The idea of walking through the rest of the entertainment district in the tenth ring made me crestfallen and lonelier than I'd ever been, so I escaped the area as quickly as I could. Remembering that the arrondissements were connected by bridges going over the canals that separated them, I went over the first one I saw and kept going until I could no longer hear the music blaring from the bars. The streets became quiet.

After some time, I didn’t know where I was going, or which part of the city I was in. It didn't matter if I was putting myself at risk. The chaos raging in my mind muted any fears of my safety. I felt betrayed, even though the rational part of me vouched for Jay. After all, we had been separated for over two years, and he had moved on with his life. While I had been locked up, he had formed new relationships. I should be happy he wasn't the same man he had been before. What we had that one night before I had been arrested was just an accident.

I started envisioning what I would say to him the next time I saw him. I envisioned our futures here, and a bitter part of me imagined him remaining as a messenger sergeant, while I, fully trained in the magical powers that had been concealed from me for twenty-three years, had elevated my status in the mage world. Perhaps I could even become the next chancellor. Or a senator.

Somewhere up ahead, a clocktower’s bell rung. I had just passed through an industrial district, where there was heavy equipment lined up behind fences and tied to the docks on the canals. Besides a couple of bright lights installed to the side of buildings, lighting was much desired. Still, the streets lacked activity. People who worked in the area were probably at home. Taking bridges as I came across them, I let my feet guide me through the city, and soon wandered through a neighborhood district. Row houses shared the same street as small cafes and restaurants. Some houses had their porch lights activated. If the window blinds were pulled up, the interior scenes revealed dimly lit formal living rooms that looked like they were pulled directly out of a home magazine.

I felt like an interloper in the city, staring into houses and not belonging. Loneliness seeped into me.

I was descending a couple of steps that connected another bridge to land when I stumbled and missed my footing. I quickly righted myself after making a slight ruckus. The shadows to my left were disturbed, and I suddenly got the sense that I was no longer the only person on these streets. Frozen and hardly breathing, I stared into the shadows. I remained at the foot of the bridge, prepared to dart back across it should a threat arise.

Several yards away from the main street, a white stone pavilion rose against the night and behind a three-foot iron fence. The cobblestone walkway up to the grand entryway was decorated with bins containing heavy masses of flowers. Chimes hung from hooks that had been built as part of the architecture. The chimes were silent. One symbol, a sideway x, had been etched into the pillars continuously to create a pattern. A holiness surrounded the area, as if it was revered. The temple was a place of worship.

Tension gripping my body, I crept forward a couple of steps. My eyes were drawn to the grounds behind the pavilion's fence, which I could see in between the fence's pickets. At first, I saw a couple of statues in the yard before the pavilion. I wasn't prepared to see the living gaze of a human's eyes staring directly at me. I gasped and froze as my mind rushed to make sense of what I was seeing.

Even though the person was kneeling, it was clear that he had height to him. That was the only characteristic I could decipher about him. A long, billowing cloak surrounded his face, obscuring it. The cloak continued down to the ground, draping around the man's knees in massive amounts of material. The man was kneeling over an enormous beast that had collapsed onto its side. Light reflected against the liquid on the beast's hide.

The man could be helping the creature.

That thought skittered across my mind momentarily, only to be pushed away by instinct. Something was amiss. The adrenaline pumping through my body was due to more than just the surprise of seeing another human on these streets at this hour. It was an ominous feeling. I had to fight against the urge to turn my back on the male and flee back across the bridge. Instead, I did something stupider and ran towards him. There was a small gate separating the iron fence, and it yielded to my force as I shoved it open. By the time I veered to the left, the man had stood up. He took a graceful step backwards. Although I couldn't see past the shadows underneath his cloak, I knew he was staring straight at me. I should be grateful that whatever violent urges he had been feeling, it had been taken out on the animal. For the man pivoted a full one hundred and eighty degrees and disappeared in the pavilion’s shadows.

I stumbled forward and landed in a kneeling position next to the creature. This close, I could see the characteristics of two animals in this one creature. All my classical lessons with Galileo came tumbling to the surface with a wave of shock and amazement. This creature was a gryphon, a legendary creature uniting the attributes of an eagle and lion. His body was that of a lion's, complete with a tail, mane, and bushy fur. He also had eagle wings, talons at the end of his paws, and an arch in the neck. The gryphon's fur was matted where a large circular wound was on his side. The flow of blood out of that gaping wound had slowed to a trickle. It was too late. There was an ever-growing pool of the gryphon's blood expanding underneath him. A smear of blood glistened on one of his talons.

With tears accumulating in my eyes, I glanced from his wound to his eyes. A second gasp left me when I saw the human-like intelligence residing in them. There was a recognition in them, followed by a message. His tail swished once on the ground. The gryphon's eyes fell shut. Permanently.

"Get away from him!"

The shout came from behind me. My balance was affected, and I wobbled in trying to scramble up onto my feet. I whirled around to face where the demand had come from. Five people—all clad in dark blue robes—rushed out from the pavilion's veranda and into the yard. Three of them pointed the sharp spears in my direction, while a fourth one had an arrow fitted into a bow—also aimed in my direction.

Immediately, I threw my hands into the air to show I was defenseless. My mouth went dry with fear. My mind threw their perspective back at me.

I was the slayer of the gryphon.

"Don't you dare move!" The only male without a weapon barked the order at me. He was perched on the main staircase.

I didn't intend to move—especially since more people in dark blue robes armed with weapons had snuck out of other exits and surrounded me from behind. At least ten spearheads and bows were pointed at me. I waited for further commands; none were forthcoming. "There was a man here," I tried to explain. My voice was shaky.

"Silence!" The male's voice exploded across the yard.

My lips pressed together.

More robed people hurried out of the pavilion. They rushed to where the beast was and started their assessment. Some of the armed ones escorted them and formed a protective barrier around them as they worked, as if I would attack. Through their bodies, I saw them exchange a sorrowful glance. "It's too late," one of them called out to the men positioned on the stairs. "He's gone."

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No one responded.

They had to be waiting for the soldiers to arrive; I hadn't seen the presence of any law enforcement in the city. To my embarrassment, my legs trembled out of fear. I felt the reminder of the phantom sting of handcuffs snapping around my wrists. I relived the confusion over my arrest. The horror of seeing the video footage from the Union Station attack—had the same thing happened here? But no, I reminded myself, there was the male in the hood. He was behind this. This time, my memory was intact.

Fear increased the tremors in my legs. Would they throw me into a jail cell? Solitary confinement at Caligo? Did my freedom away from the restraints expire after ninety-six hours? I had a thought to flee, to become a fugitive. The fear of being locked up was too much. Could I evade the spears and arrows, navigate through an unknown landscape? Run to the bridge that led to the mortal world?

It took about three minutes for the soldiers to arrive at the pavilion. Some materialized out of thin air, while others charged through the front gate I had carelessly left open. They joined the others in encircling me. More bows and rifles were added to the mix of the weapons pointed at me. Those with magic had spells brewing in between their palms, waiting to be released with one threatening thrust. I scanned the soldiers' faces for someone I recognized, hoping that Jay would be amongst them, even though I knew it was a false hope. Acid saturated my throat at the thought of why he was distracted.

It didn't matter, for one soldier recognized me. From the distinguished patches and bars on his uniform, I identified him as a sergeant. His face featured his shock. It didn't keep him from reacting. He turned to another soldier and ordered, "Go and advise the chancellor." The lower-ranking soldier nodded and promptly raveled. I blinked several times, just to make sure he was gone. Hope flared in me. If the soldier was retrieving Sebastien, then maybe I had a chance to explain my side of the story before they threw me behind bars.

The commanding soldier kept us frozen in our positions until Sebastien arrived. It was only minutes before the air shimmered with disturbance. Sebastien materialized out of it, assessed the area with his gaze—including the collapsed gryphon—and then marched through the circle of weapons. As he did so, he gruffly demanded, "Put down your weapons. She's not a threat to any of you!" The command in the chancellor's voice didn't allow any room for protest. The soldiers returned their weapons to their holsters while the priests allowed theirs to fall at their sides. The magic dissipated in the air. My arms fell to my sides, limp. The standoff was over.

Sebastien marched up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. His eyes drilled into mine as he questioned, "Are you okay?"

My mouth was parched. I couldn't choke out even a word, so I just nodded.

Sebastien eyed me like he didn't believe me. Aware of our audience, he turned away to face them. His attention settled on the man who had spoken for the pavilion's denizens. "What is this all hoopla about, Priest Cano?"

"We got a motion alarm when the girl stepped on the grounds, chancellor. When we went to investigate, she was kneeling over our revered Divine's sacred companion." Priest Cano's eyes drifted over to the fallen gryphon in remorse and anger. "We all felt it in our bones as soon as it happened. Aer is gone... assassinated!"

The muscles in Sebastien's back tightened. "You think that a mere girl, one who has never been trained in her abilities, took down Andralyn's beast?" There was a slight ridicule in his voice.

"We didn't know who she was, chancellor," Priest Cano claimed, almost apologetic.

"Know that she is innocent," Sebastien snapped. He inhaled a deep breath before continuing. When he did, his voice was calmer. "This is a morose moment for all of Astraera and its populace. I want the real perpetrator to be caught and held accountable for what has happened tonight. Sergeant Wendell will assist with leading the investigation." Sebastien nodded at the sergeant, who was standing nearby. The soldier nodded once to show his acceptance of this duty. "For right now, keep this incident private," Sebastien implored of the priest. "With the Resistance running amok, we don't need to stress the public further with the news that Aer has been assassinated and what that means."

"The perpetrator needs to be stopped," Priest Cano stressed. "If he has enough power to take down a god's companion... and this isn't the first time. The perpetrator has been doing this for a while now. We know that the Divine themselves are being hunted and killed! How many of the Divine will he kill before he's stopped? By the priesthood's accounts, he's three-quarters the way done!"

"He will be. We are aware of the issue, and you'd best remain focused on your Divine duties. We do not need any rogue priests hunting the perpetrator. You'd only be getting in the way." Sebastien advised in a conversation-ending tone. The head priest returned to join his fellow priests, who had been loitering together near the temple. Sergeant Wendell started to delegate tasks to his force. Two soldiers were working on creating a perimeter around the yard. Another two were capturing stills of the crime scene. The remaining were either sent out to search the area or to interview the priests.

Sebastien's hand landed on my back. With minimal pressure, he guided me away from the pavilion and back onto the main road. "You've had two eventful nights here, Briara,” Sebastien remarked neutrally. "This is starting to become a pattern for you."

"I've had three eventful nights since my escape from jail, and I've only been free for four days," I said. A part of me wanted to add that I felt safer back in that cell at the county jail. I swallowed those words. Instead, I asked, "Was that really a Divine's companion that was killed?"

Sebastien nodded, his expression reflecting remorse. "Aer. One from Andralyn's ancient herd."

"He was a gryphon?"

"Yes."

I took that as I had a lot of different things to learn about this world. Yet, it was not the time. "Do you think the Resistance did this? Is that why you asked the priest to keep it quiet?"

"Perhaps. No, I asked Priest Cano to keep quiet because the media tends to incite fear and irrationality in people when they get a story and run with it." Sebastien was noncommittal. "What did you see?"

"Just one guy, working alone."

"Can you describe him?"

I shook my head. "Not beyond that he was tall. He was wearing a cloak, and it was too dark to see much."

"Then how do you know it was a male?" Sebastien challenged.

Taken aback, I paused. I started to doubt my instincts. "I don't," I admitted.

"Don't feel bad," Sebastien responded. "Witness accounts are usually erred. Memory is a faulty thing, especially in moments of fear. Even if you saw the person and there had been better lighting, I would be hard-pressed to believe your description. You seemed pretty shaken up back there." I quelled the urge to argue with him.

"What happens now?" I asked instead.

Sebastien paused. "I don't want to downplay his demise, and what happened tonight was atrocious. Such sloppy work for such a heinous crime. Aer was an honorable symbol for the Court of Air, despite one with little power. The court will mourn his loss for many months ahead. The perpetrator will be caught in due time. Fortunately, we have built a foundation that doesn't rely on our Divine or their companions." Sebastien shoved his hands in his pockets. He waited until we had crossed the bridge connecting the seventh ring to the sixth before changing the topic. "What were you doing at the temple?"

I glanced down at the ground, feeling a shameful blush heat my cheeks and the back of my neck. "I was just wandering around," I said pitifully.

"I thought you were out with Sergeant Britton," pressed the Chancellor. At my surprised glance, he further said, "I suggested he be assigned to show you around the city? Was I wrong to make that suggestion?"

"No." I shook my head. I suddenly felt like I was scrambling up the side of a cliff, trying to keep my balance.

"I thought he would be a familiar face that might make you feel more comfortable around here."

"It's okay," I assured. "It wasn't him. He brought me to a loud club, and after all those nights in solitary confinement, it was a bit much too soon. I had to get away and find some silence."

Sebastien seemed to accept my excuse, for he didn't press the matter any further. We arrived at my apartment twenty minutes later. Sebastien saw me in before leaving. He informed me he wanted to see me in the morning to review my evaluation results. I agreed, and when the apartment door shut, I cursed at myself. Was I being reckless on purpose? I promised myself I would be more careful in the future.