Chapter 71 The Serpent's Tongue

• Sebastian's fingers were shaking over the relic's weathered edges as I watched him hold it. With its dark metal gleaming in the faint light, the relic appeared ancient and seemed to be concealing a promise. Or a curse, perhaps. He seemed pulled to it, as if he had already made up his mind, but the way he stared at it scared me.
• "Don't, Sebastian. Please. I could hardly hold my voice. "It's not worth the power that item possesses."
• He avoided looking at me. His eyes never left the item, and for a second I thought I was talking to a complete stranger.