Chapter Thirty-Three: Lost Cities and Living Relics

“Not who, my sweet,” said Nicos, then laughed when his brother growled at him not to call his woman that. He grew serious again. “Not who. What.”

“The relics left by the the old Magoses,” guessed Ilyria, “The parts of themselves that they left behind. Is that it?”

“Yes,” said Nicos. “The relics. If the evil Magos …”

“Zlo,” said Ilyria. Each time she said its name, it became a little less terrifying to her. It had been a man called Zlo. Men can be defeated.

“Yes,” said Nicos, understanding, “Zlo. If Zlo finds these relics, when the Twin Moon rises, he will have absolute control of the unnatural forces. He will have all the power of the old Magoses as well as his own. It will be a fire that consumes everything in its path.”

“Enough!” said Madame Skia, rising and shaking out her skirts. “These stories are only terrifying my girls. We have work to do,” she said, “We need to plan our defense.”

“But,” said Ilyria, thinking of Dirk slumped in