Chapter 39 - The Thirteenth ChildThe voice echoed through the chapel.
Ethan stepped toward the broken crown.
"Mom?"
The voice spoke again.
"He's lying about the future."
The older Ethan froze.
"That's impossible."
A small silver light emerged from the crown.
It formed the image of a woman standing in a hospital room.
Ethan recognized his mother.
But she looked younger.
She held a newborn baby.
Beside her stood Daniel Cole.
Ethan's father.
The image shifted.
A second newborn lay beside the first.
Two babies.
Ethan stared.
"I had a twin?"
The future king closed his eyes.
Eleanor began crying.
Rowan looked away.
Ethan turned toward him.
"Rowan?"
The young man nodded.
"Yes."
The vision continued.
A doctor entered the hospital room.
His face was hidden.
He approached the second child and placed a silver pendant around his neck.
Then the hospital lights went out.
When they returned, one baby was gone.
Ethan's mother screamed.
The vision shattered.
Rowan spoke quietly.
"I wasn't born in the kingdom."
Ethan looked at him.
"You were taken."
"Yes."
"By who?"
Rowan pointed toward the older Ethan.
The future king shook his head.
"I did it to save both of you."
Rowan stepped forward.
"You took me from my family."
"I knew what would happen if you grew up together."
Ethan stared at his older self.
"What would happen?"
The future king looked toward the castle windows.
"The final passage would open."
"But it's already open!"
"No," the older man whispered. "You've only seen the smaller doors."
A tremendous rumble spread across the sky.
Above the capital, the clouds separated.
A gigantic circular structure appeared beyond them.
It was made of stone and glowing metal.
Its surface was covered with millions of names.
Ethan recognized one.
His own.
Then another.
Rowan Cole.
The future king began shaking.
"There were supposed to be twelve."
Ethan stared at the ancient structure.
"How many are there now?"
Rowan's pendant began glowing.
A third name appeared beneath theirs.
May you like
THE THIRTEENTH CHILD.
And someone began knocking from the other side of the sky.
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