The Unfailing Light

"This is impossible," Elena said. "You can't just walk in there, interrupt a coven of wizards, and steal their sacrificial victim."



"She can too," Danilo said, looking at me with what looked like admiration. "Katerina Alexandrovna can cloak herself in shadow."



I shivered, unhappy that Danilo knew so many of my secrets. And now Elena did as well.



The crown prince took my hand and pulled the glove nearly off. His finger touched the spot where Sucre had stabbed me the night before. "Our bond works both ways, my duchess. Just as your blood gives me extra strength, my blood gives you extra power."



I pulled my hand out of his. "No. I do not need your blood."



Elena laughed. "You must not care enough about Alix to save her, then."



I glared at her. "I need you to create a distraction while I find Alix."



Danilo nodded. "Once you've saved her, go to Militza's. I can send for my own carriage later."



I shook my head. "No, we must get Alix back to Smolny. Or take her to her sister, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna."



"She is probably dancing the night away at the Yussupov Ball," Elena said, pouting again.



"Then we go back to Smolny. Hopefully we will be able to sneak in again without anyone knowing that we left."



Elena's laugh was short. "Of course. A piece of cake. And Monsieur Sucre?"



"Leave him to me," the crown prince said. He took my hand and pulled it to his lips. "Once more, for luck, my duchess." With a wicked grin he turned my hand palm up and I felt his tongue on the wound from the night before. The tingles shot through my body again as his power increased. I felt a strange but familiar longing. At that moment, if he'd offered his blood to me again, it would have been very difficult for me to refuse.



"Katiya?" George Alexandrovich stepped out of the portico shadows. His face was much thinner, much paler than the last time I'd seen him. Had it only been a few months ago, at Christmas? It seemed like ages.



I took a step back from Danilo, but the crown prince did not let go of my hand. George's eyes grew cold as he stared from Danilo to me.



"Where's Alix?" I asked. "I know Monsieur Sucre brought her here."



There was no emotion in George's voice. "That is not your concern, Duchess. This is a private ceremony of the Order."



Cold fury burned inside me. "It is my concern when you plan to kill my classmate and take her heart for your dark ritual. I won't let you do it."



George's laugh was bitter. "Is that what this is all about?"



I pulled away from Danilo and tried to go to George. "I've been sick with worry for you," I whispered. "Please tell me you weren't going to let them hurt Alix."



"But my dear," George said, stepping back away from me. "Tonight is the night of my initiation. Isn't this what you wanted?" He smiled a grim and vicious smile before he disappeared back inside the building.



I wanted to chase after him and demand an explanation, but the guards at our feet began to stir.



"Come on," Danilo said, grabbing me and Elena by the arms. We hurried into the chapel. George was nowhere to be seen.



"So much for our well-thought-out plan," Elena grumbled. "Any other ideas?"



"I'm still going to save Alix," I said. "You two wait here." I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. "Sheult Anubis."



Nothing happened. I looked up at Elena and Danilo and started to panic.



"Try again," Danilo said patiently. "Focus on your powers."



I closed my eyes and imagined my cold light, coiled tightly within my belly. "Sheult Anubis." I felt the light stir, and I pulled the shadows around me, cloaking myself with the darkness.



Elena gasped. "Mon Dieu!"



"Very good, Katerina," Danilo said. "Now go and find your werewolf. You'll know when the time is right to get her."



I hurried into the Great Hall, where an unholy ritual was taking place. The room was smoky with incense. The censer hung from the ceiling in the middle of the room, burning frankincense and myrrh.



Robed men were standing in a circle, each one holding a black candle and chanting in an ancient language. It wasn't Latin or Greek, to my knowledge. I wondered if it was Egyptian. Their hoods prevented me from recognizing any of them, although I realized the man holding a golden staff had to be the Koldun.



There was a familiar ornament at the top of the staff: the Talisman of Isis. I felt dizzy, remembering that I was the one who had given the talisman to the Order for safekeeping after the fight with Konstantin at Peterhof.



As I advanced, I kept to the dark side aisles, away from the candlelight. But I could see Alix, gagged and bound, and kneeling on the floor in the center of the circle. As quietly as I could, I moved closer. A sharp, stinging feeling coursed through me with every step. I looked down and saw the protective ring of salt they had prepared. I had touched the wizards' protective shield. There was no way I would be able to get inside the circle to reach Alix. I could destroy the ring of salt, but then Alix would be in even greater peril.



The Koldun raised his staff and pounded it on the marble floor, silencing the others. I could hear Alix's rapid breathing, and yet she was calm. I hoped she wasn't planning on doing anything foolish herself. I was being foolish enough for all of us.



I could not tell at first which robed wizard was George. I slowly circled the room, looking from one candlelit face to another. Their shadows danced across the walls behind them. I found him at last standing opposite the Koldun. His gaze was intent upon his flame.



A large book lay open on a stand in front of the Koldun. When the chanting had stopped, he had stepped forward and begun to read from the book. It was some kind of incantation, in a language I recognized. My small knowledge of Latin, however, only allowed me to understand a few of the words: "darkness" ... "rise up" ... "embrace" ... "glory."



The Koldun looked up from his book and across the room. "Initiate, step forward."



I watched the nightmare unfold in front of me, unable to do anything.



One figure entered the center, and the wizards closed the circle around him. He pulled his hood back, and stared straight ahead at the Koldun. George Alexandrovich.



The Koldun removed his own hood and I had to cover my mouth to suppress a gasp. It was Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, the tsar's brother. Miechen's husband. "Initiate, your knowledge and skills in the occult have been examined by the peers standing with you this night. Your soul shall be examined by the Holy Ones and if it is accepted, you will become one of the innermost circle of the Order of the Black Lily. Are you ready, George Alexandrovich?"



"I am." His voice boomed out across the silent room.



No. George, please don't do this. I concentrated every bit of my energy into trying to get the message to him.



The Koldun took a ring from the center of his large book and held it over his head. "Holy Ones, we invoke you. This ring will protect George Alexandrovich and keep him safe when he is within the sacred circle."



George, I love you. I couldn't stop the tears that began rolling down my cheeks.



There was no hint on his stone-cold face that he'd heard my message. He held out his left hand for the Koldun to place the ring on his finger. The Koldun kissed George on each cheek. Then both wizards stepped back and took their original places with the others.



The Koldun looked around and smiled. "Now our coven is complete. Thirteen of the most powerful sorcerers in all of Europe. Tonight we shall combine our powers and cast the most ambitious ritual attempted since the mage Levi left the physical planes. Tonight the lich tsar Konstantin Pavlovich will be conjured and destroyed."



Destroyed? Killing Alix was going to save the tsar from Konstantin? There had to be another way. I glanced around the circle and then frowned. Even with George and the Koldun, there were only twelve robed wizards present. Did Grand Duke Vladimir miscount?



George, you can't let them do this.



He remained as still as a statue. There was no hint that he'd heard me.



Someone has to save Alix. And if you won't, I will. I tried another step toward the shield but was held back. I was afraid I would lose my shadow cloak if I tried to penetrate the magic circle a third time.



The thirteenth robed wizard slowly approached the circle. He was allowed to enter, but I still could not pass the magical barrier.



Hidden or not, I could not stand by and watch Alix be sacrificed. I took another step forward.



"I'm afraid you are too late, my beloved. The fun is just about to begin." The thirteenth wizard pushed his hood back and smiled. It was Danilo.