House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City)
by Sarah J. Maas
Contents
Chapter Eighty-One
Overview
As time dilates around Micah’s death, Bryce leaps with Danika’s sword, cleaving and dismembering the Archangel. Hypaxia’s pre-sent antidote counteracts the synth, keeping Bryce clear-minded. Bryce then burns and erases Micah’s remains on camera, asserting absolute vengeance while the Auxiliary arrives, cementing Micah’s final end and a major power shift.
Summary
Time distorts as the Godslayer bullet tunnels through Micah, freezing the Summit’s observers—Hunt, Sandriel, Pollux, Ruhn, and Hypaxia—in stunned slow motion. Bryce appears at Jesiba’s shattered office window holding Danika’s long-missing sword, then dives toward the gallery floor.
Mid-fall, Bryce brings the ancient blade down, cleaving Micah from skull through torso. His blood beads upward in the warped moment as the synth rapidly heals Bryce’s injuries. Hunt braces for synth-driven madness but instead sees focused vengeance as Bryce continues cutting, fully dismembering the Archangel.
At the Summit, Hypaxia reveals she had sent not only stabilized venom but also the antidote to Bryce. They watch as minutes pass and the antidote neutralizes the synth in Bryce’s system, leaving her lucid and in control.
Calmly, Bryce retrieves gasoline, douses Micah’s pieces, and sets them ablaze. With the world watching through the camera, she stares into the lens—unbowed—and lets the fire consume him, ensuring no healing or salvation remains.
As time snaps back and sirens wail, Bryce shuts the gallery door on arriving Fae and wolf Aux units. She then vacuums the ashes, erasing the last trace of Micah from existence.
Who Appears
- Bryce QuinlanLucid despite synth; uses Danika’s sword to dismember Micah, then burns and vacuums his remains.
- Hunt AthalarObserves in time-slowed shock; reflects on Bryce and witnesses Micah’s final destruction.
- Micah DomitusArchangel Governor; dying from a Godslayer shot, then cleaved, burned, and erased.
- Hypaxia EnadorExplains she sent a stabilized antidote; confirms it neutralizes the synth in Bryce.
- SandrielArchangel at the Summit, outraged and speechless as Bryce executes Micah on camera.
- Ruhn DanaanWatches the feed in shock, whispering disbelief as Bryce destroys Micah.
- Pollux AntoniusSandriel’s commander; stunned and white-faced as events unfold.
- Sabine FendyrRecoils at the sight of Danika’s long-missing sword wielded by Bryce.