There Will Come a Darkness
Page 40
“I’m all right,” he said to Penrose. “Why don’t you get some rest? I can watch over him for the rest of the night.”
A tense silence fell between them. But then she nodded. Anton watched her retreat, only looking back to Jude once she’d disappeared down into the ship’s cabin.
“You’re awake,” Anton said stupidly.
“So are you,” Jude returned, limping toward him.
Penrose hadn’t said anything about Jude waking up. None of them had. But then, Anton hadn’t asked. Seeing Jude like that—pale, small, helpless—had brought out that sick feeling in his gut.
Guilt.
He felt it again, now, as his eyes trailed over the sickly tinge of Jude’s face, the faint purple beneath his eyes, the shattered-glass scars that crept up his throat.
He met Jude’s gaze again, and Jude’s eyes softened as he answered the unasked question. “I’m fine.” The ghost of a smile quirked his lips when he added, “Well, somewhere in the vicinity of fine.”
He was lying. Anton had been attuned to Jude’s esha since before he’d met him. He’d felt it like a storm gathering in his bones. He felt it just as acutely now, but it was weak, like a trembling breeze. Broken.
The Godfire had damaged Jude’s Grace, that was almost certain. But to what extent, Anton didn’t know. And he couldn’t bring himself to ask.
Jude stepped toward him. “What about you? Are you—?”
“Going to throw myself off the side of the ship?”
Jude’s face went stony.
Anton turned back to the water, and the darkness beyond. “I survived this long. I guess I’ll just—keep doing that.”
Jude drew up beside him as Anton scratched at the wooden gunwale in front of him.
“I don’t know what to say to you anymore.” There were many things Anton wanted to say. Things he probably should say. “You saved my life. I called for your help, and you heard me. You came. And on the lighthouse—”
“It wasn’t a choice,” Jude replied. “You are the Prophet. It is my duty to protect you, at any cost.”
It was the same thing he had said to Anton on top of the lighthouse, right before proving the truth of those words.
“I know.” Anton didn’t know how to complete the thought. It was more than anyone had given him before. It was too much, or maybe not enough. He shook his head and looked out toward the water, uneasy beneath Jude’s gaze. “Penrose told me about the last prophecy. About the Age of Darkness. You all believed that when I completed the prophecy, we would know how to stop it.”
“Anton—”
“I saw it, Jude,” Anton said, fighting to steady his voice. “I saw the breaking of the world. That’s what my vision was. The Reckoning that the Witnesses want, the Age of Darkness the Prophets saw—it’s coming. But I have no idea how to stop it.”
Beside him, Jude drew in a breath. Anton felt a gentle pressure over his hand where it rested on the gunwale. The touch was light, but as sure as a promise.
Whatever happens, I’ll protect you.
Someday, maybe, Jude would have to break that promise. Someday, Anton would have to face something no one could protect him from.
But for now … Anton looked down, curling his thumb gently around Jude’s fingers. For now, there was this. The press of a hand on his, the comfort of another heartbeat close enough to hear.
They stayed like that, side by side against the wind, as the ship sailed on into the dark.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The journey of getting a book from brain to shelf is a long and arduous one, but I am fortunate enough to have had some truly incredible people help me along the way.
To my agents, Hillary Jacobson and Alexandra Machinist: If this book was a Disney princess, you two would be its badass fairy godmothers. Thank you for seeing its potential and mine, and for putting in the work to get us there. You plucked me out of obscurity and made my dreams come true. And thank you to the rest of the team at ICM and Curtis Brown, with special thanks to Tamara Kawar, Ruth Landry, and Roxane Edouard. I appreciate everything you do!
Thank you to Brian Geffen, my brilliant editor—your thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, and unwavering support have truly humbled me. I never thought I’d be lucky enough to work with someone who gets this book as completely as you do. To Jean Feiwel, Christian Trimmer, Rachel Murray, Rich Deas, Mallory Grigg, Elizabeth Johnson, Starr Baer: thank you for all your hard work, and for giving this book such a wonderful home. And a huge thank-you to the incredible publicity and marketing team at MCPG: Molly Ellis, Brittany Pearlman, Ashley Woodfolk, Johanna Kirby, Allegra Green, Melissa Croce, Mariel Dawson, Julia Gardiner. Jim Tierney, thank you for lending your talent to this incredible cover!
To the writer cult: Janella Angeles (my publishing twin!), Madeline Colis, Erin Bay, Christine Lynn Herman, Amanda Foody, Kat Cho, Amanda Haas, Mara Fitzgerald, Ashley Burdin, thank you all for your friendship, feedback, and vats of wine. Axie Oh, Ella Dyson, Alexis Castellanos, Claribel Ortega, Tara Sim, Melody Simpson—thank you for endless salt, cute pet pictures, and heart-trash. I could not imagine navigating this publishing thing without all of you, and I am so grateful I don’t have to. Akshaya Raman, thank you for being the best revision trenches/book event/writing date buddy, and for that one Skype call that actually helped. And Meg RK, you brilliant star, this book owes so much to your patience, your humor, and your insights. When I’m on the floor doubting every word, you always know how to pick me up.
Traci Chee, Swati Teerdhala, Hannah Reynolds, Chelsea Beam, and Julie Dao, your advice and friendship mean the world to me. The KELT girls, Lucy Schwartz and Teagan Miller, I will never forget your encouragement when this book was just a few dozen terrible pages. Melina Charis, thank you for sticking around for the last decade (and for the use of your last name!). Scott Hovdey, forever movie date and fabulous friend—thank you for believing in me every step of the way.
To my family: Mom and Dad, thank you for parenting me by basically sticking me in the backyard and letting me run free. Those backyard days shaped my imagination and forged me into a writer. Sean, thank you for letting me read your D&D books, even if you never let me play. David, my brother, you are in my heart always. To Julia Pool, for making sure I savor every moment. To Riley O’Neill, for celebratory cocktails and book club chats. Kristin Cerda, thank you for SSWS, camping in the redwoods, and endless discussions about language, meaning, and sometimes cults. I would not be the woman I am today if it weren’t for you. To Mary Shelley’s sassy teenage spirit!
Erica, you’re my dearest sister and the other half of my brain. If there’s anyone in the world who has put more into this book than I have, it’s you. You have seen this thing through the earliest days of brainstorming to the very last commas. When I’m lost in a sea of plot twists and magic system conundrums, you are the compass that guides me back to the story. This book is for you—and so are all the next ones. Now go finish yours!
Finally, my deepest thanks to every reader, every blogger, every librarian, every bookseller who has picked up this book. I am honored to share it with you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katy Rose Pool was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in history, Katy spent a few years building websites by day and dreaming up prophecies by night. Currently, she resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she can be found eating breakfast sandwiches, rooting for the Golden State Warriors, and reading books that set her on fire. There Will Come a Darkness is her first novel. Follow her on Twitter @KatyPool.
Visit her online at katyrosepool.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
I. Harbinger
1. Ephyra
2. Hassan
3. Anton
4. Jude
5. Hassan
6. Anton
7. Beru
8. Anton
9. Jude
10. Ephyra
11. Anton
12. Hassan
II. Oath
13. Jude
14. Hassan
15. Anton
16. Ephyra
17. Hassan
18. Jude
19. Ephyra
20. Hassan
21. Jude
22. Hassan
23. Jude
24. Ephyra
25. Anton
26. Jude
27. Hassan
28. Beru
29. Anton
30. Jude
31. Beru
32. Jude
33. Anton
34. Hassan
35. Ephyra
36. Jude
37. Anton
38. Hassan
39. Ephyra
40. Jude
41. Anton
42. Ephyra
43. Hassan
III. The Tower
44. Beru
45. Jude
46. Hassan
47. Beru
48. Hassan
49. Anton
50. Ephyra
51. Hassan
52. Anton
53. Jude
54. Hassan
55. Anton
56. Jude
57. Jude
58. Hassan
59. Anton
60. Hassan
61. Ephyra
62. Jude
63. Hassan
64. Anton
65. Jude
66. Anton
67. Beru
68. Hassan
69. Ephyra
70. Anton
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Copyright
Text copyright © 2019 by Katy Pool
Map illustration by Maxime Plasse
Henry Holt and Company, Publishers since 1866
Henry Holt® is a registered trademark of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC
120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271
mackids.com
All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Pool, Katy Rose, author.
Title: There will come a darkness / Katy Rose Pool.
Description: First edition. | New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2019. | Summary: “For generations the Seven Prophets guided humanity with their visions, ending wars and uniting nations—until the day they vanished, leaving behind the promise of a looming Age of Darkness and the birth of a Prophet who could be the world’s salvation … or the cause of its destruction”—Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019017243 | ISBN 9781250211750 (hardcover)
Subjects: | CYAC: Fantasy.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.P6435 Th 2019 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019017243
Our eBooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First hardcover edition 2019
eBook edition September 2019
eISBN 9781250211767