Lizzie
I saw the colour drain from my comrades' faces and had to bit my lip to keep from smiling. So he'd done it after all. The plan was in motion, now all I had to do was wait.

"How?" Lucia gasped, her fingers pressed over her mouth. Niko rested his hand on her shoulder, his complexion like that of a ghost's.

Lenori shook her head. "Gerathon. Gar... the Conquerors attacked them. Tarik gave his life to protect them."

The names sent a jolt down my spine. Is Gar alive?

No. The snake's presence seemed uneasy and disoriented. No, no, he died...

He's dead?! I exhaled sharply, causing Tazi to look over. I offered him a pained smile. Do they know? Is Shane-

Shane issss on hissss way. He won the girl'sss trusssst.

I relaxed, relieved at a single bit of good news. I jogged to catch up with the rest of the group, who were headed up to the castle. I caught the back end of Tyler's words, "... I am going to assist the funeral ceremony, but there is no need for you to. You never knew the man."

"I will." Navia stepped forward shyly.

Tazi followed. "I knew him." The blond boy murmured sadly. "He always brought Lumeo down to play with me and Colin."

Tyler let his gaze scan the group. No one else volunteered. "Okay." He heaved a sigh. "Go get cleaned up, the lot of you. Navia, Tazi, follow me." Our three guardians along with Navia, Tazi and Lenori headed off toward the hall where the ceremony was being held, leaving the rest of us to traipse up to our rooms.

"See you guys later." Sabien mumbled as we paused at his door. He vanished inside without another word. I noted the way Zay and Sasha exchanged looks as we continued on. Lucia and Niko ducked into their rooms without another word, then Sasha and Zay bid me goodbye and went into the latter's room together. I, however, continued past my own door and out onto the balcony. Widow flashed from passive.

"We have work to do." I told the spider with a light grin as she settled herself onto my messy head of blonde hair. The spider responded by clicking her pincers at me. I sighed and turned, hopping up and catching the edge of the roof. I pulled myself up with practiced ease, as if I was only doing a chin-up in the gymnasium. Staying low, I ran lightly across the shingles, leaping over small gaps as they occurred. Finally, we got closer to our destination. Only one jump was left, and it was far too large for me. Luckily, I had Widow.

"You know what to do." I murmured, stroking her velvety black abdomen as she sat in my palm. A small strand of silk fell into my fingers as I caressed her.

"Perfect." I let my lips part into a sly grin, grasping the silk tightly. The spider waved one of her legs at me and then flung herself off my arm. She soared across the massive gap and landed with ease, all the while trailing a line of web. I knelt and stuck my end to the rooftop, then carefully tested it. It would hold my weight. I took a breath.

This is it; you've trained for this. I exhaled deeply and closed my eyes for a moment before stepping fully off the sturdy shingles. The thin strand bobbed for a moment, adjusting to my weight. I caught my breath, waiting for it to level out before continuing to edge along it. I kept my eyes fixed on Widow, a black dot that was slowly growing closer.

Almost there... so close... keep going-

With a soft tearing sound, the web broke away underneath my feet. I shrieked in surprise as I plunged downward. My eyes were wide open as I watched the cobbles rush up to meet me-

I stopped falling. I bent around and saw my foot, tangled in the sticky silk. I let out a breath I didn't know I'd been holding. I reached up and took hold of the line, pushing myself into an upright position. I paused a moment to catch my breath and reorganize my thoughts, then slowly freed my foot and slid down the strand until my feet hit the ground. Only then did I relax. Well, mostly. I peered around the corner of the building as Widow lowered herself on another thread and dropped onto my head. "Took you long enough." I murmured with a smirk. She mussed my bangs defiantly.

"There he is." I mumbled, my gaze latching onto a large crocodile that was barreling toward the very building I was standing beside.

But more precisely, my eyes found the man on the reptile's back. The Devourer made no move as he rode a mere hairsbreadth away from me and crashed through the door, but I heard the whisper come from his closed lips, "signal Gerathon. I will be but a minute." And then he was gone, wrecking havoc inside.

Gerathon! I shouted internally, plastering myself back against the wall. Gerathon!

I'm here, little one. The shadowy snake uncoiled, her eyes like bits of flint even in my mind. Issss it done?

He is inside. Tell Halawir the time has come. I agreed.

Good. You mussst get out of there now, sssso no one will sssusspect of your involvement.

What?! But that wasn't the plan!

Planssss change, girl. I need you here, undercover for a little while longer. Now go! The Great Snake hissed angrily.

I frowned. Yes, of course. I turned and jogged away from the building, glancing up as a shadow fell across me for a moment. Halawir. I quickly entered the building where my room was located, running up the steps and diving into the safety of my room. Halawir is here already? I asked. No response. Gerathon?

It issss done. Gerathon answered a few minutes later. Good work, little one, she added grudgingly. I flopped onto my bed. It was over. The odds were in our favour now. They could never win.

Dun dun duhhhhhh.

Hi! How've y'all been? I'm sorryyyyy I was MIA for a while :( but I'm back now! Just a few more chapters to go, then this book is done!

Gosh I love cliffhangers XD