Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Finally,” said Seth as they eventually reached the bottom of the staircase and came upon a door. He pressed his ear to it. “I hear nothing.” He gripped the handle and went to open it, but a quiet “Wait” came from Delilah.
The witch hurried over to the door and chanted while drawing a brief pattern in the air. A glistening wave of magick ghosted over the door and then disintegrated. “Now the hinges won’t creak when you open it.”
Seth’s brows hiked up, and he nodded in thanks. He then twisted the handle and inched open the door, peeking through the small gap. “The coast seems to be clear. And there’s plenty of cover we can use.”
He wasn’t at all wrong—a cluster of massive willow trees would help conceal them. It turned out that the staircase was built inside the rock wall of the city, which was covered in a sheet of moss and trails of climbing plants that very cleverly veiled the door.
It wouldn’t have been so hard for the Aeons to create and hide the staircase—they were experts at calling on and using the natural elements, after all. Experts at moving and manipulating earth, rock, and stone.
The last to exit, Dantalion closed the door behind him. Everyone quietly padded over the carpet of grass and took cover behind the trees. Cain could hear Adam’s voice—he spoke loud, as if giving a speech, but his words were indecipherable from that spot.
Cain quickly but quietly advanced through the maze of willows toward the sound, conscious of the others following him. It wasn’t difficult for him to navigate the area because the landscape hadn’t changed since he was last here. It was still much like a giant botanical garden that was dotted with various buildings—not many of said buildings were new.
It was strange to be back in this place where he was born and raised. There were no feelings of nostalgia. For him, it felt like the memories he had of Aeon were from a different life. A life in which he’d never felt truly alive. A life in which he’d merely existed, always feeling somewhat detached from everyone else.
As such, he felt no joy at being here. Just the same, he felt no sadness in noticing the signs of decay. It was nowhere near as prevalent here as it was above the city, but it soon would be.
The once lush greenery was dry, thinning, and turning a brownish shade. Fruit and vegetables were rotting, and many littered the floor. Water sources were dirty and gradually drying up. The old-style stone houses he came across featured cracks and dents. More, the few gold temples he passed had lost their shine, looking a dull bronze that possessed streaks of black.
As Cain neared the center of the city where the large temple that sat above Eden’s old resting place was situated, Adam’s words finally became audible. Yes, he was making a speech.
“Soon enough, the Ancients will have worn themselves out after expending so much energy on pointlessly attempting to break through our defenses,” said Adam, his voice ringing loud and clear. “Already, we can tell that less power is behind their strikes. They are weakening, and this is our time to act.”
Cain halted behind a tree that gave him a clear view of Adam. The bastard stood on the top step of Eden’s temple with Jude and Emanuel flanking him. Rows upon rows of people stood in a tight formation as they listened to the last ruling Aeon.
There was no sign of Wynter. Cain felt his mouth tighten. Unless Adam took his captives to a different place nowadays, she was probably being kept inside the temple’s dungeon. Which was the one reason he didn’t dare try to kill Adam there and then with a wave of sheer power. If the man ducked, the temple would take the hit. If it collapsed, Wynter might be crushed—at the very least, her escape route would be blocked.
“But although the time to move is now, it is not yet the time to attack,” Adam went on, looking every inch the pompous asshole. “While we wait for them to weaken further, a large number of you will use the second entrance to leave the city—Jude will show you where it is and unlock the door. You will stealthily make your way around the hill so that you can come at the Ancients from behind. When they are too weak to defend themselves, you will attack.”
Beside Cain, Abaddon grunted and said, “The man doesn’t have an honorable bone in his body.”
A quick glance around confirmed for Cain that the other Ancients were close, all taking cover as they glared at the Aeons ahead of them. But the Bloodrose Coven was nowhere to be seen.
A faint rumble came from Eden’s temple. Like an earthquake rattled its very foundations.