My nerves were electrocuted from stress, and the cavernous hole inside my soul was expanding to consume my existence.
The jewel vibrated against my heart, and then there was an odd snapping sensation inside my sternum. Snowflakes swirled.
Everything went dark.
Chapter 31
John
CURSED
Portentous （adjective）： being a grave or serious matter.
DAY 22, HOUR 3
I sat up in my bunk, heaving, with my hands placed over my heart like I was trying to keep it from falling out of my chest.
Unfamiliar panic filled my bones.
The darkness of the bedroom was stifling, and I must have been hallucinating, because snow drifted through the air.
The pressure inside my chest was unbearable.
I patted against my sternum like I was putting out a fire, half expecting to feel ravaged flesh, but my skin was warm and unblemished.
The pulsing sensation continued.
Were we under attack? Were the Fates themselves tearing me apart from within for failing to do my duty to the realm like Uncle always warned they might?
If so, I had no regrets.
Even with my chest tearing apart in pain, I knew I’d do nothing differently. There was no other choice I’d ever have made. I would always choose Aran and Luka before any duty.
I’d do nothing differently.
Legs jackknifing, I collapsed back onto my covers, writhing in pain, clawing at my heart as the agony ate me apart from the inside. The bunk bed jostled violently beneath me.
I wanted to make sure Luka and Aran were okay, but I couldn’t do anything but lie paralyzed. I twitched like I was electrocuted.
The pressure mounted until tears dripped out of the corners of my eyes.
My thoughts were scattered and jagged, and it was impossible to understand where I began, and where the pain ended. We were one.
One thought penetrated the blinding agony—I never got to tell Aran I love her.
Chapter 32
Luka
BONDS
Cimmerian （adjective）： very dark or gloomy.
DAY 22, HOUR 3
My eyes shot open.
Instantly I knew something was very wrong.
A window must have been open because snow was falling inside. Cold wetness coated my cheeks, and there was a fine layer of white dust across my pillow.
I was lying on my stomach with my arm hanging over the bed, but Aran was not holding my hand like usual. Her fingers were limp in my grasp. Ice froze us together.
I opened my mouth to call her name, and I meant to shake her hand to wake her.
Nothing happened because I couldn’t move.
I was paralyzed.
A vibrating sensation pulsed inside my chest, and it felt like I was being stabbed with a serrated blade. It felt like my heart was being carved out.
The bunk shook harshly beneath me.
My mouth opened on a silent scream as agony tore through my insides. It took a moment to process that the bed rocking was coming from above.
Twin intuition filled me, and I knew without a doubt that John was not well. I needed to get to my younger brother.
I needed to save him.
As a young child, I’d promised myself that I would never stand by and watch him get hurt. I would sacrifice every bone in my body to protect him.
Body taught with unimaginable torment, I shattered the ice and released Aran’s hand.
I slowly turned myself over and stared up at the twitching bunk. Horror filled me as I realized Aran hadn’t made a noise of disgruntlement like she always did when I stopped holding her hand.
John twitched violently above me.
Aran’s bed below me was eerily quiet. Too quiet.
The pain intensified to another level, and my back arched as an invisible force dug my heart from my chest.
The only two people I lived for were suffering inches apart from me.
I was paralyzed.
Unable to help them.
Useless.
There was a snapping sensation as the agony in my chest crescendoed.
The bunk above my head went still.
Darkness blurred my vision, and I clawed desperately against unconsciousness, but it mercilessly pulled me under. There was nothing left of me as everything went black, just a peculiar sensation inside my chest.
A staggering barrenness.
I felt dead.
Chapter 33
Aran
FALLING TO PIECES
Apricity （noun）： the warmth of sun in winter.
DAY 22, HOUR 8
I woke up to lilac morning light clutching the Necklace of Death.
My first thought—I’m going to learn how to fly today.
A strange dream about falling snow, vibrations, and glowing light teased the edges of my consciousness, but it drifted away into nothingness.
I shrugged it off.
Sadly, hallucinations were not uncommon with my lifestyle.