Sacrifice. Perfect Miss Sophia said, giving her intricate knots a firm tag.

You planned all this, Luce realized,

aghast. Miss Sophia grinned as sweetly as she had the very first day Luce had stumbled into the library I
would say it’s nothing personal, Lucinda, but actually, it is, she cackled. I’ve been waiting a long time for
this moment alone with you Why? Luce asked. What do you want from me? You , I just want eliminated,
Miss Sophia said. It’s Daniel I want freed up. She left Luce on the altar and moved to a lectern near Luceis
feet. She hoisted the Grigori book onto the lectern and began rapidly flipping through the pages. Luce
thought back to the moment sheid opened it and seen her face next to Danielis for the first time. How it had
finally hit her that he was an angel. Sheid known next to nothing then, and yet sheid felt certain that the
photograph meant she and Daniel could be together. Now that felt impossible. You’re just sitting there
swooning over him, aren't you? Miss Sophia asked. She smacked the book closed and langed her fist on its
cover. This is precisely the problem. What is wrong with you? Luce strained against the ropes binding her to
the altar. What do you care about what Daniel and I feel for each other, or who either one of us dates in the
first place? This psycho had nothing to do with them. I should like to have a word with whoever thought
putting the fate of all of our eternal souls in the hands of one lovesick pair of infants was so brilliant an idea.
She raised a shaking fist high in the air. They want the balance to be tipped? Jill show them tipping the
balance. The point of her dagger gleamed in the candlelight. Luce drew her eyes away from the blade.
You're crazy. If wanting to bring to a final head the longest, greatest battle ever fought means Jim crazyió
Miss Sophiais tone implied that Luce was dense for not knowing all this already be it. The idea that miss
Sophia could have any say in ending the battle didn't add up in Luceis mind. Daniel was fighting the battle
outside. What was going on in here couldn't compare to that, regardless of whether Miss Sophia had crossed
over to the other side. They said it would be Hell on earth, Luce whispered. The end of days. Miss Sophia
started laughing. It would seem that way to you now. Is it such a surprise that Jim one of the good guys,
Lucinda? If you're on the good side,Luce spat, it doesn't sound like a war worth fighting. Miss Sophia
smiled, as if sheid expected Luce to say those very words. Your death may be just the pash Daniel needs. A
little pash in the right direction. Luce squirmed on the altar. You wouldn't hurt me. Miss Sophia crossed
back toward her, and brought her face close. The artificial baby-powder old lady scent filled Luceis nose,
making her gag. Of course I would , Miss Sophia said, bobbing the wild silver fizz of her unkempt hair,
you’re the human equivalent of a migraine. But Jill just come back. Daniel told me. Luce gulped. In
seventeen years. Oh, no you won it. Not this time, Miss Sophia said. That first day you walked into my
library, I saw something in your eyes, but I couldn't put my finger on it. She smiled down at Luce. Jive met
you many times before, Lucinda, and most of the time, you're a downright bore. Luce stiffened, feeling
exposed, as if she were naked on this altar. It was one thing for Daniel to have encountered her in other lives
had others known her, too? This time, Miss Sophia continued, you had something of an edge. A genuine
spark. But it wasn’t until tonight, that beautiful slipup about those agnostic parents of yours. What about my
parents? Luce hissed. Well, my dear, the reason you come back again and again is because all the other
times you’ve been born, you were ushered into religious belief. This time, when your parents opted out of
baptizing you, they effectively left your little soul up for grabs. She shrugged dramatically. No ritual to
welcome you into religion equals no reincarnation for Luce. A small but essential loophole in your cycle.
Could this have been what Arriane and Gabbe had been hinting at in the cemetery? Luceis head began to
throb. A veil of red spots took over her vision and she heard a ringing in her ears. She blinked slowly,
feeling even that tiny brash of her eyelids closing like a blast through her whole head. She was almost glad
she was already lying down. Otherwise, she might have fainted. If this was really the end... well, it could not
be. Miss Sophia leaned close to Luceis face, sending spit flying with her words. When you die tonight you
die. That’s it Kaput. In this lifetime you're nothing more than you appear to be: a stupid, selfish, ignorant,
spoiled little girl who thinks the world lives or dies on whether she gets to go out with some good-looking
boy at school. Even if your death wouldn't accomplish something so long-awaited, glorious, and grand, Jid
still relish this moment, killing you. Luce watched as Miss Sophia raised the knife and touched her finger to
its blade. Luceis