to allow you to see them.'

'We don't have time, Eva,' I protested.  

'And I have no control over this,' Eva shot at me. 'I'm willing to cooperate, but those memories have been buried for years. You can't expect me to bring them back, just because you asked.'

'What's up with all the resistance I feel from you then?'

'a.s.similation is tiring,' she said. 'I made sure to possess you before, to lower your guard and to have you trust me. I had one shot at it, and I needed to do it quickly and ruthlessly. You have the chance to take it easy though. Don't push or my spirit will fight back. I can't control my reflexes. Think of it as my subconscious, it still exists in spirit form. I can't control my reaction when you try to a.s.similate my soul.'

'I think I understand,' I said.

"What are you doing?" Zoey interrupted our inner conversation. "You've been sitting like this for an eternity."

"Any news from the world outside?" I asked.

"A red eyed one came to see you. He saw you in that posture and left. He told me he'll be in the office upstairs."

I got up, and immediately made for the open door.

"What happened?" Zoey asked before I left the cell. "I heard people shouting and angry voices outside while you sat there, not a care in the world."

"If we're lucky," I told her, "we'll survive this. They want my head, well, they want to see me burn, and I a.s.sume they want the same for you."

"You're a calamity Myles!" Zoey suddenly screamed at me. "You know, I was relieved to see you alive, but you had to go and ruin the mood for me. Death looms over you, only it strikes the ones surrounding you. Can't you spare us all and just give up?"

Her words shook me greatly, I wouldn't lie. She was a coward, fearful, but at least she knew me better than any of the Sebyan around here.

"You're right," I said, swallowing my anger. "But even if I give myself to them now, you'll surely be next."

"d.a.m.n you Stalwart!" Zoey screamed again.

A sudden rush of anger and adrenaline pushed her off her feet and toward me. I saw the punch coming but I didn't try to dodge it. She had frail hands after all, she'd only hurt herself. And she did. She hit me on the jaw then winced in pain.

"You promised to get me out of here, somewhere safe!" she screamed even louder. She didn't realize her voice hurt me more than her weak punch. "Make good on that promise!"

'Keep screaming at me like that and I'll be tempted to deliver you to Lemien,' I thought.

"You're safe here for now," I told her. "Sit tight and wait for me to come back."

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"What if you don't?" she asked.

"Then pray that your lucky stars will spare you my painful death."

I stormed out of the room before she could utter another word. I headed for the room upstairs. It wasn't difficult to find anyway, straight through the corridor and up the stairs. I soon reached the prophet and found him pacing around the room, talking to himself like a lunatic.

"What does my fate look like?" I asked as soon as I got in.

"Grim," Nag answered. "I see you followed the fox's advice."

"They still want to see me burn, huh?" I asked.

"The chief believes your story," Nag said. "But the other members of the council aren't too keen on believing you. They don't –"

"– like humans, I know," I said.

"I was going to say that they don't like you, just you. They find the healer useful, while your friend Eli has proved his loyalty to our people."

"That's the best bit of news I've heard ever since I got to the tunnels," I said cheerfully.

"They want to see you burn!" Nag protested.

"And I was being sarcastic!" I said. "All joking aside, I a.s.sume they haven't stormed this prison block because you have something to do with it?"

Nag nodded. "I'm following orders," he said. "But people won't believe in our savior for long. Death looms about, threatening to take them all away. To make matters worse, our savior's gone silent. Except for the one word he conveyed to you yesterday, and some choice words of warning to our chief, he hasn't spoken to me in five decades."

"One day had pa.s.sed since Lemien's speech?" I asked.

"Almost," Nag replied then frowned at me. "That's all you picked up from what I said?"

"If you're referring to the fox's silence, then you're lucky he even spoke to you. I've never heard his voice before."

Nag's shoulders slouched. He regained his composure after a while and a.s.sumed a serious expression, or, a more serious one, since their rested faces always gave me the impression that they were about to attack.

"The chief wants you to get out of the city," the prophet said.

"I'm banned now?" I asked. "I guess it beats being burned alive."

"No. Not banned," Nag corrected. "He wants you to sneak into the necromancer's tower."

"What for?" I asked.

"You'll meet with Eli after our meeting," Nag said. "He'll lead you out and explain the mission. Fail to return by sunrise, and our secret door won't open to you."

"How am I supposed to know when it's sunrise?" I asked. "It's freaking dark in those tunnels!"

"Eli will explain everything," Nag said. "Do you have any weapon of choice you'd like me to bring?"

"Do you have anything made out of gold?" I asked. "I'd prefer it to be sharp, a sword, a dagger, even a small knife would do. I won't object if it's blunt, but it won't do the job as well as a sharp one."

"Why would you need a weapon made of gold?" Nag asked.

"Lemien relies heavily on the banshee," I explained. "I can kill the fairy with a weapon made of gold. They hate it. A chain or a blunt instrument will not injure her enough, but it will at least keep her away from us."

"Who's this Lemien?" Nag asked.

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. It's the necromancer's name."

"I will see what I can do about the weapon," Nag said. "Anything else you'd need?"

"Some armor, studded leather would do. Oh, and a sword, not too long, not too broad, I don't want it to get stuck against a cave wall."

"Go to your cell now," Nag said. "Meditate until Eli gets to you. Getting rid of the banshee will cripple the necromancer. I will convey this to the chief. Maybe there's still hope for you after all, Stalwart."