“Good thinking,” I admit as I peer through the small window on the airlock, expecting to see Mogs chasing us down at any moment.

Five taps out a few more keystrokes and, with a hydraulic whine and a gust of chilled air, the docking-bay doors at the far end of the room open up. The wind pulls at me and I let out a deep, relieved sigh. I reach into my dress and remove the Xitharis stone, clutching it. Slowly, I walk towards the open dock, wondering what it’ll be like to pitch myself into that open blue sky. Way better than life on the Anubis, that’s for sure.

“So, I just hold this stone and fly?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at Five.

“Supposed to be how it works,” he answers. “Just imagine your body light as a feather, floating on air. That’s how I learned to use my Legacy, anyway.”

I glance towards the open air, the cloudless sky waiting for me.

“What if it doesn’t work?”

Five starts towards me, sighing. “Come on. We’ll go together.”

“You won’t be going anywhere.”

Setrákus Ra steps out from between two of the ships. I’m not sure if he’s been there the whole time, waiting for us, or if he just teleported into the room somehow. Either way—it doesn’t matter. We’re caught. Still in his human form, Setrákus Ra stands between us and the open docking bay, the wind gently blowing through his perfect brown hair, plucking at the lapels of his suit. He holds his golden staff—the Eye of Thaloc—in one hand.

Five puts a hand on my shoulder and tries to push me behind him. I shake him off. We face Setrákus Ra side by side.

“Get out of our way, old man,” Five growls. He’s trying to sound tough, but he can barely manage to meet Setrákus Ra’s eyes.

“I will not,” Setrákus Ra replies, his voice full of scorn and disappointment. “I expected this kind of behavior from you, Ella. You have only recently joined us and it will take time to undo the brainwashing you endured at the hands of the Garde. But, Five, my boy, after everything I have done for you—”

“Shut up,” Five says quietly, almost pleading. “You talk and talk and talk, but none of it’s true!”

“Mine is the only truth,” Setrákus Ra counters sternly. “You will be punished for your insolence.”

Five still can’t bring himself to look directly at Setrákus Ra, but his shoulders rise up and down rapidly, just like in the hallway with the Mog warriors. Inside his chest, a low rumble starts to build. It reminds me of a teakettle coming to a boil. I take a subtle step to the side, worried that Five might literally explode.

“Enough of this inanity, children,” Setrákus Ra says, but his latest rebuke is partly drowned out by the rabid scream that tears loose from Five’s lungs.

And then he charges.

At first, Five’s bare feet make slapping sounds across the metal deck. But as he nears Setrákus Ra, his footfalls become metal clanging against metal, his Externa changing his skin to match the floor. Setrákus Ra merely raises an eyebrow at Five, not impressed or intimidated in the least.