Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 1 (Afterlife saga Book 7)

by Stephanie Hudson

  “I will leave you to it and go and check on progress.” I wondered if by progress he meant to see if Draven had his hands around someone’s neck yet…in this case I certainly hoped so. Drug dealers in my opinion were like the death dealers of the mortal world. Demonic puppets pulling strings and whispering thoughts of escapism to lost souls, destroying lives one hit at a time.

  I shook these dark thoughts away and answered the phone,

  “What’s up Li…”

  “Is she with you?!” My sister asked frantically cutting me off.

  “Who…RJ?”

  “Yes RJ! She rang here about ten minutes ago. I have been trying to get hold of you but then Ella ran outside, so I had to chase her and…”

  “Libs I get it, you could only call back now. So did she tell you where she is or say anything?” I asked now cutting her off and knowing what Ella could be like. That kid just loved the outdoors and pretty much made a run for it at any opportunity. It was almost as if she was looking for something.

  “No but she sounded odd, like she was drunk or something. Oh but she did say one thing that I didn’t understand.”

  “What?!” I said getting frantic, knowing now that she could have already taken the drugs.

  “She told me that she had gone to…”

  “What, gone to what? Libby, gone to find what?!” I shouted knowing that whatever she was going to say was going to be important. It was going to be something that I needed to know and something only I would understand. I don’t know how I knew this but I could feel it within my gut. No, not just my gut, but something deeper than that, it was like having something rooted and buried deep and only when Libby said the last two words did I fully understand why…

  “To find the sunshine”

  Chapter 7

  Hope in the Dark

  The second I heard Libby utter those words I hung up, knowing my sister would understand. I looked towards the bar to see that Seth was stood by the door, watching whatever was happening inside. I knew I needed to leave and I knew where I had to go. But what I had to do, I could only do alone.

  So as quietly as I could I felt for the handle at the back of me, not taking my eyes off Seth, waiting for the second I had to drop my hands. He kept looking back at me, so the trick was anticipating when. Luck would have it though that the man they must have been looking for, this lowlife Izzy Carter, tried to bust out of the door and past Seth. Which was his second mistake, his first being selling drugs to the woman he loves.

  Seth grabbed him by the throat as it seemed to be the restraint of choice amongst immortals. Then he dragged him back inside, leaving behind only one shoe to land on the ground that flew off as he tried to kick his way free. The second the door swung shut I was opening mine and in the driver’s seat. I felt bad for doing this and hated what my actions would do to Draven but RJ was my friend and I was the only one that knew what she had been through. Draven would just have to understand and if he didn’t, well then we would just have to deal with it when we finally got round to dealing with the shit storm I knew was brewing on the horizon.

  But I couldn’t think about that now. RJ needed me and I had the strongest feeling that I knew where she would go…where she would find the Sun. So I turned the car around and did something I rarely ever did…I broke the speed limit.

  “Come on, come on, RJ pick up the damn phone!” I bellowed down at my phone, when all I received was her voicemail message. All I could think about was what could happen to her if I didn’t make it in time. I kept thinking about time and having the power to turn it back. I don’t know where the thoughts came from but I shuddered as if a fine layer of ice had covered my skin.

  I couldn’t tell where half my thoughts were coming from these days, if it was me, Katie or even the Oracle planting them. And what was it that Draven had started to say, ‘The Oracle told me…’ not that this surprised me as she always seemed to be the cause of most of the trouble around here.

  “Stop it, Keira. Focus!” I reprimanded myself, smacking the steering wheel with my palm. Then I put my foot down on the open road and only slowed when I knew the turning was coming up. I skidded on the dirt as I turned too quickly, for once not caring about anything other than getting to her. It was like I had a ticking timer above my head and the sound was maddening.

  I released a hopeful breath when I saw Jack’s truck parked by the clearing and I knew that at the very least I had found her…

  Now it was time to see what part of her I had found.

  I barely stopped the car before I was out of it and running up to the cliff’s edge, knowing this place too well. It was somewhere Jack and RJ had brought me when I first moved here, but it wasn’t just that. I had been here many times after, naming it as my special place, one that held mainly painful memories and now I knew I would simply be adding to them. Because there in front of me was RJ’s body, slumped over and not moving.

  “RJ!” I shouted running hard enough that I slipped on my side when I reached her as a way to stop. I grabbed her, shaking her shoulders trying to get a response.

  “No, no, no, no! RJ, don’t you dare do this!” I shouted at her feeling the tears build and blur my eyes. She couldn’t be dead! I wouldn’t fucking allow it!

  “You can’t have her! Do you hear me, she’s mine, you can’t take her from me!” I cried up at the Heavens feeling a power radiating from me that wasn’t just anger, it was fear.

  “NO! No, do you hear me Rachel, I said no! You’re not going anywhere, now wake up!” I shook her harder this time, letting my emotions completely take over. Yet again she didn’t move but I wasn’t giving up. I cradled her head to my chest and sobbed into her head, pleading with her.

  “Leave the dark place and come back to me my friend…I found you the sun.” As soon as I whispered this last part into her hair I felt her suck in a desperate breath. I gasped, freezing in case I had imagined it but only a second passed before I was lifting up her head. The sight of her opening her eyes was one I would never forget and hearing her say my name was bitter sweet sadness.

  “Kaz?” Her croaky voice was one that had been abused through crying as I recognised it well from my own time served in that dark world you build yourself.

  “I’m here.” I told her trying to hold my voice from breaking. As soon as she heard my voice she grabbed onto my jacket as if scared that if she let go, she would find herself back there.

  “Don’t let me go…I won’t go back… I won’t go…” She broke off into sobbing tears, burying herself in my arms for safety.

  “I know. I know sweetheart. You never have to go back there again. I promise you. We will get you through this…together.” I said through my own tears and I bit my lip trying to hold back my own sob from escaping.

  “I’m so scared, Keira.” She told me and when she looked up my heart broke for her.

  “Nothing can reach you now.” I told her but she started shaking her head.

  “No. Not for me.” She sniffed and carried on,

  “I am so scared…no, I am terrified he is where I was…being left somewhere, alone in the dark… I want him back Keira, I want him back so bad.” And now I knew she was talking about her brother. It suddenly dawned on me that it was never about her dark place or the memories eating away at her. It was about Jack and what the dark place could be doing to him.

  There is one thing going through a trauma yourself but it was quite another knowing it could then happen to someone you loved. Just thinking about Libby locked away in that damp, dark cellar that had been my prison was enough to make me feel sick! By the Gods I couldn’t have gotten it more wrong. RJ could cope with what happened to her but not what could be happening to her brother.

  “I wanted to find him and I thought this was the only way. I never meant to hurt anyone but myself.”

  “What are you saying?” I asked seeing her struggling with her confession.

  “I thought there was only one place she could have taken him and I thought…I thoug
ht…I thought I could do it. I thought that if I could only get there then we could somehow find a way out together…like you did.” Whispering the truth caused goosebumps to break out all over my body. I now knew the full extent of what she had been trying to do and it chilled me to the bone. I sat back on my knees and told her sternly,

  “No, no, god no, this isn’t the way…” She rubbed her nose with the back of her hand and stopped me,

  “I know…” She then reached inside her pocket and pulled something out I couldn’t see. Then she held out her hand and uncurled her fingers, saying,

  “That’s why I couldn’t do it.” I looked down to see a small clear packet full of pills. She hadn’t taken any and I broke down right alongside her knowing it would be okay.

  “I promise you Rachel, if there is any way between our world and theirs to bring him home, then I will stop at nothing to make it happen…I promise.” I felt RJ nod in my arms, no longer having the ability to speak as she took my promise into her heart. I owed them both so much and knowing what they had given up because of their love for me was staggering, so that’s why making that promise was easy. It wasn’t just something I wanted to do it was something I knew I had to do.

  Moments passed and still holding her close I looked out to the view I knew so well. The sun was starting to go down and gracing the untouched earth below with bursts of sunrays. Pinks, oranges and distant purples were all shadowing the clouds, giving a beautiful ending to this turbulent day. And it was now, when watching the sun go down, that I realised I had been wrong.

  I hadn’t been the one to give RJ the sun after all and I knew even on this cliff top at the highest point to see it set, I still couldn’t give it to her. Because in truth I had been the one to cast her life into darkness. This crumbling path ahead of her was one set by just knowing me and I had no idea whether she would find her brother at the end of it or not. No, all I could do was hold her hand as we travelled it together and both look towards the sun to guide us.

  That was the promise I made.

  And that was the promise I was going to keep.

  I finally tore my eyes away from the fading sunlight when I heard a noise behind us. RJ was still curled up next to me, fast asleep with her head on my shoulder, holding my hand. I didn’t want to disturb her, not when she had finally found peace for the day. I couldn’t even say how long we had been sat there, not that it mattered. I knew Draven would be worried but I knew when I set out on my own I was making that choice and it was the right one. So it didn’t surprise me when they finally found us. I looked to the side not wanting to move too much and wake RJ but I would know that sound anywhere.

  Draven’s wings.

  I saw a pair of boots come into view, ones that were fully tied and clean and I smiled at the contrast between the other pair that were stood on RJ’s side. It was almost a mirror image of the two girls they looked at now. One blonde, one pink. One regular, one punk…both red eyed and all teared out. And now our men had come for us just as the sun lost its power.

  “Let’s get you home.” Hearing his perfect voice speak of home for some reason proved that my thoughts of being all teared out were wrong. They both filled and I bit my lip to try and hold it in. So instead of agreeing with words I just nodded.

  “Let me take her.” Seth said gently, bending down and easily picking RJ up in his arms. When she murmured, frowning in her sleep Seth placed a soothing hand on her forehead, pushing her hair back and whispered,

  “I have got you now, my Solis.” Hearing his voice obviously brought her great comfort because after this her frown disappeared and she snuggled closer to him.

  “I ask to seek sanctuary at your home.” Seth shocked me by asking Draven.

  “Granted.” I saw Seth bow his head in thanks before walking away to what I assumed was Jack’s truck. When I heard the engine start up I knew I was right. I thought Draven’s next move would be to pick me up and drive home with me in my car but he surprised me. He lowered himself down to watch the last of the sunset with me and for long moments we simply sat in silence…Until of course I could take no more.

  “Well I see no reason to drag this out any longer, so come on, out with the lecture on leaving without you.” I told him and when I finally faced him he had one eyebrow raised at me.

  “Is that what you think?”

  “Am I not right?” I asked and after giving me his eyes a moment longer, he then turned back to the view ahead.

  “I confess I was worried but I trust you.” Shocked I placed my hand on his arm and said,

  “You do?” bringing his attention back to me.

  “You may not always make the right decisions Keira but there is one thing I can always count on you doing.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Putting others first.” Hearing this was like a gift, lightening my heart in a way that again forced me to take in a deep breath.

  “And I am not quite arrogant enough to believe or to expect that the person you put first on every occasion is going to be me.”

  “So you’re not angry?” He gave me a half smile and shook his head,

  “No, I am not angry. How could I be when I love all of you and this is but a single piece of what makes your soul so beautiful and pure.” I gave him a beaming grin and then nudged his arm with mine.

  “It wasn’t so pure this afternoon.” I said winking at him and this time I received the Draven full smile experience.

  “What can I say…I like corrupting you.” I laughed and then linked my arm with his, leaning further into him.

  “I like you corrupting me too, Draven.” I told him as I leant my head on his shoulder.

  “Keira about earlier…” I quickly looked up and got close to his ear to whisper,

  “Not now. We will but not on this day…I don’t want to end the day more painfully than it already has been.” Draven sighed next to me but turned his head, kissed my hair and agreed.

  “I understand.”

  “Thank you.” And I really was. I don’t think I could have coped with anything else the day had to throw at me. And as much as I wanted to know what Draven had to tell me, I knew for the sake of my sanity to let it go…for today.

  So we continued to bid farewell to the day in silence, leaning against each other and no doubt thinking about the same thing. What would tomorrow bring and dreading what the outcome could be. I didn’t want to think about it and I guessed neither did Draven, but until said it would be the demon in the room, one not ever welcome. I wanted to ask Draven that if he trusted me then why keep anything from me? But like I said, now wasn’t the time. So instead of going back against my request, I shifted, stretching muscles I knew would be sore from being sat too long.

  “Home?” Draven asked and I nodded, feeling a warmth emanate from within me at just hearing the word. Afterlife…my home. It felt so right and looking back it always had. From the first moment I walked through its doors the place had welcomed me in a way that was hard to explain. The only way I could describe it was as though the place needed me. As if it wanted to keep me within its walls and never let me go and in turn I never wanted to leave. Well nothing had changed as deep down I knew it had always been my home and it was going to stay that way…of course it just helped that now I was married I could say that legitimately.

  “Come on little dove of mine, let’s go.” Draven said after first getting up and then pulling me to my feet. I winced slightly as my knee clicked and Draven chuckled,

  “And you call me old.”

  “Hey!” I shouted smacking him playfully on the chest.

  “Superhero remember, so you can’t compare,” I said looking him up and down referring to his immortal status. He snagged me around the waist and looked me up and down like I had done with him and came back with,

  “I agree, nothing could compare to you.” I blushed and gave him a coy look saying,

  “Oh you smooth talker you.” He laughed and then gave me a superhero stance, spreading his leg
s and putting both his fists to his hips,

  “I aim to please, little lady.” This time I burst out laughing and couldn’t stop snorting along with it.

  “Come on Super stud, let’s go home. I’m driving.”

  “Umm, Super stud…it has a nice ring to it don’t you think?” he teased and I did it right back by saying,

  “Not really but how about I get it put on a T shirt for you for Christmas…one you only wear indoors of course.”

  “In that case I think I shall have to start holding my council meetings outside.” He replied trying to outwit me.

  “That will be interesting to see when it’s snowy season…tell me Draven, do you own a woolly hat?” I couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of Draven wearing one. No doubt the jammie bugger would just look gorgeous in one but for now and until I saw it with my own eyes, I was sticking with ridiculous and highly amusing.

  “No, but I do own a perfectly good scarf that would be useful when tying up little unruly, Vixen wives that are brave enough to throw sass at their king.”

  “Gosh Draven, just how many of these ‘Wives’ do you have?” I said mocking him behind my hand as if it were some big secret.

  “Oh the one and only Vixen I have is more than enough of a handful to deal with and will no doubt keep me quite busy for the rest of eternity.” After this there were no more comebacks from me as his last reply just ended up putting a massive daft grin on my face and he didn’t miss it. Just as we reached the truck I was spun round abruptly and pushed against the door with Draven caging me in.

  “Do you know what seeing that kind of smile on those perfect lips does to me, knowing especially that I was the one to put it there?” He answered this with ease as I could feel exactly what it did to him, as it was currently pressing into my stomach. Damn our height difference I thought, wishing to be taller and for it to be pressing elsewhere.

  “Uh…I’m getting the idea, yes.” I stammered after needing to clear my throat and wet my lips.