**Alya** The second bell rang as they left Aster Tower. The bell didn't come from any one place. Its sound came from the sky, from beneath the ground, and even from inside Alya's own chest. Each toll made the mark on her wrist flare to life. Kael walked several steps ahead of her, carrying the silver sword now wrapped in black cloth. The sword looked calm, but Alya could feel its pulse through the contract. As if the sword had a heart. Darian stood in the doorway of Aster Tower. “You can't take that sword into Crown Tower,” he said. “Then I'll take it somewhere else.” “There is nowhere else.” Alya turned. “My mother is in there.” “Your mother is under Seraphine's protection.” “She’s still alive.” “Her body is still alive.” “That’s enough for me.” Darian looked at Kael. “If you enter Crown Tower, Seraphine will seal every exit.” Kael didn't answer. “And if the gateway in the sky opens completely,” Darian continued, “the human world will become part of Elyndor.” Alya stared at the massive crack in the sky. Beyond it, strange towers were becoming clearer. Parts of the buildings had begun breaking through into the human world like black bones emerging from skin. “How long until the gateway opens?” “The third bell,” Darian answered. Alya swallowed. “How much time is left?” “Forty minutes.” Kael turned. “We have to go.” Darian blocked his path. “Where?” “To Crown Tower.” “Kael—” “I’m not asking for permission.” “If you go in there, you might not be able to come back.” Kael looked at Alya. “I know.” Darian sighed. “At least take this.” He pulled an old pocket watch from beneath his coat. Its surface was silver, and its hands moved backward. “What is it?” Alya asked. “A timekeeper.” “How much time?” “No more than seven minutes.” “That’s very specific.” “Because time doesn’t like being wasted.” Alya accepted the watch. Its hands stopped. Then they began moving backward rapidly. “How do I use it?” “Open the cover when you’re absolutely certain everything is about to end.” “And what happens?” “Time will move back seven minutes.” “For everyone?” “No. Only for the people closest to the watch.” Kael took the watch from Alya’s hand and slipped it into his coat pocket. “Don’t use it unless I tell you to.” “Why?” “Because every time time is turned back, something else disappears.” “What?” Darian answered before Kael could. “Memories.” Alya immediately looked at Kael. “Whose memories?” “The person who turns back time,” Darian said. “And if I use it?” “Some of your memories will disappear.” “How many?” “No one knows.” Alya nodded slowly. “Great. One more thing that can take my memories.” Darian looked at her with pity. “Don’t underestimate loss, Alya. This world is built from things that have been forgotten.” Kael opened a shadow portal. Before stepping through, Alya turned to Darian. “What if we don’t come back?” Darian looked up at the sky. “Don’t let Raka open the gateway.” “That’s it?” “And don’t let Kael choose the wrong sacrifice.” Alya frowned. “What do you mean?” But the portal had already closed between them.
They appeared on an empty street. Arcapolis was still around them, but the city had changed. Traffic lights glowed blue. Rain hung suspended in the air. Several humans walked without making a sound, their faces blank like dolls. Shadows moved along the street without owners. Alya stared at it all. “Are they still conscious?” “Some of them.” “Why aren’t they panicking?” “Seraphine has touched their minds.” “Can you free them?” “Not now.” “There’s always an excuse.” Kael walked toward an overpass stretching between two buildings. Above it, Crown Tower began to appear. At first, it was only a black line in the air. Then the line widened into a stone staircase descending from the sky. At its end stood a tall, pale-white tower surrounded by slowly rotating metal rings. The tower had no door. No windows. Only a gigantic crown floating at its peak. Alya felt sick to her stomach. “My mother is inside?” “Yes.” “How do we get in?” “The tower will open a path for your blood.” “And if it refuses?” “The tower has no choice.” “Seems like no one in your world ever has a choice.” Kael looked at her. “Not even me.” Alya stopped. “You don’t have to come.” “I know.” “Seraphine is using you.” “I know.” “She’ll kill you.” “I know.” “Then why are you still coming?” Kael stood beneath the rain that never fell. His face looked more exhausted than before. “Because you’ll go in without me.” “And?” “And you’ll die.” “That’s not an answer.” “It’s enough of an answer.” “Not for me.” Kael met her eyes. “Because I made a promise to your mother.” “A promise you made before I was born?” “Yes.” “Is that the only reason?” Kael fell silent. Alya stepped closer. “Kael.” “I don’t know.” “You can’t not know.” “I’ve lived too long. Human feelings aren’t always easy to recognize.” “Your feelings aren’t a reason to kill my mother.” “I know.” “They aren’t a reason to watch over me.” “I know.” “They aren’t a reason to make me trust you.” “I never asked you to.” “No. You just kept saving me until I had no choice but to see you.” Kael lowered his head. Alya felt the anger in her chest turn into something more dangerous. Something she wanted to reject. The sword wrapped in Kael’s hand pulsed. Her mother’s voice surfaced in Alya’s mind again. *He’s starting to love you.* Alya shook her head quickly, trying to drive the voice away. Kael watched her. “The sword is talking again?” “No.” “Alya.” “No.” She walked ahead toward the stone staircase. “If you want to stop me, do it now.” Kael followed. “I won’t stop you.” “Good.” “I’ll make sure you stay alive.” “That isn’t the same thing.” “For me, it is.”
They climbed the stairs. Each step felt like piercing through a different layer of the world. Below them, Arcapolis grew farther away. The glass buildings turned into shadows. The streets vanished. The sky grew darker. On the thirtieth step, Alya saw her childhood home. The house appeared beside the staircase, complete with a white fence and a mango tree in the yard. Inside, her mother was arranging plates on the dining table. Alya stopped. Kael grabbed her arm. “Don’t look for too long.” “That’s my house.” “That’s a memory.” Her mother turned toward the window. “Alya?” The voice sounded real. Alya nearly stepped toward it. Kael pulled her back. “Don’t.” “Mom is alone.” “That isn’t your mother.” “She called my name.” “Seraphine is testing your mind.” Alya stared at the house. Behind the window, her mother smiled. But the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Alya noticed one small detail: her mother had no shadow. “Mom,” Alya whispered. The figure opened its mouth. “Alya, kill Kael.” The voice changed into Seraphine’s. The house crumbled into ash. Alya staggered. Kael caught her. “Are you all right?” “Don’t touch me.” Kael let go at once. Alya looked at him. “I’m not blaming you.” “No?” “I just… don’t know when your touch is protection and when it’s part of the contract.” “The contract doesn’t force me to touch you.” “How would I know?” “Because when the contract forces me, I won’t be able to resist it.” Alya looked at Kael’s hand. “How often has the contract forced you?” “Twice.” “The first time?” “When I made the pact.” “The second?” “When you nearly died at the hospital.” Alya remembered how Kael had touched her hand when Raka first woke up. “You were forced to protect me?” “Yes.” “And if the contract doesn’t force you?” Kael stared straight ahead. “I’ll protect you anyway.” Alya didn’t answer. They continued climbing. On the seventieth step, they heard Raka’s voice. “Sis!” Alya stopped again. The voice came from below. She turned. Raka stood in the middle of the vanished street. Golden light surrounded his body. His face looked as it always did—pale, thin, and frightened. “Sis, I’m scared.” Alya stepped down once. Kael gripped her shoulder. “Don’t.” “He’s alone.” “That isn’t him.” “What if it is?” Raka lifted his face. “Kael is going to kill me. Help me.” Alya looked at Kael. Kael shook his head. “Raka is at the hospital.” “How do you know?” “Because the contract wouldn’t let him get too far from you.” “He could be connected through immortal blood.” “Not in that form.” Raka began to cry. “Sis, I know you can hear me.” Alya felt her chest tighten. She wanted to believe Kael. But she couldn’t ignore her brother’s voice either. Alya closed her eyes. “Raka, what was the first thing you asked me for when we moved into our new house?” The figure of Raka fell silent. Alya opened her eyes. “Answer me.” Raka looked at her. “I asked you to buy me a kite.” “No.” “What?” “You asked for a moon-shaped night-light. You were afraid of the dark.” Raka’s face changed. His skin turned black. His eyes glowed red. “Memories can’t always be trusted.” “I know.” Alya turned and continued climbing. The creature’s voice changed into a shriek. Kael followed behind her. “Why didn’t you tell me Raka isn’t my biological brother?” “Because he’s still your brother.” “That’s not an answer.” “Blood doesn’t determine family.” “Seraphine said we’re the key and the door.” “Seraphine uses the truth to create lies.” “Then what’s the truth about Raka?” “Raka is descended from the family of the gateway guardians.” “Like my mother?” “Different.” “How?” “Raka’s bloodline comes from the immortal world. Your mother’s bloodline comes from humans tasked with guarding the boundary between worlds.” “So Raka isn’t human?” “Raka was born human.” “But now?” Kael stopped. “Now his blood is choosing.” “Choosing what?” “Whether to remain human or become immortal.” Alya looked down. “And if he chooses to become immortal?” “The gateway will recognize him as its master.” “And Seraphine?” “Seraphine will use his body as the gateway’s center.” Alya felt her head throb. “How long until he changes completely?” “No more than one night.” “Why didn’t you tell me this before?” “Because you would have tried to go back to him.” “Of course I would have.” “And Seraphine would use you to open the way.” “I don’t care.” “Yes, you don’t care. That’s why I had to lie.” Alya turned sharply. “You can’t lie.” “I can leave out certain parts.” “Don’t ever pretend that isn’t lying.” Kael didn’t respond. Above them, Crown Tower drew closer. But before they reached the door, the entire staircase began to shake. A crack appeared between the stones. Black hands reached out from within it. Kael immediately pulled Alya back. “Hunters.” “Seraphine’s?” “Yes.” “How many?” “Many.” The stairs beneath them shattered. Dozens of faceless creatures crawled upward, their bodies fused from smoke and shards of glass. Some took the forms of police officers, some doctors, and some people Alya knew from her past. One of them took the form of her mother. Alya felt the sword in Kael’s hand tremble. The creature resembling her mother smiled. “Sweetheart, come here.” Kael stood in front of Alya. “Don’t look at them.” “I’m looking at it.” “Don’t listen.” The creature raised a hand. “Kael, you’ve broken your promise.” “Shut up.” “You promised you wouldn’t let my daughter fall in love with you.” Kael’s shadow exploded along the staircase. The hunters were thrown back, but they didn’t fall. They clung to the wall and crawled upward again. Alya looked at Kael. “What happens if I fall in love with you?” “Nothing.” “The sword said I’d die.” “Not because of love.” “Then because of what?” Kael raised both hands. Black shadows spiraled into a protective circle. “Because of the contract.” “Explain.” “The contract can’t tell the difference between love and possession.” Alya felt the mark on her hand grow hot again. “And if I love you?” “The contract will consider you completely mine.” “Then?” “Raka will lose his bond with you.” “Wouldn’t that be a good thing?” “No.” “Why?” “Because the entire burden of the contract will shift to you.” Alya fell silent. “Will Raka live?” “Yes.” “And me?” Kael looked at her. “You’ll become part of immortality.” “Like you?” “Worse.” “Why?” “Because you won’t die, but you also won’t be able to become human again.” The hunters attacked again. Kael summoned his sword. The silver blade shot out of the black cloth, slashing through the first creature to approach. The hunter’s body split open, but no blood came out. Black smoke poured from its wound. A second creature lunged from the side. Alya raised her hand without thinking. The contract mark flared. A wall of light appeared between them. The hunter slammed into the wall and was thrown back. Kael turned. “You’re starting to control your blood.” “I didn’t do it on purpose.” “Do it again.” “How?” “Imagine something that isn’t allowed to pass through.” Alya saw Raka in her mind. Her little brother, afraid of the dark. Her brother laughing when he rode a bicycle for the first time. Her brother gripping her hand at the hospital and saying, *Sis, don’t leave me.* The wall of light widened. Every hunter nearby burned to ash. Kael looked at Alya with an unreadable expression. “What?” Alya asked. “Nothing.” “Don’t say—” “It doesn’t matter.” Alya nearly hit him. But before she could, the third bell rang. The sky split open. The crack above Arcapolis opened completely. The towers of Elyndor descended into the human world. In the distance, the entire city began to change. Blue fog covered the streets. Glass buildings shattered without a sound. Shadows of immortals appeared in every window. The door to Crown Tower opened. Seraphine stood beyond it. This time she wore a white dress, but its hem was stained with blood. Raka stood beside her. Raka’s face was pale. His golden eyes now shone like two small suns. Alya stopped. “Raka.” Raka lifted his face. “Sis.” Kael raised his sword. Seraphine smiled. “Welcome, Alya.” “Let my brother go.” “He came here of his own free will.” “Liar.” “I cannot lie,” Seraphine said. “You know that.” Raka looked at Alya. “Sis, come inside.” “I’m not coming any closer.” “If you don’t come in, I’ll open the gateway completely.” Seraphine raised one hand. Behind Raka, a gigantic circle formed in the air. Golden light flowed from his body into the sky. Alya saw Raka grimace. “Is she hurting you?” “No.” Seraphine smiled. “His body is merely adapting.” Kael stood beside Alya. “Seraphine, release Raka.” “You no longer have the right to command me.” “I’m not commanding you.” “Then what are you doing?” Kael tightened his grip on the silver sword. “I’m challenging you.” Seraphine laughed. “You can’t kill me.” “I don’t need to kill you.” Kael looked at the sword in his hand. “I only need to sever your connection to the human world.” Seraphine finally stopped smiling. Alya looked at Kael. “You can do that?” “With this sword.” “Then why don’t you?” “Because the sword needs guardian blood.” Alya looked at her hand. “My blood?” “Yes.” “Take it.” “Alya, if your blood touches the sword, the contract will open.” “Will Raka be free?” “Not completely.” “Then we don’t have a choice.” Seraphine raised her hand. Raka screamed. The light above him grew brighter. Alya stopped thinking. She ran toward Kael, seized the sword, and pressed her palm against the silver blade. Pain split through her hand. Her red blood flowed over the sword, mixing with the remnants of her mother’s blood. Crown Tower shook. Seraphine screamed for the first time. “Don’t!” Kael gripped Alya’s hand against the sword. The blade blazed white. Around them, the sky made a cracking sound. Raka dropped to his knees. The golden light connecting him to the gateway began to break apart. Alya stared at Seraphine. “Let him go!” Seraphine raised both hands. The entire tower trembled. “You have no idea what you’re doing.” “I know I’m saving my brother.” “By sacrificing yourself.” Alya felt the contract mark burn through her entire body. Kael grabbed her shoulder. “Alya, let go of the sword!” “No!” “The contract is opening!” “Raka is almost free!” “If you continue, you’ll become the center of the gateway!” Alya looked at Raka. Her brother tried to stand, but his body froze again. Ice spread from his feet toward his chest. “Sis,” he said weakly, “don’t…” Alya tightened her grip on the sword. “I won’t leave you.” Kael looked at her, his face pale. “Alya, you have to choose.” “No.” “Choose now!” “I don’t want to choose!” “If you don’t choose, the contract will choose for you.” The mark on Alya’s hand cracked. Black light spread across her entire body. Kael saw what was happening and made his decision instantly. He seized the sword and drove it into his own palm. Black blood flowed together with Alya’s blood. The contract screamed. Seraphine stared at them in horror. “Kael, don’t!” Kael looked at Alya. “Forgive me.” “What are you doing?” “I’m taking over the contract.” The black light moved from Alya’s body into Kael’s. Dark lines covered his chest, neck, and face. Alya tried to pull her hand away. “Let go!” “No.” “Kael!” “Raka will live.” “And you?” Kael smiled faintly. For the first time, his smile looked peaceful. “I’ve lived too long.” The silver sword pierced both their hands. The sky above Crown Tower shattered into white light. Seraphine screamed. The gateway closed. Raka was thrown to the floor, his body becoming human again. But Kael collapsed too. Alya caught him. Kael’s body felt cold. Far too cold. “Kael?” He opened his eyes. The silvery gray in them was beginning to fade. “Alya…” “Don’t talk.” “The contract has been transferred.” “Can it be reversed?” “No.” “Kael, can it be reversed?” Kael looked at her face. “I’m no longer bound to your life.” “Then why is your body freezing?” “Because I no longer have immortality.” Alya held her breath. Kael smiled weakly. “I’m finally human.” “No. Not like this.” “I wanted to be human.” “Not by dying.” “I’m not dying.” “You can’t feel your body.” “Not yet.” “Don’t joke.” Kael touched her cheek. His fingers trembled. “Alya, listen to me.” “Don’t.” “If I forget you—” “Don’t say that.” “If I forget you, you have to—” “I said don’t!” Kael looked at her. Then, before losing consciousness, he whispered: “Don’t fall in love with me.” Alya held him tighter. Behind them, Seraphine stood amid the tower’s ruins. The queen was unharmed. She only smiled. Because even though the gateway had closed, one thing had changed. The contract binding Alya and Kael had not vanished. It had only changed hands. And now, the entire price of the pact was inside Kael’s body.