Heartrender, page 14
“Hey,” Sloth slurred, his lids falling closed. “What am I doing here again?”
A yellow door glittered into view, and another Silas, dripping with jewels and lavish clothes, stalked through the frame. He admired the twinkling rings on his fingers before noticing the present Silas.
Greed Silas whipped out a sparkling dagger and pointed it at Silas. “If you come near any of my jewels, I’ll kill you.”
Silas put his hands up in surrender, the orange cloak wrapping around him like a shield. Greed scoffed, focusing back on his hand.
Silas took a step back, keeping his eyes trained on Sloth and Greed. What was happening?
Next to the yellow door, a red door sprung from the ground. Wrath Silas kicked the door open, its wooden frame trembling from the impact. A scarlet tint coated his eyes as he growled at the first two temptations and Silas.
“I’m ready to take you on anytime!” Wrath yelled, thumping his chest.
Greed rolled his eyes and polished his bracelets. Sloth had fallen asleep on the ground.
The blue door of lust was next. It clicked open softly. Lust Silas slithered out, combing back his already slicked-back hair.
“Ah, my friend, we meet again.” A sultry grin spread across Lust’s face before he hooked his thumbs in his pockets and puffed out his bare chest. “Are you ready for more fun? That Adelaide is a delicious snack.”
Silas reared back, wanting to punch Lust’s eyes out. But as he started to move, he noticed the other versions of himself focus on him. Silas lowered his hand. Why were they all here?
Slowly, they started to surround him, and Silas backed away. His muscles were still sore from the beatings of his other memories. While Addie’s light cloak had started to mend some of his wounds, he was nowhere near a state where he could take on four men at once.
As the thought entered his mind, three more doors slammed into place behind him, completing the circle. Silas spun around, trying to calm his racing thoughts. Gluttony, Envy, and Pride stood before their doors.
With a thick leg of turkey in his hand, Gluttony Silas took an animalistic bite, digging his teeth into the leg’s flesh.
“Can we get this over with?” he said between bites.
Silas’s stomach churned as he watched the saliva and chunks of meat tumble from Gluttony’s mouth.
“Stop looking at him,” said Envy Silas. “You need to focus on me.”
Envy’s green eyes scanned the other Silas’s before he started bickering with Greed. Like Greed, Envy’s outfit was different from the others. Instead of dark slacks and a white shirt, Envy wore fine fabric consisting of rich greens and browns.
“That’s not true,” the final Silas commented, condescension dripping from his voice.
Silas hesitated before focusing on Pride Silas. Pride wore the same clothes of green and brown as Envy. But upon his head sat a glittering golden crown. Pride crossed his hands over his chest and peered down his nose at the others.
“I’m king over all the realms. I’m the only one that truly matters. The rest of you are insignificant.”
“Shut up, Pride. No one asked you,” Wrath growled from across the circle.
“You’re not worth my time, Wrath,” Pride replied, straightening the crown on his head.
Sloth’s snores grew as Silas’s sinful selves began to bicker with one another. Silas spun around, studying all of them. What was he supposed to do now?
“Enough!” Greed yelled, and the other sins quieted. “The most important Silas is that one.” He pointed the jeweled dagger at Silas. “He’s the one that created us, but he’s also the one stopping us from taking control.”
“Let’s get him,” Wrath roared.
Sloth’s snores echoed throughout the dark space, and Greed threw his dagger, impaling Sloth’s arm.
“What was that?” Sloth snorted, lazily looking around. He peered down at the dagger protruding from his bicep. “Oh.” Removing the blade, he crawled to the door and hoisted himself up. “Can’t one of you deal with him for me?” he drawled, pointing the dagger at Silas.
“It’s decided,” Pride commented, and all the sins and Silas turned to him. “Whoever kills our creator will rule his main body.”
“What?” Silas exclaimed as the sins closed in on him.
Not only were his wounds still fresh, but he didn’t have his sword. His hand absentmindedly brushed where his alme should be. Without it, Silas knew his past sins would kill him instantly.
“I’d be better off without you,” Envy snarled, a sharp shard of white glass appearing in his hands. Silas saw a flicker of the future he wished he had. “When I take control, everyone will want to be like me.”
“You mean when I take his body,” Greed sneered, snatching the dagger out of Sloth’s hands. “Don’t touch my stuff.”
“Sorry, my friend.” Lust stalked toward Silas, his fingers extending into siti claws. “You can’t have all the fun.”
“You’re mine!” Wrath screamed and launched himself at Silas.
Silas tried to dodge Wrath but bumped into Sloth, who opened his mouth and let out the same green haze from the First Choice. Silas quickly covered his nose with the orange cloak, but that only left him one hand to fight with. And still no weapon.
Wrath punched Silas in the stomach before Greed threw the dagger at Silas’s head. Holding his breath, Silas kicked Wrath in the throat before ducking. The blade sunk into Sloth’s forehead, and he fell back.
Spinning around, Silas watched the light-blue door of sloth open and suck Sloth Silas back inside. Once the door shut, it transformed into a string of blue light and plunged into Silas’s chest. Silas flinched, placing a hand on the spot. What just happened?
“Pay attention to me,” Envy yelled, slicing Silas across the face with the shard of glass.
Silas screamed as the glass cut his flesh, warm blood dripping down his face and neck. The orange cloak deflected another attack from Envy as Silas wiped the blood away.
“Don’t mess up his face,” Lust whined, racing toward Silas, claws extended. “No one will want us if we’re ugly. Go for a different area, like a leg.”
Lust slid along the ground and struck Silas’s thigh with his siti claws. The orange cloak smacked Lust’s claws away, but it wasn’t quick enough. Silas stumbled back, clutching the wound. How could he defeat his sins by himself? He had Addie’s love covering him, but it wasn’t enough. He needed more help.
As if the Heavens had heard his cry, Silas’s sword materialized in his hand.
“Thank you for giving me the strength, Eman,” Silas breathed before wrapping his fingers around the hilt. The sword fit into his palm like a glove and instantly healed his injuries.
“I’ve had enough of you,” Silas roared, stabbing Lust in the chest.
Lust shook his head and sighed. “And we could’ve had so much more fun.” The dark-blue door creaked open and pulled Lust away before fading. Like Sloth, the dark-blue light from the door jabbed into Silas’s chest.
“I’m not done with you!” Wrath roared.
He jumped high in the air, aiming to slam Silas into the ground, but Silas was ready. His glittering sword skewered Wrath in the stomach before Silas flung him toward the red door, which promptly opened and sucked Wrath in. A red light spun from the door, singeing Silas’s skin as it entered his chest.
Sweat coated Silas’s neck as he backed away from his remaining sins. Greed, Envy, Gluttony, and Pride. Gluttony and Pride had been suspiciously distant, but he couldn’t focus on that now. Envy jutted the glass shard toward Silas’s arm. Silas spun out of the way before whipping his blade toward the glass, shattering it.
“I could make you into someone better, someone everyone will love and adore,” Envy cried, trying to piece the shard back together.
“I already have all the love I need,” Silas said and stabbed Envy through the back. Like the other doors, the green door swung open and tugged Envy back inside, its green light joining the others in Silas’s chest. Silas coughed, his chest growing heavier.
“That sword is exquisite,” Greed called, saliva pooling from his mouth. “I want it. Give it to me.”
Silas tightened his grip, his memories resurfacing of the greedy marketplace in the Seven Choices. “No.”
Greed’s eyes blazed with fury. “I will have what I want,” he yelled and barreled toward Silas.
Rearing back, Silas deflected Greed’s attacks and quickly lobbed off his arm. Greed’s rings fell from his fingertips, rolling along the ground.
“No, I need those.” He flailed toward the escaping jewelry before the yellow door opened and consumed him. The yellow light glittered and fluttered as it planted itself within Silas’s chest.
Panting, Silas brushed his hair from his eyes. The sins building in his chest weighed him down, but he couldn’t stop now. Gluttony was still chomping away at the turkey leg that was now more bone than meat. But Pride hadn’t wavered in his stance. He kept his hands crossed over his chest, peering down his nose at Silas like he was no more than a bug.
Silas raised his sword and charged toward Gluttony. Gluttony finished eating his meat and met Silas’s sword with the gnawed bone of the turkey leg. Silas’s alme dug into the bone but didn’t shatter it like the glass shard. Pulling the sword back, Silas retreated before swinging again. This time, the bone shattered completely. Gluttony blinked, flabbergasted, before Silas pierced his stomach. Bending forward, Gluttony coughed up bits of food before the orange door reeled him back, the orange light following.
The dark void where he faced his sins stood quiet with only one door left. The violet wood of the Final Choice gleamed against the orange light of Addie’s cloak and Silas’s alme. Before it, Pride uncrossed his arms.
“You’re not worth my time, but I will finish what the others could not,” Pride sneered before pulling out an identical replica of Silas’s alme.
The metals of the two blades clanged against one another, echoing throughout the spacious area. Silas reared back and attacked again, but Pride deflected every one of his efforts with ease.
“You need me,” Pride commented, placing one hand behind his back as he parried each of Silas’s swings. “You can function without all those useless sins. But without pride, how will you ever rule over all the realms? You know you are nothing but a beaten, broken man with no experience or hope. But I can give you the strength you need for others to respect and obey you without question.”
Silas’s sword wavered, and Pride darted his blade toward Silas’s chest. Silas tried to shield himself from the blow, but he couldn’t. Pride was right. He was a beaten and broken man. He had no idea how to rule a kingdom or gain favor from the realms. How could they respect him when he didn’t respect himself?
Pride screamed and shrunk back from Silas, his hand aflame. Confused, Silas peered down to see Pride’s sword lodged into the orange cloak surrounding him. Addie’s love had protected him. Silas yanked out the sword and gripped each hilt in his hands. But it wasn’t just Addie’s love that protected him; it was her faith and confidence. Her belief that he would succeed.
Silas glanced down at his alme, the mark of the Mender winking up at him. Before Addie was even a thought, Eman had believed in him long ago. He had put his faith in Silas, trusting that he would overcome the twisted path before him and fulfill his destiny. With the faith and confidence of Eman and Addie, Silas didn’t need to rely on his pride.
Silas raised the swords and stalked toward Pride, who was cowering before the purple door, clutching his hand to his chest.
“You need me,” he seethed, his crown crooked on his head. Pride’s eyes shifted into yellow snake eyes and his limbs began to elongate into a beast’s. “You will fail without me.”
Before Pride could complete the transformation into Ophidian, Silas plunged both blades into Pride’s neck. A dribble of black blood rolled down Pride’s throat before the violet door opened and sucked him in. A thick, purple light slammed into Silas’s chest, almost knocking him over.
As the last door disappeared, the dark space lightened and Silas found himself back in the library. Pride Silas’s sword had vanished, but Silas’s alme remained. Glancing down, Silas saw that the shield from Magister Dyle was still in the library, too.
Silas placed a hand over his throbbing chest from where the sins’ lights pierced him.
“Your temptations will never leave you completely,” Asenav said, appearing beside him. “When you begin your reign, you will be cautious and keep them chained. But as time continues, boundaries relax, and your past temptations will use every opportunity to overpower you.”
Silas turned toward the table. Three broken seals lay upon it.
“Can I prevent them from escaping?” he asked.
Asenav shook her head, her blonde curls bouncing. “Until there is darkness no more, you can only fight them off with the tools given to you.” She gestured to the orange cloak and the alme. “The love and faith others have in you will help you learn to love yourself.” Asenav bowed her head and faded away.
Silas tightened his grip on his alme and studied the last closed scroll waiting to be opened. He had already regained his memories of his time in Barracks with Addie. So, whatever this parchment held couldn’t be something from his past. Was it from his future?
“Do not open it if you’re not willing to accept it,” the voice from before boomed.
Silas reached out and touched the parchment. “I am.”
Instead of wind, a black fog seeped out, surrounding him in shadows.
CHAPTER 18
ADDIE
Instantly, the yellow light sucked back into the orb, landing us safely on the grassy ground. Lyle tossed it into the air and caught it with a wide smile. “Amazing!”
“Don’t break it,” Romen coughed, frowning.
“Romen,” I said, placing a hand on his back. “Thank you. I can’t believe you did that.”
Romen coughed again and sat up. “I swore to Eman to protect you, no matter the costs. Though if Lyle could eat a little less, it would make my life a lot easier.”
I snorted before laughing, still not believing we had barely escaped the wrath of the Elders.
“A man’s gotta eat.” Lyle patted his stomach with a grin before he snapped his fingers. “That reminds me.”
He rushed to his pack and pulled out the thick red text, the same one that Nana and James had left their note on. And, I just recalled, the same one Nana said Lyle had given to her before my Heart Reign. My thoughts froze. But that was impossible. Lyle was in Ophidian’s Realm during my Heart Reign. How could he have given Nana that book?
“Why did you bring that?” I asked, tipping forward to get a closer look. “And what’s it about anyway?”
“This is what I was trying to show you before we got summoned,” Lyle replied nonchalantly as he flipped through the pages. “Well, actually before you fell asleep. It’s about you.”
“What?” I exclaimed, snatching it out of his hands.
My eyes widened as I slowly thumbed through the text. Prophecies stared back at me, indicating who the Bellata was. A red heart when all others were gray; a willingness to sacrifice everything for family. Everything lined up, everything pointed to me.
“How is this possible?” I gaped, my eyes glued to the pages.
Romen waved a hand of indifference as he tried to reignite our fire. “Your prophecy has been around for centuries. Everyone in the realms knows of it.”
I glowered at him.
“Sorry, Addie, it’s true,” Lyle laughed, taking the book back. “I wanted to tell you before, but the Elders called.” He waved his hand in the air. “Nana said I gave her this book, and I finally figured out how.” Out of his pocket, he pulled a flat, black circle, identical to the one Romen wore.
Lyle held the device toward me, a knowing smirk on his lips. “The only way you learn you’re the Bellata is by going through Ophidian’s Realm. You must go through the Seven Choices, or all of our efforts will be for nothing.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked. “I’ve already gone through the Choices.” I pointed at the black circle, swinging between Lyle’s eyes. “And where did you get that? Isn’t it Romen’s?”
Romen stood from the fire and snatched the device out of Lyle’s hand. Placing his thumb on the flat surface, he rotated it once. The circle spun. Golden light swirled from the dial and encompassed Romen before he disappeared. Seconds later, he reappeared behind Lyle.
We both jumped and Romen laughed.
I tapped my cheek, analyzing the golden swirls wafting from Romen. “I always knew there was something odd about you, but I never suspected you were a timeweaver. That explains a lot.”
Romen scowled. I then remembered all the timeweavers lived on Regno. So, why was Romen here, with us?
“The last timeweaver?” I added, and Romen gave a stiff nod. “I thought you were a thief.” Before he could answer, my gaze darted to the circle in his palm. “So, that helps you weave time?”
Rotating his thumb over the device again, Romen opened the circle to reveal an intricate design of gears churning against one another. “A clavum assists all timeweavers with their motion through the time stream. Necto’s clavum, the piece that holds Decim’s time, was given to Auso, the Magister of Regno, to protect. If it’s true that Ophidian has killed him and taken the clavum, the future for our Lands is in far greater peril than we imagined.” Romen snapped the clavum shut and turned away. “In my younger years, I sought to steal Necto’s clavum and control Decim’s time myself. That’s why I wasn’t on Regno when Ophidian attacked. I’m banished.”
My thoughts whirred as I tried to process all this new information.
“I knew you were the one who gave me that,” Lyle blurted. He bounced on his toes, unable to contain his excitement. “I just needed my whole heart to remember all the details.”
“Yes,” Romen said, placing his gloved hand over the device, protecting it from our curious stares. “I’m a weaver of time, chosen by Necto himself to assist Eman in the battle against darkness.”
