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a long moment before silently sliding away. His thoughts come thundering into my head, and as hard as I try to stop them, they just keep coming. He’s still angry! I wish I had never been given this Truthseeing skill. Since my powers increased, I’ve lost control over what I hear and what I can shut out. I shake my head to rid myself of his thoughts. ‘Enough is enough!’
    Matt looks at me with a frown. ‘What’s wrong with you?’
    I tug my hair behind my ears, something I’ve always done out of habit, but my hair falls short. So much of itwas singed, I had to have it cut. It’s all in layers now, short around my face. ‘Nothing is wrong!’ I find myself snapping out of sheer frustration. Great. I’m really going to make friends yelling at people! ‘I’m fine. OK?’
    I try to distract myself and start looking around. But there’s not much in this room to amuse me, just a couple of stools and an old wooden desk. ‘I wonder where Arkarian is?’
    Matt shrugs and rocks back on his heels, his hands still in his pockets. ‘Probably giving some last-minute instructions to Ethan and Isabel.’
    Even though it’s obvious he’d rather be anywhere else in the world than standing in a room alone with me, his thoughts are also letting me know he’s excited, like a little boy in a toy shop with cash in his pockets. Lots of it.
    Arkarian suddenly appears before us. Matt jerks back with a start. He’s unfamiliar with Arkarian’s ability to materialise at will. Ethan can do this too. I wish I was able but I have to earn my wings first, just like they did. When I was with Marduke, he didn’t want me to have them. They would have lessened his power over me.
    Without wasting any time, Arkarian transports the three of us to a room in the Citadel that I’ve never seen before. It’s huge and could easily fit a thousand people shoulder to shoulder. I look up and can’t draw my eyes away from the ceiling. There are eight panels and so many colours! Glass, or maybe crystal, I think, etched in myriad intricate designs. Instinctively I lift my hands into the air. I want to touch it, feel its texture, see its depth. But the panels are too high, the single point at the centre disappearing into oblivion.
    Arkarian grins at me. ‘Wondrous, isn’t it?’
    I nod, and he says, ‘This ceiling is identical to the one in the temple we’re about to visit in the underworld. Although now it is nothing more than dust and debris. It’s just as well you’re coming with us, Rochelle. Your hands will be worth their weight in gold.’
    It’s such a sweet thing to say, my mood lifts for the first time in months. He glances down and notices my hands. They’ve still got electric currents running through them. He takes one and turns it over. ‘Can you feel the energy?’
    â€˜They sting. When will it stop?’
    â€˜The stinging?’
    â€˜Yeah, and the electric charges, or whatever they are.’
    He remains quiet for a moment, just looking at me with those all-knowing eyes. It’s as if he’s wondering how well I cope with bad news. Even though my powers have increased I still can’t hear any of
his
thoughts. I wouldn’t dream of trying either. He’s an expert at shutting out his thoughts from Truthseers. I’ve never heard any unless he’s wanted me to.
    But he doesn’t have to say, or think anything out loud – it’s there in his eyes.
    â€˜They’re not going away, are they? This is it. My hands for ever.’
    â€˜It would be a good idea if you wore gloves. I’ll have some made that imitate skin, so no one will suspect anything is different about you.’
    I shake my head. Unbelievable. When I was with Marduke I had to wear a mask to conceal my eyes, my one easily identifiable feature. Now it’s my hands.
    â€˜There is something you should