Maddy makes a tsk sound. “Don’t you trust her.”
I look to my mother in confusion.
“If anyone is on Elias’ side, it’ll be her.” Mom explains. “Be careful.”
“She shouldn’t go.” Maddy spits out the words.
“I have to,” I say, though she already knows.
“I’m going too, then.” Jack insists.
“And me.” Cyrus pipes in.
“Shay, you got this for now?” I ask.
“Always, baby-doll. Go do some world-saving.”
“Mom, Maddy, do you have any news?” I ask as almost an afterthought.
“Nothing major. We’re still working on the spells, both to figure out how Elias has control over you now, and how to wake these two.” Maddy explains. The frustration is clear in her voice.
“But we’ll find out. We’ve yet to meet a spell we can’t unravel.” My Mom assures me.
I glance at Jack and Cyrus. “You guys ready?”
They nod. We join hands and poof to Cosima together.
Immediately I don’t like the vibe I get.
“I see you’ve brought company,” Cosima’s voice comes from a dark corner of the room. “I thought you’d come alone. I’d told you we have much to discuss.”
I shrug, playing nonchalant. “They refuse to leave my side, what with my father out to kill me and all.”
Jack and Cyrus don’t leave my side, although they remain silent.
“It’s such a shame when family fights, don’t you think?” The tone in Cosima’s voice clearly states her lack of sincerity.
“Sure, whatever.” I reply. I refuse to let her goad me, cloud my judgement, and make me miss anything.
She comes out from the shadows, still as beautiful as ever, but this time I can see through it to the ugliness that lies beneath. Her eyes narrow and her smugness turns into irritation. “You truly don’t care?” She asks.
“Listen, I’ve been through a lot of crap over the past few weeks and in case you haven’t noticed, there’s a lot going on. So right now, honestly? No, I don’t care much about your thoughts on family feuds. Either say something useful or we’re leaving.”
Now she gives me a look of outrageous shock and offense. “How dare you!”
With a small shake of my head I reach for Jack and Cyrus’s hands. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.”
Cosima stutters for a moment before she finds words. “Wait!”
I sigh in a dramatically loud fashion. “What?”
“I know where you can find who you seek.” She offers quickly.
“Yeah, already figured that one out, ya twit.” Jack spits back.
With a grin I zap us all back before Cosima can find any more straws to try and grasp.
“Well?” Maddy asks.
“Oh, she’s so on his side.” I tell her and Mom.
“Definitely,” Jack agrees.
“No question about it,” Cyrus adds.
I crack my neck. “I need some good coffee, and then we need to start figuring some things out.”
No sooner do I say coffee does Shay appear next to me with his keys. “I’ll drive.”
Usually tea settles me when things get too crazy, but I need the dose of super caffeine to get the synapses in my brain moving. So many things make sense, yet so many pieces are still missing from the puzzle.
It feels like if one of those pieces slips through, it’ll be the end.
I think back to my fiery dream. My dreams are visions that hold possibilities of becoming reality. Fire raining from the sky, death and destruction everywhere...I can’t let that happen.
I won’t let that happen.
“Um, Lettie, my love.” Shay’s voice snaps me out of it. His tone is off and when I look at him, he’s pale—not a typical Shay thing.
“What?” My reply is almost frantic. Shay points and my gaze follows. Then I almost drop my damn coffee. “Holy crap.”
We both watch the woman cross the street and go into the park. I’d say it’s impossible, but so far this week has been full of impossibilities, so what else is new?
“We should follow her.” Shay says as he parks the car. I nod. I still have no words.
She makes her way towards the waterfront and sits on a bench. We sit a bit back to watch and sip our coffee. I’m not sure what I feel. Shock, for sure. Sadness, check. Regret...slight...
But mostly? Mostly I’m wondering what in the hell my freaking sister has planned now that she’s back...and how she got here. Because what the hell?
“Do we approach her?” Shay asks.
Of course that makes the most sense. I try to ascertain if this can be a trap in some way, but it seems public enough of a place where Elias shouldn’t try anything. “I do.” I tell him. “You wait here in case you have to call for reinforcements.”
Shay nods. I take the rest of my latte in one slurp and toss the cup in the can as I approach Eunice. I have no plan until I reach her. I decide not to make a scene either, and sit down as far as possible on her bench. It only takes her a moment to notice me.
Her eyes grow wide—she recognizes me for sure—only she fears me. This is strange, even if I did banish her to another dimension.
“What are you doing here, Eunice?” I ask in a low voice. To passersby it seems we’re just chatting uncomfortably.
“I should ask you the same thing.” She mumbles. “Or maybe if this is your here or not. I’m not sure. This is so confusing.” Her eyes well up and I begin to realize this may be Eunice, but it’s not Eunice—at least not the one I know. I think. If there’s another me at Jack’s, who’s to say there’s not another her here?
She’s right. This is so confusing.
I sigh at my loss of what to do, so I do the only thing I can think of. “I’m here, Lettie. Like this is me in my place, Lettie.” I try to explain. “C’mon, you can come with me. I won’t hurt you.”
She sniffles. “Thank you. I just want to go home.”
Shay stands rigidly as we approach. I place my hand on his chest and pull him down to my level so he can hear me as I whisper. “It’s not her, Shay. Be calm.”
He relaxes under me, but I can still tell his guard is up.
The only person who’s both conscious and not taken aback when we return to Jack’s is Jack. He never had the pleasure of meeting Eunice—well, Eunice from our world—so he doesn’t know to be a bit wary of this one’s presence.
My mom and Maddy seem to understand instantly. In fact, the look they share tells me that they’re onto something.
Before anyone can say much of anything, the strangest thing yet occurs. Cyrus strolls in and Eunice rushes over to him, throwing herself in his arms. “My love! You’re here too? This can be much more bearable now, I’m quite sure.” She squeezes him and buries her face in his chest.
Meanwhile Cyrus stands with his arms out to his side. His expression is one of confusion and horror. It’s quite hysterical, but unfortunately not the time for laughs.
I mouth to Cyrus to be nice. He gently removes Eunice’s arms from around his torso and steps her back some. “I’m very sorry, but I’m not who you think.”
Her shoulders fall and I almost (almost) feel bad for her. She could be the nicest person in her world, but I can’t get past the Eunice I know. She’s left far too great of a mark on me.
“I should’ve known.” Eunice says to her feet. “I’m sorry.”
Holy hell, I guess I do feel a little bad. “Jack, can you show Eunice where she can get cleaned up and lie down for a bit?” He’s the only one here with nothing against her...well, not her, but other her.
“Sure thing, c’mon, lass, this way.” Jack guides her towards the back.
“What the hell is going on?” Cyrus asks.
“We may have some ideas,” Maddy says, “but we should talk down in the basement.”
“We have privacy wards in place there.” Mom explains.
“Should we worry about them?” Shay asks, pointing to Chase and other me.
“I doubt they’re going anywhere just yet.” Maddy says and leads us to Jack’s basement as he returns. The magic they have in place is strong and helps me feel safe for the first time in days.
“The spells on the two upstairs are strong,” Maddy begins.
“But more puzzling is how they got to be here and why,” Mom finishes.
“So we began to look into the old books, but didn’t get very far.” Maddy continues, “that is, until we realized we should go back further still.” With a wave of her hand, the oldest book I’ve ever seen appears on the table before Maddy.
“This predates what humans know of civilizations.” Mom says. “It comes from a time even before Abyssus and Aether, when the realms and worlds first formed and magic was strongest.”
“It tells of much, but one story and prophecy holds too many parallels to what’s going on here to be ignored.” Maddy explains. “We didn’t think it possible at first, but once we began to think like Elias,” Maddy shakes her head.
“Here, see for yourself,” Mom sprinkles something over a page in the book. Before our eyes the room springs to life, like an iMax movie or maybe VR, setting the scene as it tells its story.
The world appears lush, almost as lush as Aether itself. People look happy and content as everything around them appears to thrive. We watch as a small boy comes into view. At first he seems so sweet, an adorable young thing, but as he walks through the forest he begins to reach out and touch things, plants, trees—and as he does the life seeps out of them. They shrivel and die.
We watch as the boy grows. He hones his powers, moving from plants to animals and eventually people. As he gets older, the evil within him becomes an unstoppable force.
When the boy becomes a man, he falls upon a young girl and becomes taken with her. She denies his advances again and again. He grows angry and steals her away. After months he finally destroys her.
It takes more time, but soon the girl’s family comes for her. They are more powerful than the man realizes, and together with their grief they are more powerful than he is. They bring him down, killing him, but not before he whispers a spell to the earth.
“My powers will return one day, my essence granted to the right man, a man who will be worthy of such destruction and power, a man who will end all.” He murmurs with his last breath.
The scene snaps back into the book. All of our mouths are agape, less Maddy and Mom, while we process this new information.
“The prophecy goes on to say that a man will stop both Heaven and Hell to reach his goal. That he’ll find a source of such power he’ll tear the essence from the earth. All the realms and worlds will collide as one and all with be destroyed with the fires to follow.” Maddy says quietly.
“How do we stop it?” I ask.
“We’re still working on that.” Mom says with a frown.
“How about how Elias does it?” Jack pipes in.
Mom shakes her head sadly, “Not quite sure of that yet, either—but we have more research to do, we’ll find it.”
“So everyone upstairs, he must’ve brought them here.” I say, thinking aloud more than anything.
“But to what end?” Cyrus asks.
“Knowing Elias, it’s nothing good.” Maddy says. “We’ll hit the books.”
“We’ll hit the streets.” I agree. “Jack, Cyrus, I hate to say it, but we need to go back there.”
“No, Lettie, not yet.” My mom insists. “I know this man well. He won’t move once he’s established. We know where our leaders are, they’ll be safe enough for now. You can’t face your father again until you’re ready. Otherwise all—including you, my beautiful daughter, will be lost.”
“I understand. I won’t go back until I’m ready.” I promise her.
“Where to then, lass?” Jack asks as we exit his basement.
I pull Shay aside, “You got everything under control up here?”
“Yes, other than my boredom.” He retorts. “I’ll keep an eye on these two...I may even have your mom try to wake them again. At least then we can play board games.”
“Text me right away if they do.”
“I will. Where are you guys off to?”
“The only place I can think to get answers. Back to Abyssus.” I tell him.
“Be careful.”
“Always.”
Abyssus is a ghost-town. I can’t say I blame its residents. Nobody wants to spend multiple lifetimes here.
A few remain, however. All I can figure is that they are too set in their ways, slaves to another, more ancient time. These are the ones I hope can help us. The ones whose loyalty to their dark leader holds them here... but who do I trust when practically everyone here is an under-handed demon?
Maybe it’s due to stress, or maybe because when in Abyssus one just loses their inhibitions, but I need a drink. Jack’s eyes light up as I walk us towards the nearest bar. Even Cyrus looks like he can use a drink—and after his encounter with Eunice I can’t say that I blame him.
Inside there are just enough patrons for a dull murmur that ceases the second they notice our presence. With a shrug to Jack and Cyrus, I go to the bar and order a double whiskey. Once I slam that down I order another. Once that’s gone I feel a bit better.
“I don’t know why we’re here, sis, but I’m damn glad we came.” Jack says as he slurps down his fourth shot of tequila.
“This is a damn fine ale.” Cyrus agrees and chugs the pint down.
“Look at the lot of you.” A voice says from behind us, full of disdain. “You’re supposed to fix this, not get drunk!”
The whisky makes me a little wobbly, but I know that voice. “Quetzal?”
“You remember me, then.” It’s more a statement than a question. “May I join you?”
“Please,” I motion to the empty barstool to my right. “And you’re not wrong, we are trying. It’s just been a really hard few days.”
Quetzal ponders this and sighs. “Yes, I can understand that. It’s been the same here as well. Your father is to blame, but you probably already know.”
“Our father,” Jack slurs, “Not that I’m bragging, mind you—but I did get me a right good sister out of the deal, at least.”
“I thought you looked familiar.” Quetzal tells Jack before he turns to Cyrus. “And to see a Cerberus here in peace, that’s a rare treat indeed.”
Cyrus nods, but remains silent. This trip is awkward for him, no doubt. For millennia his kind has fought against Abyssus and all it stands for. Now here he is, getting a good buzz on in his enemy’s realm.
“I’m very angry at your father, Lettie.” Quetzal says, and surprises me by ordering a shot and downing it in one gulp. “Very angry.”
“Join the club,” I say and counter with another shot of my own. “I can’t even do anything about it at the moment.”
The confusion is plain on Quetzal’s face so Jack elaborates. “He’s got some kind of ward against her, bloody bull crap if you ask me.”
The bartender clears his throats. He’s a two-headed demon and I don’t think he can do one throat at a time. “I think perhaps your group would be more comfortable in the back room. It’s more private, away from prying ears and minds.” He juts his chin towards the audience we don’t realize grows behind us.
Quetzal rises quickly. “Yes, follow me.”
None of us argue. As nice as it’d be to build an army of demons, we can’t be sure who’s really on our side. As we sit, I study Quetzal, both with my eyes and my abilities. I see no desire to do us harm, and the anger towards Elias is as sincere as it comes.
“Maybe you can help us.” I tell Quetzal. “I can tell you’re sincere. The lines have been blurred already, the sides no longer blatant or obvious. You want what we want.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Quetzal agrees and I nod.
It doesn’t take long for us to fill Quetzal in on all the details.
“You know where the Dark Master is?” Quetzal asks incredous
ly.
“Yes,” I say sadly, “but I can’t reach him, or the leader of Aether just yet.”
“You said there’s another you here?” Quetzal asks and I nod. “That makes sense on the ward he has against you. He’d need her to do it.”
I never thought of that. “But what about the others? And why is Eunice awake while they still sleep?”
“I’m not sure, but it surely can’t be good.” Quetzal sighs again. “I’ll do my part here, and find out what I’m able.”
“Can you find more to help us as well, you think?” Jack’s accent is far thicker when he drinks.
“I can.” Quetzal agrees. “For now, you should all go home. You’ve brought a lot of attention to yourselves here.”
“Quetzal?” I say as we stand. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” With a wicked grin Quetzal evaporates into the air around us and disappears.
“Can we trust it then?” Cyrus asks.
“Quetzal is sincere, that much I can tell.” I confirm. “Now let’s go, before we run into someone with less sincerity.”
Feats
It doesn’t take long after we inform Mom and Maddy of Quetzal’s theory before they dive into research on it. This little tidbit of information is all it takes to convince Maddy that Elias somehow uses other me against me.
The question is how?
A small part of me shivers. I suppose that my abilities have become such a part of me, a part that makes me confident and strong, that having Elias find a weakness in them—in me—is very concerning. What else can he do to me? I already know the horrors he’s capable of...
My chest tightens as the pain of loss fights through the compartment I keep it in. I try not to think about the life inside me I lost, the small soul that will never be, all because of Elias.
After the pain comes the anger, the rage. For a moment it almost consumes me. I fight to tamp it down.
“Er, Lettie, darling?” Jack says. “Your eyes are glowing there, sis. Is that something I should worry about?”
This is enough information to snap me out of it. “Sorry, I didn’t know they could do that.” I’ll have to remember to tamp that down. If a regular person saw that, they’ll freak.
Soul Decisions Page 11
