Lyra's POV
Order! Order in this Court! Domitius's voice cuts through the chaos like a blade.
My heart won't stop pounding. Everyone's staring at me, waiting for me to speak. Waiting for me to do my job.
But I can't.
Because Kairos just said my curse is backwards. That I've been wrong about everything my entire life.
And the worst part? I think he's telling the truth.
Judge Lyra, Domitius says, his voice dangerously calm. The prisoner has made ridiculous claims. Ignore them. Tell us does he speak truth or lies when he denies murdering Fate?
I force my mouth to work. I... I need more evidence before I can judge.
Whispers explode through the Court. Gods lean toward each other, talking behind their hands. Mortals look confused.
Domitius's smile tightens. More evidence? Child, this is a preliminary hearing. Simple yes or no. Does your curse detect lies?
Say yes. Just say yes and figure this out later.
But I can't lie. Not about this. Not when I don't understand what's happening.
I need to hear more testimony, I say firmly. That's my right as Judge.
Domitius's eyes flash with something dark. Anger? But it's gone so fast I might have imagined it.
Very well, he says smoothly. Prosecutor Theron, present your evidence.
Theron stands, shooting me a confused look before turning to the Court. He's wearing his official prosecutor robes deep blue with silver trim. When we were kids, he used to say he'd wear those robes one day. I guess some dreams come true.
The evidence is overwhelming, Theron announces. He waves his hand, and images appear in the air above us. Magic I'll never understand. This is the Void Between Worlds, where Fate was murdered three weeks ago.
The images make my stomach turn. A space that looks wrong shattered and broken, like reality itself cracked open. Dark stains cover jagged rocks. Blood. Fate's blood.
Kairos's temporal energy signature was found throughout this area, Theron continues. Energy that only he can produce. He was there when Fate died.
He looks at Kairos. Is this true? Were you at the Void Between Worlds?
Every eye turns to the god in chains.
Kairos doesn't hesitate. Yes. I was there.
Gasps ripple through the Court.
I wait for the music. Any sound. Even a single note.
Nothing. Just his voice, steady and clear.
But I didn't kill her, Kairos adds, looking directly at me. I tried to save her.
Still nothing. The silence is so complete it makes my ears ring.
This is wrong. This is all wrong.
Theron smiles, mistaking Kairos's admission for weakness. You admit you were there. Your energy proves it. What more evidence do we need? He turns to me. Judge Lyra, he's clearly lying about trying to save her. Confirm it.
But I can't. Because I don't hear lies.
Show me more, I say desperately. Show me everything.
Theron frowns but continues. More images appear. Fate's body, broken and still. Her blood soaking into impossible ground. And Kairos, standing over her, his hands stained red.
Witnesses saw you, Theron says. Multiple witnesses. A minor goddess named Celestia. A cosmic entity called Morpheus. Even a mortal soldier. All of them saw you standing over Fate's corpse.
Did you cause her death? Domitius demands.
Kairos's jaw tightens. For the first time, I see real emotion on his face. Pain. Deep, terrible pain.
No, he says quietly. I would never hurt her. She was His voice breaks. She was everything to me.
Silence. Pure, devastating silence.
He's telling the truth. I know it the same way I know my own name.
But how? The evidence is right there. His energy. The witnesses. The blood on his hands.
How can he be innocent when everything says he's guilty?
My head throbs. My curse has never failed before. Never. I've judged hundreds of people, condemned dozens to death, and I was always right. The music never lies.
Except now there's no music at all.
Judge Lyra? Domitius's voice is sharp now. Impatient. We're waiting for your assessment.
I open my mouth, but no words come out.
Kairos is still watching me. Those star-filled eyes seeing right through me.
It's confusing, isn't it? he says softly. Hearing nothing when you've always heard something. Makes you question everything.
Silence! Domitius slams his hand on the armrest. The prisoner will not address the Judge directly.
But Kairos ignores him. What if truth isn't what you think it is, Lyra? What if you've been listening for the wrong thing your entire life?
That's enough! Domitius stands. Guards, remove him. We'll reconvene tomorrow for final judgment.
The guards grab Kairos's arms, hauling him to his feet. The chains glow brighter, and I see him flinch.
As they drag him past me, he leans close. So close I can hear him even when he whispers.
You hear it, don't you? The silence.
My breath catches. He knows. Somehow, he knows exactly what I'm experiencing.
How I start.
Because Fate told me you would, he breathes. She told me everything about you, Lyra. Including the truth you've been too afraid to see.
The guards yank him away before I can respond.
The Court erupts in discussion. Domitius calls for order. Theron approaches me, concern on his face.
But I don't hear any of it.
All I hear is Kairos's voice in my head.
What if you've been listening for the wrong thing your entire life?
I stumble out of the Court, barely making it to my preparation chamber before my legs give out.
For twenty-three years, I've heard lies as music. Beautiful, unmistakable music. That's my curse. My gift. My entire identity.
But what if Kairos is right?
What if it's not lies that make music but truth?
What if I've been condemning innocent people because I had everything backwards?
My stomach heaves. I press my hands against the cold floor, trying not to be sick.
How many people did I kill because I was wrong?
A knock at the door makes me jump.
Lyra? It's me. Theron's voice. Can I come in?
I can't deal with him right now. Can't deal with anyone.
I'm fine, I call back. I just need to be alone.
Are you sure? You seem
I said I'm fine!
Silence. Then footsteps walking away.
I'm not fine. I'm the opposite of fine.
I curl up on the floor, shaking, trying to understand how my entire life could be a lie.
That's when I feel it.
A presence. Not in the room in my mind.
You're starting to understand, Kairos's voice whispers in my thoughts. Good. Because tomorrow, they're going to force you to condemn me. And when they do, you'll have to make a choice.
What choice? I whisper out loud.
Between the lie you've lived... and the truth that will destroy everything.
The presence fades, leaving me alone with one terrifying question:
If my curse has been backwards this whole time, then who have I really been serving justice, or the people who created me?