Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1004(@200wpm)___ 803(@250wpm)___ 669(@300wpm)
Another darkness. Another scene change. And yet another Extraction. This time it’s Mabel Paice. It keeps going like this. Darkness. Lucy Fisher. Darkness. Mabel Shaw. Darkness. Piper Adley. Darkness. Brooke Bayford. One by one they walk through the doors and disappear underneath me.
Darkness.
Then nothing.
I lean in, squinting. But there’s nothing but blue mist out there.
“Haryet!” I yell it. Just in case she’s lost. Because she’s next. And I want to see her so bad, but she’s not here. “Haryet!”
Then it all disappears and I find myself sitting up in bed because someone is pounding on our door.
“Yes, everyone agrees that the Godslayer is disgusting. But I find his Courtesan to be the most repugnant woman in the history of females. What a tool she is.”
—Glenda Washington, Dean of Women’s Studies, Dupont College, Phi City University
CHAPTER FORTY
“Hello, son.” Just the sound of my father’s voice is enough to make my whole chest hurt. I wouldn’t call him my best friend. I wouldn’t call him a friend at all, actually. He was my father. And that’s so much more than a friend.
He was my whole world. And I miss him. It hasn’t even been a full week, but in this moment, I feel like it’s been a thousand years since I talked to him last.
“If you’re watching this…” He pauses to smile and chuckle a little. “Well, things must’ve gone terribly awry. I’m probably dead. But”—he puts up a hand—“don’t worry. If I died trying, it still would’ve been worth it. Because I can’t live with the lies. I did it when I was your age because… well, my father assured me that it was the right thing to do. And I trusted him, just like you trust me. But it’s not the right thing to do and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I told you otherwise. I’m not going to talk you into it the way he did me. You’re better than that, Finn. You’re better than me. You’re better than any of the other Extraction Masters that came before you. And I am truly happy to make that ultimate sacrifice if it means you have the information you need to make a different decision. So if I’m dead right now, know that I did not die in vain. Because you will do what I could not.”
Jasina turns her head to look at me. “What is he talking about?”
“I’m not sure. Just listen. I don’t want to miss anything.”
“What I’m going to tell you now is the truth,” my father says. “And if you tell anyone, they will call it lies. They might even convince you that I’m crazy. Or that you misheard. I hope that your trust in me is still solid. Because the truth is the only way out.
“First of all, the tower. The tower is many things but it is not a god. It’s not alive, it’s not sentient, it’s not in control of anything. You see, the Extraction Master is what controls the tower.”
“What?” Jasina looks at me again. “I don’t understand.”
“Just listen, Jasina.” I don’t mean to snap at her, but this is too important for interruptions.
“Are you listening, Finn?” my father asks.
Shit. He’s asking me a question. “Am I supposed to answer him?”
“Finn?” My father’s face shows a look of confusion.
I’m so confused. “Is he… in there?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you asking me a question? Am I allowed to talk now?”
I shoot her a look. “Don’t be a child, Jasina. This is important.”
She huffs, frustrated with me. But then decides to simply answer my question. “No. He’s not in there, it’s just… like… it’s him, but not him. I don’t know how to explain it. But he’s not in there.”
“If that’s not him, then why is it asking me questions?”
“Maybe… it needs… prompting? To continue? Maybe it needs to hear your voice?”
“So I should answer it?”
“Well, it stopped talking so I think it’s waiting for you. Just tell him you’re listening.”
“I’m listening.”
My father’s confused look changes to satisfaction. “Good. This was a security check.” Jasina makes a noise of satisfaction in front of me, but doesn’t remark about her good guess. “When I ask you questions from now on, you will be required to answer. Your voice is the key to the truth. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent. In addition to unlocking the truth, your voice is a key to all Looking Glass rooms. You are an Extraction Master and your security protocols were automatically programmed into the mainframe upon my death. Remember this for later.”
“That’s it, I’m taking notes.” Jasina forces her way out of the circle and then starts tapping on the glass until she finds whatever the hell she’s looking for. I don’t even bother asking, because my father is still talking.
“The first thing you need to know is that the gods are real. There is no god in that tower but they do exist in other places. Spark Maidens are food for these gods.”