air was colder now, brittle, like the

tones shaped like bones. Samir led the way, the journal clutched tight, traci

st chang

eined. The silence was deeper here, heavier, not the absence of

here," Will said

ed. "But we

feet high, covered in the same crescent-eye symbols etche

rative," he murmured.

for what?"

ce paled.

oked

in the clouds growing wider now, opening like a wound. Th

ress

covered in moss. At the far end, a monolithic archway rose from the ea

econd

nd it shimmered, and etched across the black stone were lines of sc

attered remains of t

opped me. "N

ha

He said the gate responds to blood. It'

of the gate, beneath the hollow, was a small

pocketknife and cut a sh

the stone, the gat

gnited one by one, circling the arch. The air split op

em

u

t stirred beh

mine-spoke from

finish wha

ggere

erek asked,

ulsed agai

with wonder; Will, pale but steady; Dere

ooked at

ll,"

e gate