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James couldn’t tell them anything either, which made them angry. “Cunningham won’t be happy about this. He wanted it urgently to stabilize the girl,” they said, and then I heard footsteps – our people arriving. They must have sensed all the odeon and rushed to our aid. Our attackers disappeared and left us behind.
This happened only hours ago, and my world came to a standstill. James has called a specialist to come and examine me. But I don’t know what good it will do. I just know. It’s dead inside me. I couldn’t protect it. I no longer feel any movement. I don’t know how I’ll get through this. I want revenge. They need to suffer! I want them to go through what I went through. I want to take everything from them. Those murderers!
Mr. Cunningham sent hunters to attack Noah’s parents? He wanted the tear of destiny. But why? I quickly read the last few pages, hoping to find an answer there.
I hold the baby in my arms, but it doesn’t feel like mine. Is it wrong of me to say that? At least I have one, whereas a few days ago, I was sure I would never be a mother.
James is furious. He says I’m ungrateful. That we were so lucky in the end, and I should be happy. Happy … what does that even mean? I know he’s right. What I’m feeling is wrong, but I can’t help it. I just hope I’ll learn to love this child one day. For the sake of little Noah and for myself.
The writing ends there, and I’m speechless. If I’m this horrified, how must Noah have felt when he read it?
“Her own baby died in the attack, and then they took revenge. They found my biological family. I don’t know if it was coincidence, or why they chose that particular family. They attacked the parents and then found the two babies. I couldn’t find out if they singled out my parents because they knew about the babies. What I do know is that they took me with them and passed me off as their child. But I guess my adoptive mother could never stop thinking about her own baby.”
“Noah,” I say, taking a few steps toward him. “How … how do you know all this?”
His thoughts seem to return to the present, and he suddenly looks utterly exhausted. He runs his hand through his hair and sinks down on his bed.
“After you told me about the soul link, I was determined to find out the truth. My parents couldn’t be my biological ones, and I was sick of all the lies. I turned the whole house upside down and came across my mother’s diary. When she got home, I confronted her with it. She went pale. But as soon as she got control of herself again, she denied it all and refused to talk about it. But the truth, the guilt, was written all over her face. She couldn’t even be honest with me in that moment. They’re liars. All of them. Tempes, Noctu – it makes no difference. Nobody is ever held accountable.”
“Noah, this is horrible news. I get how angry and hurt you must be. But why are you working with the Fabricis? And why do you want to kill Mr. Cunningham?”
“Didn’t you read it?” he asks. “He ordered the attack on my adoptive parents. He wanted the tear of destiny. But they didn’t even have it. Don’t you get it? He wanted it for Claire. His granddaughter.”
I frown and try to recall what I know about the tear of destiny.
“The tear is supposed to have incredible powers,” Noah continues. “It’s said that, among other things, it can be used to achieve inner balance and help a person to channel their powers. He wanted it for his granddaughter. He already knew about her powers back then and wanted the tear to use on Claire when she eventually awakened. If he could stabilize her mind and soul, then she wouldn’t succumb to the evil inside her like all her predecessors. She’d have a chance of surviving the transformation with her essence intact. He’s the one who set all this in motion. He killed a woman’s child, and because of that, Ayden’s and my real parents were attacked and murdered. This whole thing has to end. I don’t want anything to do with my adoptive parents anymore, and I’ve turned my back on the Noctu. I don’t belong with them or the Tempes. All I care about is stopping that man. He’s a liar and a menace. And as if it weren’t enough what he did to me and Ayden and our parents, he then used us to spy on his enemy. He knew about the soul link. Apparently, it was all his idea.”
My eyes widen, and I shake my head again. “What makes you say that? Who told you that?”
He hesitates a moment, looking at me and trying to decide whether to tell me the truth. “The Fabricis. There are only a few families who know about the soul link. The Fabricis are one, and they know how it happened. It was Cunningham’s idea. It all started with him. And it ends with him. I grew up in an Assembly family, so I know that the Fabricis and the Cunninghams are enemies. I went to them and offered my help. Together, we’re going to try to eliminate that vicious man.”
“You didn’t …” I mutter, and then a thought occurs to me. “And they believed you? They didn’t suspect that you were just making it up in order to spy on them?”
“I had to prove myself to them,” he says. His expression darkens. “I had to bring them water from the goddesses’ lake and pass on some minor information about the Odyss.”
He betrayed his world and his people. If the Noctu ever find out about this … Then I’m reminded of Claire’s test. So that’s how the Fabricis got their hands on the water. Noah … I can’t believe it.
“I get how angry and disappointed you are,” I venture. “It was unforgivable what Mr. Cunningham did. But maybe it’s not what you think. Maybe he didn’t actually order the attack on your adoptive parents. He wasn’t there personally. He loves Claire and wants to protect her. Obviously, what happened was wrong. It should never have come to that. But you don’t know what his intentions were. Do you really want to kill him for something when you don’t even know how it actually went down? You’re working with people who don’t deserve your support.”
Noah huffs and folds his arms across his chest. “I told you; you wouldn’t understand. You should have stayed out of it. I wanted to be honest with you because I never want to lie to you. But nothing you can say will change my mind.”
I give Noah an imploring look. There’s so much I want to say to him, but I can tell from his stony expression that it’s pointless. He’s already gone too far, burned bridges with his people and his parents, and gone behind their backs to consort with the Fabricis. But I can’t just let it slide. I can’t give up on him. He means too much to me. That will never change.
“Noah,” I say, taking a step toward him. I reach out to touch him, but he just shakes his head with this hard look of determination on his face. It’s like a wall – impenetrable, cold, made of indestructible stone.
“No, Tess. You don’t understand, and you never will. I think it’s best if you just go.”
I stare at him. He can’t be serious. But his expression leaves no doubt.
“Don’t think you can shrug me off that easily,” I say quietly as I turn to leave the room. No, I refuse to give up on him. I won’t abandon him. Never!
Chapter 23
It feels strange being back in school. Everything seems so normal, so unremarkable, as if all those horrible things didn’t happen yesterday. The students stroll along the corridors. They’ve shouldered their backpacks and are on their way to the next class. But you can tell by looking at their faces that something must have happened.
So they know about Max’s death. Most of them look shocked and scared. Not long ago, a teacher disappeared, assumed to have been killed by the Noctu. And now a student – a girl known by pretty much everyone here. It’s scary, and they’re probably all wondering how it could have happened and whether they’re safe in this place.
“You definitely haven’t heard anything about my next test?” Claire asks, scrutinizing Ayden as if the tiniest twitch in his face will tell her whether he’s telling the truth or not. She’s standing beside him, looking up at him expectantly, and for once, she’s not hanging off his arm. That alone is unusual. Max’s death doesn’t seem to have affected her much. She has other things on her mind – understandably because it could be a matter of life and death for her. And she’s changed. The confident smile has disappeared from her face, along with that irrepressibly determined sparkle in her eyes. She looks tense.
