Page 66 of A Goddess Awakens
Claire looks through the window again. I can’t see any kind of event setup from here. But we have a wonderful view of the moon and the city lights. Is that why she’s here? Was she just trying to forget everything for a moment?
“You’re scared,” I observe. It actually surprises me a little. I’ve never seen Claire show weakness before. She always comes across as tough and fearless. And I’ve heard her say a number of times that she wasn’t worried about the tests, that she was looking forward to them, that she’ll finally get to demonstrate the payoff of all those years of training. But the thing that I’ve long suspected is now confirmed: Claire’s afraid for her life.
She’s looking at me, her lips slightly parted, her eyes huge and dark in the lights from the corridor. For the first time, I feel like I’m seeing the real Claire, who’s not fearless and hard. She looks vulnerable – like a young woman who’s really scared of what she’s about to face.
“Yeah. I’m not made of stone,” she says, turning back to the window. She clasps her hands together, but I can see that they’re shaking. “This could be my last night.”
I can’t think of anything to say. Of course I can’t. It’s true. Is there no other way? Is the Council really prepared to just let her die?
“If I fail, I’m no use to the Tempes,” she says. “It’ll prove beyond a doubt that I’m no miraya, which would mean that all the time, all the work, all the hope they invested in me was for nothing. I’d be nothing but a disappointment.”
“It’s totally understandable that you’re scared,” I say, taking a step toward her. I tentatively place a hand on her shoulder.
She slowly turns to face me. She gives me an imploring look, as if I could present a solution to the problem.
“You’ve passed all the tests so far,” I say. “That shows that you’re on the right track and that you must have something special. I’m sure you can tackle this final hurdle.”
She looks at me with her huge eyes – thoughtful, uncertain. A moment passes, and then she nods.
“You’re right. I’m probably overthinking it. I’ve done it twice already – that’s something.” She smiles at me, and the uncertainty vanishes. Claire straightens up and becomes the undaunted woman again. “Not long now and the truth will be revealed. I’m ready.” With that, she marches past me, as confident as ever. I no longer see any trace of doubt in her. As she’s walking away, she turns to me and says, “I’m glad that you’re free of the Fabricis. Never let yourself be imprisoned and used again – by anyone.”
Surprise creases my forehead. Claire flashes me a smile and continues walking. After a moment’s hesitation, I follow her. I’m still surprised that she let me glimpse behind the façade. But even Claire’s not immune to fear, and I guess she needed someone to talk to in that moment.
Alfredo’s parents are waiting for me in the corridor outside the auditorium. Judging by Ms. Fabrici’s expression, she’s getting impatient. But I’m not late. She looks me up and down contemptuously but says nothing.
“Let’s go. I hear the test is taking place outside tonight. I’m intrigued to see what awaits us,” Mr. Fabrici prattles as he leads the way.
“Well, in any case, we’ll see whether Claire can live up to everybody’s expectations.” Ms. Fabrici’s tone makes it obvious that she wishes her all the bad luck in the world.
At the end of a corridor, we come to a small reception room. A few Council members are there, but most of them are already on the terrace, which is visible through the glass doors. The Fabricis step outside too, with me in tow. I instinctively close my jacket, but it’s not necessary. The heat rising up to greet me is something else. I look incredulously at the sea of fire blazing on the field in front of us. I’m looking at the flaming walls of a labyrinth.
“This could get interesting,” says Mr. Fabrici as he gazes at the spectacle in front of him.
It’s completely beyond me how Claire’s supposed to prove that she’s a goddess of destiny in this inferno. She was right: this test will be painful and could wind up killing her.
A gong sounds in the distance, and the last few Council members file out of the room to join us. Several rows of seats have been set up on the terrace, and everyone sits down.
The uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach increases. I sit with the Fabricis near the front. We can really feel the heat here. I can’t take my eyes off the flames blazing in front of us, and I wonder how Claire’s supposed to have any chance of mastering this challenge. The gaps between the walls are so narrow that a person could just barely fit through. But the heat would be unbearable, and if you stopped for too long or went the wrong way, it would inevitably result in serious burns and eventually death.
The examiner, Mr. Jameson, steps out onto the field a safe distance from the flaming walls. In a bombastic voice, he announces the start of the third and final test.
“Fire is hazardous to every living being – ordinary humans, key carriers, goddesses. We all succumb to the flames sooner or later. That’s what makes this test so final – because it will prove once and for all whether Claire Cunningham is a goddess of destiny. It was decided by lot that Miss Cunningham must face a trial by fire. It’s arguably the most dangerous of all the tests, but Miss Cunningham has come a long way, and we’re all optimistic that she can master this challenge too. But if not,” his voice thunders at us, “then this task will cost her her life.”
“No,” I cry indignantly.
A number of Council members turn around and shoot me disapproving looks.
“Please contain yourself,” a woman with gray hair snaps at me.
“What appalling behavior,” I man with a moustache exclaims.
“What’s she even doing here?”
Ms. Fabrici grips my arm so hard that I gasp in pain. She hisses threateningly, “Kindly control yourself. Everyone here knows what Claire’s getting herself into – including Claire. She was probably hoping for a different task, but she knew the risks.”
“She has no choice. She never got to decide whether she wanted to play along with this insanity.”
Ms. Fabrici wrinkles her nose and shakes her head disappointedly. “You still don’t understand what our world is about. Fulfilling our duties is the highest imperative. Everyone does what they can to serve the community. And often enough, that costs us our lives. Do you think all the hunters killed in combat wanted that? Of course not. But they all knew the risks and were prepared to sacrifice themselves. And it’s the same for Claire. She knows what it means to be one of the chosen ones. She knows what’s at stake. She grew up knowing it. Unlike you.” She looks at me with revulsion. “And that’s why you’ll never be part of our world.”