The silence of the night was broken by a single heartbeat.
Salvador stood completely still on the balcony.
He had heard it.
Ella had heard it too.
The sound had not come from the courtyard.
It had not come from the castle.
It had come from somewhere beneath them.
Another heartbeat followed.
Then a third.
Ella's fingers tightened around Salvador's.
"That wasn't the source."
"No."
"Then what was it?"
Salvador looked toward the castle.
"I don't know."
The faint symbols that had appeared on the balcony floor were already fading.
Hope.
Heaven.
Faith.
And beneath them, the forgotten mark.
Salvador crouched and touched the stone.
It was warm.
Far too warm.
Ella knelt beside him.
"Do you think it's connected to the prophecy?"
"Everything seems to be connected to that prophecy."
She looked at him.
"Then maybe we should tell Marcus."
"We will."
Salvador stood.
"But first, I want to know where that sound came from."
Ella sighed.
