They reached the inner temple at midnight.

The final door was enormous.

Gold.

Black.

Covered in ancient symbols.

In the center was a circular indentation shaped exactly like Lyra's brass lantern.

She placed it inside.

The door opened.

Beyond it was a cavern so vast that Lyra couldn't see the opposite wall.

At the center floated the Heart Lantern.

It was enormous.

Larger than a house.

Perhaps larger than a palace.

Its glass was cracked.

Its golden flame had shrunk to the size of a candle.

Thousands of threads of light extended from it.

Each thread disappeared into the darkness.

Lyra whispered:

"It's beautiful."

Kael stood beside her.

"It's dying."

She walked forward.

The closer she came, the louder she heard voices.

Thousands.

Millions.

Every memory Aetheria had ever surrendered.

First kisses.

Birthdays.

Wars.

Deaths.

Promises.

Songs.

Children.

Mothers.

Fathers.

Lovers.

The whole history of a kingdom trapped inside one dying flame.

Lyra touched the glass.

The Heart Lantern spoke.

LYRA VALE.

She gasped.

Kael grabbed her shoulder.

The flame grew brighter.

DAUGHTER OF SERAPHINE.

"Where is my mother?"

The flame flickered.

BEYOND THE VEIL.

"What is the Veil?"

THE PLACE WHERE FORGOTTEN THINGS GO.

Kael stepped forward.

"Who is taking the memories?"

The flame dimmed.

THE HUNGRY ONE.

"The creature?"

THE CHILD.

Lyra frowned.

"The creature is a child?"

The lantern gave no answer.

Instead, the doors behind them exploded inward.

The storm entered.

Darkness flooded the chamber.

Kael drew the sword he had borrowed from the temple wall.

Lyra raised her lantern.

The creature emerged from the clouds.

It filled the doorway.

Its golden eyes burned.

Lanterns covered its body.

Hundreds.

Thousands.

Every one contained a stolen memory.

The creature opened its mouth.

Lyra heard her mother's voice.

"Come with me."

Tears filled her eyes.

Kael grabbed her hand.

"Don't."

"What if it's really her?"

"It isn't."

"How do you know?"

"Because your mother would never ask you to follow something that wanted you frightened."

Lyra looked at him.

He was right.

The creature attacked.

Kael pushed her aside.

The creature's claw struck the floor.

Stone exploded.

Kael rolled beneath it.

Lyra raised her lantern.

Blue fire erupted.

The creature recoiled.

Kael looked at her.

"Again!"

She raised it higher.

The lantern became brighter.

The creature screamed.

The Heart Lantern answered.

A pulse of gold swept across the cavern.

Every stolen memory inside the creature lit simultaneously.

And Lyra saw something.

Not a monster.

A child.

A little girl sitting alone in darkness.

Crying.

Lyra lowered the lantern.

The creature stopped.

Its enormous golden eyes looked directly at her.

The child's voice whispered:

"I'm sorry."

Then the storm disappeared.

Not defeated.

Gone.

The chamber fell silent.

Kael lowered his sword.

"What did you see?"

Lyra stared at the empty doorway.

"A child."