Chapter 17: Seven Gates, Seven Cities

The Council fled in panic.

Some elders pushed past younger members. Others fell to their knees, praying.

The open Gate breathed beneath the hall.

Every breath carried a different voice.

Taiwo remained beside it.

Zara smelled YSL Babycat before she saw Amara move through the crowd.

Vanilla, suede and dark pepper—soft at first, but restless underneath. The fragrance had always suited Amara: warmth covering something untamed.

Now it smelled scorched.

Amara’s visions were already beginning.

Adisa moved toward Zara, but she was staring at the torn page in Taiwo’s hand.

She recognised Adisa’s handwriting in the margin.

Portrait of a Lady turned bitter on her skin.

Zara faced him.

“You knew...”

Adisa did not deny it.

The Gris Charnel around him remained steady, but Zara could smell fear beneath it.

Kofi looked between them.

“Knew what?”

“One of us may have to cross the Gate,” Adisa said.

Zara stepped toward him.

“And you decided not to tell me?!”

“I wanted to find another way.”

“You took away my choice!”

Her anger filled the hall.

Portrait of a Lady rose like smoke from a fire.

Taiwo smiled from beside the Gate.

“That is what men do when they call control love.”

Adisa turned toward him.

“Be quiet.”

Taiwo laughed.

Zara struck him with enough force to crack the wall!

Darkness closed around Taiwo.

He disappeared.

At the same moment, Amara screamed!

Babycat filled the hall—vanilla turning hot and smoky.

She had been standing beside Folake near the third row.

Black hands rose from the Gate and wrapped around her waist.

Folake grabbed her arm.

Guidance rose around them.

“Hold her!”

Zara ran.

Kofi caught Amara’s other hand.

The darkness pulled harder.

“Do not let him use me!” Amara cried.

Zara tightened her grip.

“I have you!”

Babycat flared between them.

For one second, Zara saw through Amara’s eyes.

Seven gates.

Seven cities.

A black crown.

Then the vision broke.

The Gate shook.

Kofi lost his hold first.

Amara’s fingers began to slip from Zara’s.

“No!” Zara screamed.

Adisa reached them, but the darkness struck him back.

Then Amara was gone.

Her Babycat remained in the air for one terrible second.

After that—nothing.

The Gate opened wider.

Across Lagos, every light went out.

Kofi stared into the darkness.

“We have to go after her.”

Zara turned on Adisa.

“You knew the price.”

“I knew one version of it.”

“You should have trusted me!”

Gris Charnel weakened around him.

“I was afraid of losing you.”

“And now we may lose everyone!”

Zara walked away.

Adisa followed, but she raised one hand.

“Do not.”

He stopped.

Folake moved toward Zara. Her Guidance pressed gently against the sharp rose surrounding her granddaughter.

Kofi remained beside the Gate, staring into the place where Amara had vanished.

Far below them, a faint trace of Babycat returned.

Then a scream rose through the stone.