Lyra's POV
I'm staring at my own face. Dozens of them.
Dead girls who look exactly like me. Different ages, different heights, but the same features. The same curse.
What is this? I whisper.
Fate steps forward, her expression sad. The truth the Council never wanted you to know. You're not the first weapon they created, Lyra. You're the twenty-seventh.
My legs go weak. Twenty-seven?
They've been trying for twenty-three years. Creating children, implanting divine essence, testing their curse. Fate gestures to the bodies behind her. These girls all failed. Too weak. Too unstable. They died during the process or went mad from hearing lies constantly.
I'm going to be sick.
But you, Fate continues, you survived. You adapted. You became exactly what they needed. Their perfect weapon.
Why are you showing me this? My voice shakes.
Because you deserve to know what you really are. What they did to create you. Fate's eyes are ancient and sad. And because this chamber holds the answer to stopping them.
Kairos moves beside me, his hand on my shoulder. Lyra, breathe.
I can't. Can't breathe. Can't think. Twenty-six dead girls. Twenty-six murdered children who looked like me.
Why? I gasp. Why kill them? They were just children!
Failed experiments, a cold voice says from behind us.
We spin around.
Theron stands at the entrance we fell through, guards flanking him. But he waves them back.
Leave us, he orders. I'll handle this.
The guards hesitate but obey, disappearing back up the tunnel.
Theron descends into the chamber alone, his eyes locked on me.
You weren't supposed to see this, he says quietly.
You knew? Horror floods through me. You knew about the other girls?
My father ran the program. Theron's voice is flat. Empty. I grew up watching them create you. Watching the failures die. I was twelve when you finally survived.
I back away from him. You've known this whole time. Everything they did. Everything they
Yes. He keeps walking toward me. I've known everything, Lyra. And I've been trying to protect you from it.
Protect me? I almost laugh. By lying? By helping them use me?
By keeping you alive! Theron's mask cracks. Real emotion bleeds through. Do you know what they do to weapons that malfunction? I've seen it! They don't just kill youthe erase you. Make it like you never existed!
Nyx steps forward, shadow-blade ready. That's close enough, prosecutor.
But Theron ignores her, focused only on me. I've been lying because the truth would get you killed. The Council has already decided Kairos dies tomorrow. Fighting them just means you die too.
So I should murder an innocent god to save myself? I challenge.
Yes! The word explodes from him. I know it's wrong! I know it's horrible! But I can't watch you die, Lyra! Not you!
For the first time ever, I hear silence from him. Pure, complete silence.
He's telling the truth.
You actually care about me, I whisper.
Theron's expression breaks. Of course I care! I've always cared! Since we were children, since you were the only person in this place who wasn't corrupted yet! He runs his hands through his hair, looking desperate. You're the only good thing in this nightmare, and I won't let them destroy you!
But you'd let me destroy myself. I step closer to him. That's what you're asking. Kill an innocent being and become exactly what they made me to be. A weapon without conscience.
You'd be alive!
I'd be dead inside. My voice is steady now. Clear. If I do what you ask, I'm not the person you think you love. I'm just another tool following orders.
Theron grabs my hands. Then run away with me! Right now! Leave the trial, leave the Council, start over somewhere they can't find us!
Music fills my ears. Beautiful, sweeping orchestra.
He's lying. Again.
I pull my hands free. There is no 'somewhere they can't find us.' You know that. The Council controls everything.
We could try
No, we couldn't. I look at him sadly. Because you'd never actually leave. You'd convince yourself it's to protect me, but really, you can't give up the power. The position. The life you've built.
Theron goes still. That's not
It is. I can hear it, Theron. Every lie. Every half-truth. You care about me, yes. But not enough to sacrifice everything. Not the way you're asking me to.
His face crumbles. For a moment, he looks like the boy I knew as a child. Scared and lost.
I'm sorry, he whispers. I'm so sorry I couldn't be better.
I know.
He takes a step back. Then another. His hand moves to something at his belt.
If you won't save yourself, he says, voice breaking, then I'll do it for you.
He pulls out a small device and presses it.
Alarms explode throughout the chamber. Red light floods everything.
Emergency lockdown! Kairos shouts. He's trapped us!
Theron looks at me with tears streaming down his face. I'm sorry, Lyra. But I'd rather you hate me and live than love me and die.
Metal walls slam down over every exit. We're sealed in.
What did you do? I scream.
I activated the containment protocol. This chamber is now isolated. No one in. No one out. He backs toward the last closing door. The Council will find you in twelve hours. That gives you time to think. To accept reality. To choose life.
Theron, don't
I love you, he says. That's why I can't let you throw your life away for a god who's going to die anyway.
The final door slams shut.
We're trapped.
Nyx immediately starts testing the walls with her shadow-magic. Solon searches for weak points. The resistance fighters look for any possible exit.
But I just stand there, staring at where Theron disappeared.
He locked us in. Condemned us to be captured.
Because he loves me.
Kairos touches my shoulder. Lyra
He's right, I whisper. Isn't he? Fighting the Council is suicide. We're all going to die.
Maybe, Kairos says quietly. Or maybe Fate has one more surprise planned.
I look at the goddess. She's smiling.
What? I demand. What aren't you telling us?
Fate walks to the center of the chamber. She touches the floor, and symbols light upancient, powerful symbols I've never seen.
This isn't a tomb for failed experiments, she says. It's a gateway. To the one place the Council can never reach. The one place where you can become what you were truly meant to be.
The symbols glow brighter. The floor begins to crack.
What place? I ask.
Fate looks at me with eyes that have seen the beginning and end of time.
The place where I died. The Void Between Worlds. She extends her hand. And the place where you'll be reborn.
The floor shatters beneath us.
We fall into impossible darkness.
And the last thing I hear is Fate's voice echoing:
Welcome to your final trial, Lyra Caine. Pass it, and you save the universe. Failand everyone you love dies screaming.