BOOM.

The ground quaked under the force of the explosion as I released my stranglehold on time. My vision blurry, Zachariah and I stumbled into the house. I glanced out the window to see the entire patch of woods alight. Black smoke belched into the air with the force of a dragon's breath.

"Would you believe me if I said this wasn't my first explosion?" I ask Zachariah breathlessly, blinking away my fatigue. His sidelong glare was his only response.

We stood in the ballroom at the base of the stairs, the crowd of family, friends, and Deified realizing what happened one by one The Matron tried to stand again with Dash's help, but only succeeded in slipping in more of the cake. Several people rushed to the windows, pointing and yelling. Some called for their servants to go and assess the source of the fire, while many made a hasty move for the exit.

Stone's strong voice called the guards into action, and in seconds a veritable army of them fought their way through the snow to the source of the smoke.I didn't bother to follow them. I knew what they would find.

Meanwhile, Zachariah and I slowly worked our way up the stairs, trying our best to look as if we weren't the cause of the wildfire. I was suddenly glad for the thick layer of snow on the ground, and doubly grateful we had thought to break the trail of gunpowder leading to the carriages. Levi and Myra were at the second floor landing now with the photographer, holding hands and looking at the smoke filling the sky as more and more voices joined the cacophony.

Their eyes shifted to mine at the same exact time, their gazes knowing. Gods, was I really their first suspect when things blew up? I pursed my lips as that thought crossed my mind.

Yes. Yes I was. And rightfully so.

I did my best to appear innocent, although that was extremely difficult since my hair was anything but its neat coifieure and my dress was now torn in several places. Not to mention that I was now running low on energy. If I looked half as bad as I felt, then it was obvious what happened.

"I'm assuming," came a familiar bass voice from behind us, "That there is a plan?"

I turned, pulling in a deep breath as Stone took his hat off his head. He nodded to Captain Lowin, who immediately started barking orders to the remaining guards. I felt a bit bad for them as they tried to manage the crowd, which was slowly spiraling into panic. Even Lord Beaufoutonte was pacing nervously, his expression taught. The Matron, once she scraped icing off her face, joined Captain Lowing and the Lord in barking orders to the guards to count every head. Tension pulled at every, line in their faces as they sought to ensure everyone was safe.

One poor guard received a slap across the face as a Deified woman tried to push past him, her Mark glowing in sharp contrast to her skin.

"Let me through or you will be looking for another job!" she cried, and she wasn't the only one. Many people were trying to shove their way in various directions, and not listening to anything the Lord and Matron had to say.

"Did you find the other Chosen?" Stone asked when I didn't answer right away, his voice low. I bit my lower lip and shook my head, glancing around for answers that weren't appearing. Gods damn it all. It was too hard to think with fatigue weighing me down like a boulder.

Stone's hand landed on my shoulder, a line between his brows.

"What do you need, Little Lady?"

I ground my jaw so hard, I could feel my teeth turning to powder. My legs were made of clay, and the edges of my vision were hazy. I shouldn't have stopped time twice, but I was too damned afraid to leave Myra and Levi alone long enough to fight the Pumas. I was so tired, and...and.

Come on Rowena, let me out again. We almost had him last time. And there's no God to stop us in this plane.

Go--

A coin cannot banish its other side. No matter how many times you tell me to go, it will not change the fact that we are one. Use me.

Growling, I snapped my focus to Stone again.

"I need time."

Before I could say more, Councilman Terris stepped forward. He raced up the stairs in a few powerful strides to stand beside us, before turning to address the throng of yelling people.

"Everyone! Ladies and Gentlemen please!" he called, but nobody was listening to him. His voice could barely be heard over the tumult. He spread his arms wide and yelling again, but it made no difference. I stepped forward, trying to think of how to help him before Stone's deep baratone voice rang out.

"ENOUGH!"

Silence immediately fell over the room as if everyone had been struck dumb, even Councilman Terris. Hells, even I flinched. I had only heard Stone use that tone two other times in my life. One was when I told him about Fayra. The second time was seconds later. When I told him that her killer had gotten away. Although I had never met the being, I was sure Stone could give the God of Wrath a run for his money when he was in a rage.

Stone stood to his full height, staring down his nose at the crowd.

"Are these the people whom the Gods themselves have chosen to bestow a Mark on? At the first sign of trouble you all become animals?" Stone murmured more quietly, making many of them shift on their feet. Some of them at least had the decency to be embarrassed, Stone's words making them feel like scolded children.

Me too everyone. Me too.

"You are all leaders in this town! Every last one of you!" Stone continued, his hands curling into fists, "And many of my men are currently risking their lives to protect you. Act like people who are worth protecting."

Everyone stared wide-eyed at him, murmuring quietly to one another. Terris cleared his throat and straightened his tie, moving to match Stone shoulder to shoulder.

"We apologize for this disturbance, Ladies and Gentlemen. Please be assured that this matter will be investigated thoroughly by Sheriff Stone's capable hands," he said gently.

"And the next person who lays a hand on any of my men will spend the evening in jail. I do not care who much money, power, or influence you have," Stone growled, still angry.

"But I doubt that will be necessary," Terris said quickly, indicating the Lord and Matron Beaufoutonte. Taking the cue, Myra's mother and father moved to the stairs. Lord Beaufoutonte picked a piece of cake out of his wife's hair before addressing everyone.

"To those who wish to leave because of concerns for their safety, please know that we understand and you will be escorted home by the guards once it is safe to do so. To those wishing to wish my daughter and son-in-law well and stay for the party, you are most welcome. Edmund?"

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The Beaufoutonte's butler seemed to materialize out of the wall the second his master called, his skin doted in the glistening scales of the Umifolk.

"Please ensure the everyone has a glass of the finest wine that we have. We--"

"Protect Levi and Lady McAlister. I will handle things here," Stone murmured to Zachariah and I.

We didn't need another invitation.

*******

"What in all the Gods hold holy happened, Wen?" Levi asked the second we entered Myra's bedroom. In typical Levi fashion, his tone carried no animosity. He glanced at me in genuine concern, his eyes lingering on my ruffled hair and dress. Myra and Levi had politely and firmly told the photographer that we needed to talk, and he now stood outside. Zachariah stood behind me, his Elemancy tattoos still roaming around the skin of his neck and even trailing up to his jaw.

Dash was the last to slip through the door, icing covering his pants.

"Is everyone alright?" came a voice from the windowside chair. I looked and saw Ash rising from it, the swelling in her face still prominent. I had forgotten that she was still here.

I loosed a breath through my nose.

"Yeah. I thought he would have shown by now," I murmured almost to myself, "But he hasn't yet. He's still out there."

Dash stooped to brush himself off.

"Is it possible that he knew you would be expecting him and is waiting to strike when you aren't" he reasoned, folding his massive arms behind his back. I wanted to shake my head, but something was still off here.

"I don't think so, but then again I've been wrong at every step," I replied, jumping as Ash pressed a wet cloth into my hand with steam rolling off of it. She indicated the wound on my side from the bullet I had taken, and I grunted a thanks to her. I had almost forgotten about the wound, but I could see the trickle of blood coming from the parted cloth of my dress. I hissed as the hot water hit my flesh.

"Maybe the God of Knowing decided to call off the murders after he saw your rage?" Myra asked, sitting on the edge of her bed alongside Levi as Ash paced around the room.

"I'd agree with you if I didn't just blow up a herd of Pumas in your back woods. And the God of Knowing was able to send me packing with a flick of his finger. I doubt he's threatened by me," I deadpanned, reaching to my hip to stroke Fayra's pistols by habit, only to find they weren't there. Otto still wasn't done fixing one and still had the other for collateral while I had the Elemancy gun.

A gun that the Puma's had stolen. A gun that was now probably blown to smithereens.

Fuck. He was going to have an aneurysm when I told him that little chestnut.

I heard Ash let out a low whistle as I groaned. I peeked an eye at her, only for her to avoid my gaze and watch the smoke.

"Well then how do we find the other Chosen?" Myra asked, voicing the one question I didn't have an answer to.

The room descended into silence as we all thought, our eyes drifting to one another. I massaged my temple, a persistent throb coming from the wound on my side and a violent headache brewing. My dress felt too tight and restrictive, corset or no corset. I found myself longing for my normal tunic and riding breeches.

"Maybe Lady McAlister is right," Ash said suddenly, making all of us look at her. Her voice sounded even, despite the swelling and new scars on her face. I felt myself frown, waiting for her to explain.

"I feel like the Pumas acted of their own accord. Maybe its just a coincidence that they attacked today? And the Chosen was ordered to stop murdering the Deified?" Ash said in a contemplative voice. Myra nodded, and Levi pressed a kiss to her hand.

"All the gangs hate the Deified, so that would make sense. Or its possible that they were hired by another company to sabotage the merging of our two companies?" he asked. Dash frowned, but offered no comment.

"Either way, we should probably keep watch for now," Ash said more conclusively, standing and brushing her dress off. I frowned at her again, looking more keenly at her bruised face.

Goose flesh spread over my skin.

I stood slowly, my legs still weak as I curled my hands into fists. Zachariah stood too, staying close to me.

Ash sent me a puzzled look as I put myself between her, my brother, and Myra.

"Did somebody hit you on the head, Miss Rowena? What are in the Hells are you doing?" Myra asked waspishly, but I ignored her. I continued to walk toward Ash, who shifted uncomfortably on her feet, a hand touching one of the scars on her face.

"What do you suggest for the watch?" I asked evenly, sitting on the bed. Well, more accurately, I collapsed on the bed as my legs gave out, the room definitely spinning now.

Ash shrugged noncommittally.

"You look like the Hells themselves. I don't really think we'll make much progress with you like that. While you heal up, we can make sure he doesn't strike. After the party, we can look for him again."

I narrowed my eyes at her.

"Yeah. But there's a problem with that," I began as the mattress depressed under Zachariah's weight, my fingers curling as I reached for the darkness within me. They were slow to respond now. It was like trying to run on dry land versus running in water at hip height. I realized my mistake as the wound in my side gave a particularly nasty throb.

"What? What's the problem?" Ash asked, shifting again and pulling on the neck of the maid's uniform. As if it didn't quite fit right.

"You're a traitor to the Pumas," I said bluntly, curling my toes in my shoes as I gathered more and more shadows beneath me.

"Why would they leave you alive?" I asked, meeting Ash's eye.

She scoffed, her rough voice flat.

"It's not like they left me off easy, Blight. Look at me!" she said, waving at her tortured face. I shook my head slowly, a lopsided grin twitching at my lips. I looked down to find the image of my hands blurring.

"That's the thing," I replied as I closed my eyes and tucked my legs further beneath me like a spring.

"I don't fucking believe you."

And then I jumped on her.

Ash was up long before I got to her, sidestepping my attack. I sent spears of shadow at her, but I missed by a long shot. A hols blasted through Myra's wall, cold air rushing in with some flakes of snow. Ash caught my arm, twisting it behind my back painfully. I was slow to react, my limbs feeling like they were made of lead. Using every ounce of stubbornness I had, I pushed the hazy thoughts away. I switched the direction of my attack and clung to where Ash held me so I was tugging her into my back. Using brute strength to push us both backward, I tried slamming us into the wall.

But I didn't get that far.

I distinctly felt Ash's arm get larger with more muscle, and she stopped us with iron strength. Her other arm snaked around my throat, her grip as unbreakable as a chain. I growled, desperate for my body to obey me. But it wasn't. The fatigue was spreading through me and I could see black dots in my vision now.

"What's the matter, My Lady?" Ash whispered in my ear sycophantic-ally, her voice getting deeper, "Feeling a bit sluggish?"

I gasped as I heard Myra and Levi screaming somewhere far away, their voices echoing at the end of a dark tunnel.

But then there were other hands on us, tearing Ash's arm away from my throat. My vision cleared just in time to see Dash holding her in a bear hug and pinning her arms against her sides while Zachariah fought her kicking legs. Their faces strained with the effort to hold the shifter, its skin already molding into something much larger.

"Rowena!" Zachariah cried, holding out a hand to me, though I saw at least three of them.

I dove forward blindly, grasping Zachariah's hand just as I reached another to the Chosen's neck, right where a Mark would be.

A howl of rage came out of him as I found his Mark and began to burn one of my own. It took precious seconds, and they felt like hours. I was pulling myself from my body, wrestling the Chosen and Zachariah's souls with me. The room faded away, blackness becoming complete around us as I focused on that horrid realm.

Purgatory.

I though of Death's garden, willing us toward it. We were flying through realms, Cosmos. Millenium. To a place where time didn't truly matter.

Our energies merged and I dragged us closer and closer while the Chosen fought the pull. I saw all the Purgatory realms of all the Gods, but I kept my focus on that darkest corner of the sky. The corner with an ocean of red, leading to the Far Shore.

And then my feet were hitting soft grass, and an endless field of plants and flowers flowed around me. Zachariah and the Chosen collapsed on the ground next to me, gasping for air.

The Chosen sprang to his feet as I gazed at him, halfway transformed between Ash and a Behemoth. My energy was still low, and I could feel the call of the darkness within me, but somehow I managed a smile at his enraged face.

"Welcome to my turf."