As twilight settled over the island of Malta, Anna pulled the blanket over Martin’s dead face and staggered to her feet. Heavy snow was falling now, obliterating the world. The empty ships and half-sunken planes that filled the harbor had vanished into the storm. Even the massive stone walls of the fort had turned hazy and vaguely unreal.
Cold to the bone, she folded her arms and picked a path through the blanketed bodies. When she reached the fence, she slumped down and leaned her head back against the wire. Snow coated her face like an icy burial shroud.
Of course, the cold didn’t matter now. Nothing mattered. Except that she had failed. She was alone and she had failed. That’s what hurt. James had taught her everything she needed to know, but she hadn’t understood until too late.
From the corner of her eye, she caught movement in the windows of the fort. People passing by. She hadn’t seen anyone in hours, but someone was still alive. At least she could watch them while she waited for her time to come.
Footsteps grated on the path that led along the fence.
“Are you Anna? Anna Asher? The guard said you were Anna.”
Turning, she saw a young red-haired monk standing with his knees braced, as though preparing to deliver solemn news. A strange expression creased his face.
“Yes, I am.”
He clenched his fists at his sides. “I didn’t think you were real. I … Could you come with me, please? There’s something I need to show you. He told me to protect it for Anna Asher. For you, I guess.”
Frightened by his voice, Anna gripped the fence to help support her legs as she pulled herself to her feet.