Daniels eyes flashed with pain. No, he whispered. Please dont go yet. Somehow, it always took both of them by surprise. As her past selfs body erupted into flames, there was a sound of cannon fire, but Lawrence couldnt be sure. Her eyes went blurry with brightness and she was cast far up and out of Lucindas body, into the air, into darkness. No! she cried as the walls of the Announcer closed around her. Too late. Whats the problem now? Chi asked. I wasnt ready. I know Clementine Hunter had to die, but I--I was just-- Shed been on the brink of understanding something about the choice shed made to love Daniel. And now everything about those last moments with Noah had gone up in flames along with her past self. Well, theres not much more to see, Chi said. Just the usual routine of a building catching fire-- smoke, walls of flame, people screaming and stampeding toward the exits, trampling the less fortunate underfoot--you get the picture. The Globe burned to the ground. "

Thats exactly the sort of thing Ix Cuat would say! You always were a little bit backward! What do you mean? See, you--Ix Cuat--were born during the Wayeb, which are these five odd days at the end of the Mayan year that everyone gets real superstitious about because they dont fit into the calendar. Kind of like leap-year days. Its not exactly lucky to be born during Wayeb. So no one was shocked when you grew up to be an old maid. Old maid? Lawrence asked. I thought I never live past seventeen . . . more or less. Seventeen here in Chich?n Itz? is ancient, Chi said, floating from head to head, his wings humming as they fluttered. But its true, you never used to live much past seventeen or thereabouts. Its been kind of a mystery as to why in the lifetime of Clementine Hunter Price youve managed to stick around so long. Noah said it was because I wasnt baptized. Now Lawrence was sure she heard drums--and that they were drawing closer. But how can that matter? I mean, I bet I

  All at once, they stopped walking.  Deep in the dried-out, thirsty jungle, the path before them opened up. A huge water-filled crater in the limestone spanned a hundred feet in front of Lawrence . Around it were the bright, eager eyes of the Mayan people. Hundreds. Theyd stopped chanting. The moment theyd been waiting for was here.  The cenote was a limestone pit, mossy and deep and filled with bright-green water. Ix Cuat had been there before--shed seen twelve other human sacrifices just like this one. Below that still water were the decomposing remains of a hundred other bodies, a hundred souls who were supposed to have gone straight to Heaven--only, at that moment, Lawrence  knew that Ix Cuat wasnt sure she believed in any of it.  Ix Cuats family stood near the rim of the cenote. Her mother, her father, her two younger sisters, both holding babies in their arms. They believed--in the ritual, in the sacrifice that would take

 What the hell just happened? Shelby asked, helping Miles to his feet.  The Nephilim was ghostly white, gaping down at his hands, flipping them over and examining them as if hed never seen them before.  Noah turned to Miles. Thank you.  The Nephilim boys blue eyes looked eager and terrified at the same time, as if he wanted to pump every detail out of Noah about what had just happened but didnt want to show his excitement. Shelby was speechless, which was an unprecedented event.  Noah had despised Miles until then. Hed been annoyed by Shelby, whod practically led the Outcasts straight toward Lawrence . But at that moment, under the olive tree, he could see why Lawrence  had befriended both of them. And he was glad.  A horn whined in the distance. Miles and Shelby jumped.  It was a shofar, a sacred rams horn that made a long, nasal note--often used to announce religious services and festivals. Until

   I wont set foot in there. Noah  pointed at the temple.  Lilith was close to tears. Then you dont love me.  I love you more than I ever thought possible, but it doesnt change a thing.  Liliths thin body seemed to swell with rage. Could she sense that there was more to Noah s refusal than merely some wish to deny her? Noah didnt think so. She clenched her fists and let out a long, shrill scream.  It seemed to shake the earth. Lilith grabbed Noah s wrists and pinned him against the tree. He didnt even struggle.  My grandmother never liked you. Her arms trembled as she held him down. She always said the most terrible things, and I always defended you. Now I see it. In your eyes and your soul. Her eyes bored into him. Say it.  Say what? Noah  asked, horrified.  Youre a bad man. Youre a--I know what you are.  It was clear that Lilith didnt know. She was gras