Nazeem freezes

  “Where are we?” Ferrin asked.

  “I’m afraid we’re wherever Nazeem wants us to be,” Prescia said.

  A resonant chuckle from the sky confirmed her words.

  Cole felt the hair raise up on the back of his neck.

  “Not very comforting,” Joe remarked.

  “I’m a little glad to already be dead,” Winston said.

  “No need to talk like that,” Harvan scolded.

  “I don’t see anybody,” Jace said. “Where should we look for the princesses?”

  “We had better find Nazeem first,” Callista suggested.

  “Welcome to my domain.” The rich voice descended from the sky and rose from the ground, casual in tone, but powerful enough that the vibrations buzzed in Cole’s chest. “You may as well relax. You are here to talk, not to fight. None of you can challenge me here. Each of you will perish if I elect to terminate you.”

  “Where are you?” Jace called out, rope held ready.

  “I am everywhere,” the voice said. “And nowhere. I may reveal myself to some of you in due time.”

  “Where are my sisters?” Honor demanded.

  “It’s a shame your mother did not name you Patience,” the voice said. “Or Politeness. Do you require a demonstration? If you insist. Try to move. Any of you. Try to speak. Try to blink.”

  The shutter of the Weaver’s Beacon snapped closed.

  Cole became completely immobilized. He couldn’t exhale. He couldn’t twitch.

  “Some of you are trying to resist me,” the voice said. “You may as well attempt to lift a mountain.

Chapter 36