I think only of his golden face as I’m racked with phantom pains and emotions, and I try to hang on to who I am while the energy of others stampedes through me.
The transferring process seems to be speeding up, and the whirring of Psynergy grows too intense until I can’t catch my breath, and my heart is beating too fast, and I fall forward to my knees.
Ophiuchus draws his hand away from mine, and as the dizziness ends, I open my eyes.
Did . . . did we finish? I ask, breathless.
Almost, he says, his eyes shining brighter than I’ve ever seen them, like pure starlight.
I look up, but the Dark Matter is still in the sky, and the Psynergy is swirling around us. It’s not working.
Because there’s one step left, he says, and then he falls to his knees, too, and looks at me, his whole being glowing with beautiful silver light.
Dread fills me so that I can’t even speak. I’ve suspected this, but Moira didn’t say, and I was hoping it wouldn’t come to it.
Rho, you must kill me.
No, I say, and I get up and take a step back.
It’s the only way. The death of a star opens the portal, and the death of a star closes it. The same release of energy. You must do it now—it must be timed with the release of Psynergy.
I—I can’t. I’ve never killed anyone—
Please. You promised me.
But when I promised, I hated you. I blamed you for the deaths of my dad and Mathias, and now I know the truth.
It’s more than that, though. Ophiuchus is the only person who truly knows me. He’s seen all of me, my soul and my darkness. He understands both because he’s made of light and shadow. And he started out just like me—hopeful and warm, a champion of Unity among the earthlings. He deserves a chance to live among his people. A chance to tell his tale to the worlds. A chance to redeem himself.
Don’t you care what this will do to me? I ask, echoing his old question.
It will keep you honest, he says gently. I’m helping you keep your word to the stars. There’s no other way, and we’re out of time.
I close my eyes and fall out of my Center.
When I open them again, I’m standing in front of Ophiuchus, and he’s on his knees before me, just as he was in the astral plane. Only now we’re back on reality.
With everyone watching us, I make a fist and activate my Barer. An aqua blade shoots out from the handle, and I choke as I whisper, “I promise the Zodiac will know your story . . . and your people will never be abandoned again.”
“Thank you,” he says softly, and then I steel my muscles, fighting against the nausea and clamminess trying to take me over.
And I plunge the sword into his heart.
42
THE ZODAI AROUND US GASP as Ophiuchus falls forward, and Traxon cries out in horror to see his beloved Thirteenth Guardian vanquished once and for all. I drop to my knees, sobs erupting from deep within me, because something inside me just died, too.
Hysan’s arms are the only thing tethering me to life. He kisses my hair, my forehead, my wet cheeks, but I can’t stop crying. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers, understanding better than probably any other Zodai here how much this act of violence just shredded my soul.
The Dark Matter begins to grow less opaque, like a day that’s dawning in extreme slow motion, and we know it worked.
The portal’s window has closed, and the darkness that stained the Zodiac millennia ago, with Ophiuchus’s betrayal, is receding. The Thirteenth House is back—and that means the Psynergy is being returned to Pisces, renewing that world, as well.
The Zodiac lives to see another day.
Suddenly everyone starts cheering, the delayed reaction unanimous, and Hysan and I stand up. I watch as Mathias hugs Pandora, and Skarlet hugs Eurek, and Quima hugs Numen, and Mom hugs Gamba. The Ophiuchans are watching the lightening sky overhead like they’ve never seen anything like it; then, without warning, they scatter back to the swamp’s darkness, like the light is a threat to them.
“This change will affect this species and this world’s topography,” I say, sniffling. “They’ll need our help.”
“And they’ll get it,” says Hysan, wiping my tears with his thumbs.
“It’s over,” says Eurek, his white smile bright against the dark air. “Wandering Star, it was an honor—”
“Are we celebrating something?”
I spin to see Aryll strutting over from the swamp. “Why wasn’t I invited?”
Before his question is even out, a swarm of Marad soldiers charge at my friends, and Eurek shouts, “Activate your shields!” right as the Murmurs begin shooting blue light. He, Mathias, Skarlet, and Gyzer rush forward to meet the soldiers, and soon almost everyone is battling someone—but not Hysan and me.
Nobody interferes with us as Aryll casually saunters over, and Hysan grips my hand in anticipation.
Then Blaze comes roaring into the clearing, his eyes rimmed red and his face set in a scowl. “WHAT DID YOU DO?” he booms at me. “YOU’VE RUINED OUR ONLY CHANCE!”
“It’s over,” says Hysan as his former friend joins Aryll.
“It’s not over until that bitch is dead,” says Blaze, glaring at me.
“You’re not touching her.” Hysan’s voice is low and deadly, a darkness rising in him that I’ve only glimpsed a few times before.
“He doesn’t have to,” says Aryll merrily. “That’s what this is for.”
He raises his wrist, and I recognize the black band—it’s a Scarab. “I got this especially for Rho, so she can experience the pain she put me through.”
Hysan tugs on my arm, and we start running. I try to concentrate on keeping my shield up, even though it won’t protect me against the Scarab’s poison—the Barer can only deflect technological attacks.
Something white suddenly collides with Hysan, and we drop each other’s hands as we fall to the ground. I look up to see a Marad soldier wrestling with him, and as they struggle, Blaze rushes over, lacking his usual swagger.
I have no time to defend myself as his hand closes around my neck, and he lifts me off the dirt. But before he can shatter my throat, a fist blows into the side of his head.
Blaze is blasted back ten feet, and I drop to the ground.
“Are you okay, Rho?” asks Neith, offering me a hand and pulling me up.
“Now I am,” I say, my throat sore. I search for Hysan. He’s fighting off two Marad soldiers at once, and I start to run to him, but Neith won’t let go of my arm.
“I’m sorry, Rho, but I’ve been programmed to protect you and Ophiuchus at all costs. Even if the price is Hysan’s life.”
“What?” I whirl around to look at him, and I see tears in his eyes. He’s struggling against the directive, but he can’t defy it. He’s a machine.
Pandora runs over to me, still shielded by her Barer. “Mathias is helping,” she assures me, and sure enough I look over to see that Mathias has materialized at Hysan’s side, and when they’ve fought off the soldiers, they run over to us.
“Hysan, order Neith to stop protecting me!” I demand.
“Rho, I can’t—”