Sylous glanced over the crowd. “Anyone else?”

Nearly as one, the people of Haven Valley stepped forward and knelt. I glanced to either side, bent knees and bowed heads all around, then looked back at Sylous. I should bow too, I thought. But then I caught a glimpse of Eli, the strange, beautiful boy standing off to the left, watching as he always did, face filled with peace.

You are the light of the world. There is nothing to fear. I do this for you. Follow me.

He turned his gaze to me, and the moment our eyes connected, peace washed over me. Who was I to believe, Sylous or Eli?

Sylous’s voice cut through the warmth gathering around me. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. All who have betrayed God must receive their punishment unless they confess their sin and repent.” He paused, face stern. “Also, the boy Fury must die at your hands before his lies can take root.”

All eyes turned to Eli.

“You have until noon tomorrow to kill him, or the Fury will have their way.”

Then Sylous walked up the street, rounded the corner, and was gone.

We watched him go, stunned and confused. At least I did. What he said made sense in my old way of being. Sylous was an angel, sent with the word of God to the elect. He had to be.

God had always killed those who stood in defiance of him. He’d sent many messengers to warn of the wickedness of the world. He would save us only if we agreed to his conditions, and those conditions began and ended with a confession of our own wickedness, our own worthlessness. This is what Sylous said.

Eli said the opposite. That Sylous was a religious spirit who inspired through fear of danger rather than love. Was Eli a heretic? A wolf? The great deceiver? Or was that Sylous?

And where was Bobbie?

“Right here,” she said to my left.

I almost spoke to her out loud but caught myself. Where have you been? I was almost killed!

“Right here, protecting you. Didn’t I tell you not to bring the boy? Now look at what you’ve done.”

Protecting me? I didn’t see you.

“Trust me, I was here in all the chaos. You suffered far less than most of them.”

I decided to take her at her word.

“The question now is, are you going to make this better for yourself or worse? I strongly suggest you keep your mouth shut.”

They saw me bring him in. They’ll want to know how I knew to find him.

“Tell Rose he came to you. That’s true. He’s here of his own will, not yours.”

But I can’t let them kill Eli. I don’t think he’s evil.