Vessel of Destruction (Daizlei Academy Book 4)

by Kel Carpenter

  A week had passed and still, they waited.

  All of them.

  It touched me in a way I couldn’t completely understand. My heart didn’t feel heavy, though. It felt happiness. Joy. The world was far from perfect. Our lives just as much so.

  But we still had them, and that was what mattered.

  “Johanna told us what she knew,” he started. “But it wasn’t the same. Will you tell me the truth of it now? Can you?” I’d been expecting this the last few minutes. It was only fair.

  I searched inside myself, trying to see if the same block that prevented me before was still there. Only my demon and I were inside me now. With Valda’s presence gone, the curse was lifted. I was free.

  “It’s a very long story,” I warned him, a smile curling around my lips.

  He stood from the chair and laid me on the bed, crawling into it beside me.

  “I have time,” he mused, resting on his side.

  “It started a thousand years ago with a young Witch named Livina . . .” I began, telling him the story from the beginning. Ash didn’t interrupt me as I told him of Valda and her lover. How her parent’s killed him and then forced her to marry Cirian. Of their bond and the choices they’d made. Of the payment the gods demanded for those choices. I told him of the years that went by and how I came to be. I told him of that voice I heard in my mind and who she was and who she became to me. I told him of the Crone and the prophecy, of the silence exacted on me. Of the sacrifice the gods demanded. I told him about my struggle over these past months, unable to say anything but wanting to desperately.

  I told him of the choice I’d made and why I made it.

  And when the story came to part where I died there was only silence between us.

  Silence and truth.

  “Where did you go?” he asked quietly. “Afterwards? Was there anything?”

  Mortals were funny about death. I was only beginning to realize it. Strong or weak. Young or old. Everyone was cowed by death. By the unknown.

  “There was,” I admitted, testing the words to see if I was truly free to speak. “When I died I saw the ancients.”

  His eyes went wide. “The ancients?” I nodded. “What did they want?”

  I thought about that.

  “A Vessel,” I answered eventually.

  “For?”

  “Them. It appears that in preparing me to complete the prophecy, the Crone and Valda did too good of job. I fulfilled the requirements but the balance wasn’t corrected. They sent me back to fix it.” It wasn’t that I didn’t trust him or didn’t want to speak the truth. What I’d seen on the other side was beyond anything the living could understand. Nyx told me that they look to me as I looked onto her. There were some things that you simply kept to yourself after dying. Like how they weighed whether or not I truly sacrificed.

  Ash didn’t need to know that I was close to not coming back.

  Only that I was here to stay.

  “How do you go about fixing the balance?”

  “I have some thoughts,” I whispered, leaning in. My lips brushed his and all talk of life and death and even the gods ended.

  Chapter 31

  The following weeks were difficult. Not as hard as they had been, but still wrought with complications. The unveiling of paranormals had shook the world to its core. Mass panic had spread, and with it the media fanned the flames higher. There was a new attack on the news every night and a new reported suspicion every morning.

  It was a New Salem, and for that reason, we created a New Council.

  One that was composed of leaders from every faction of paranormals, all the way from Fae to Pixies to Witches and Supes. It was an umbrella meant to represent everyone and be the outward face of the magical world for the times we faced, and the times to come.

  Stationed in a conference room inside Tam’s club, paranormals from all over crowded in to be a part of this one very important meeting. When you brought together this many species that weren’t used to getting along, things got messy.

  “A group of Pixies entered my border last night and have yet to be dealt with,” the infamous Fae queen who refused to fight argued. I still wasn’t a fan of her. Nor she of me.

  The Pixie head, an older woman with magenta eyes and turquoise wings scoffed. “You can’t call them your lands when we share all land with the humans.”

  “Why you—” Right as the Fae queen started to drill into her, a growl ripped through the room. My head whipped toward Blair who stood with a Fae warrior against the wall. Or more accurately, she stood, pinning him to the wall by his throat.

  “No touching,” her demon snapped. The paranormals in close proximity stepped as far away as they could to escape the demon’s wrath.

  “Blair,” Johanna said, saving me from interfering. The demon looked over her shoulder, weighing the golden-eyed one. Her nose wrinkled in dislike but the black faded and Blair released him. The warrior fell to his knees, gasping for a breath as Blair pushed through the crowd, coming to stand behind Ash and me.

  He thumped his fist twice on the oak conference table, drawing their attention.

  “We don’t have time for this,” he said. A pang of sadness went through me that his father wasn’t here to see this. To see him, stepping into his rightful role. I accepted it as he called the meeting to attention.

  “The humans are only a few steps short of trying to impose laws and sanctions on paranormals as a whole. No one has stepped forward to stop them. We’ve gathered here today because as the heads of our people it’s our responsibility to ensure that they’re spoken for.” The squabbling bunch grew quiet, listening intently.

  “Actually,” I said. Ash paused and looked up at me in confusion. “I’d like to start this meeting if I can?” He nodded once, figuratively passing the mic to me. I stood from my chair and faced them as a whole. “Your people are under fire. Groups of human factions have banned together to hunt any and all with magic. Organizations in the government have been put together to find them for a different reason. We exist in a world where we are the predator and our prey have now realized it.”

  No one said a word; a hush had fallen over them.

  “We’ve already waged one war. We are not ready for another. Which means we need to make peace with that prey. Find a way to coexist because we share the same domain as we always have. Even when they didn’t know it.”

  “You are not ready for another war,” the Fae queen interrupted. “Some of us might be more equipped and willing.”

  “That’s not your call to make,” I responded.

  “Neither is it yours,” the Fae queen answered. “The Supernatural hold has been broken, and yet I see multiple representatives for your faction. I can’t help but wonder if this is a farce.”

  I swallowed hard. This was the moment. The one I’d prepared for these last weeks. “You’re right,” I said. There was a collective gasp. “That’s why I’m abdicating my seat and it won’t be filled again. The Fortescues ruled this world for too long. They unleashed unspeakable horrors on it. I won’t continue that legacy. I refuse.”

  At this I looked to Ash, and while he didn’t speak, I knew he understood.

  This was one of those things the ancients had asked. I don’t get to choose sides.

  Frankly, I hadn’t wanted to in this case. It made my decision quite easy.

  “I have no intentions to rule. No ploys to overthrow anyone. I don’t plan to spend my days on this council making decisions for the rest of the world. That’s not my purpose. It never was.” My gaze slid to Johanna who sat three seats down. A slight smile curved up her lips, and I wondered if she knew. Or perhaps, she simply guessed the reasoning.

  “What are you saying?” the Pixie asked.

  “I’m saying that I don’t exist to make the rules, but I plan to enforce them. The world has spent too long fighting for scraps. We fight amongst ourselves. We fight each other. We fight with the humans now. For so long, all we’ve done is fight. It’s time
to make peace, whether you like it or not. We all live here. We all hold a claim and no one faction or species is greater than another.” I looked at the Fae queen. Her honey blonde hair and golden skin so similar to that of Cade. Her son wasn’t here now, and I thought it for the best. “Not even Supernaturals, Your Highness.”

  She pressed her lips together but nodded once.

  “The old Court has fallen. The world has changed. It’s now on you guys to change with it. To lead your people forward. I died at the battle in New York, though few of you likely realize that. I met the ancients, and they sent me back with a task. My job is simple. I’m to wipe the red from the ledger. To stop evil from further encroaching on the world. War is death. Should you choose to pursue it, Your Highness, it’s not just the humans you will answer to. I am a Vessel of the Gods now, and if this council ever decides to lose its way again—I will be a Vessel of Destruction.”

  I bowed my head once, signaling my end as I turned from the table. You might have heard a pin drop as each person stepped out of the way to let me pass.

  I’d done what the Gods asked.

  I held my might but did not subjugate.

  I did not seek glory.

  I did not rule.

  I turned over my family title and seat to people who could—and hopefully would—do better.

  “Thank you,” Johanna said. Before I left the room, a murmur spread through the crowd. They whispered their thanks, though I didn’t need it.

  “Make the world a better place than we found it,” I told her. The door opened and beyond it was the booming of Tam’s club. I stepped out, free of the shackles of my past for once.

  As I started down the stairs a voice called out.

  “Wait.” I paused, looking back over my shoulder. My cousin stood there. Her faded blue jeans changing color beneath the red and blue lights. “Where are you going?”

  I lifted my shoulder in a shrug. “I don’t know yet.”

  Her expression didn’t change. “What are you doing?”

  I smiled. “Hunting.”

  She smiled too. “Have room for another on this god ordained journey you’re taking?”

  I snorted and tilted my head toward the door, motioning for us to get out of here. She took the steps two at a time, and we walked out together.

  Two demons, hell-bent on making the world a better place by doing bad things for good reasons.

  Fate was fickle, but then so was death. The only thing you could truly count on in life was change.

  The world changed.

  Now we were changing with it.

  Chapter 32

  The pavement was freshly laid over the dirt road. The diner was tiny; dingy. It had six booths and a nine-car parking lot. The sign out front read “Darlene’s” except the L flickered in and out. There wasn’t a smaller town in the state, let alone the south.

  With a sun hot as hellfire and a single road that led in and out, it was the place we chose to hide her.

  The windows were dirty, but her black hair was unmistakable as she flitted from table to table, completely unaware of our presence.

  “Do you think she’ll be safe?” Alexandra asked. She wore sleek leather gloves despite the heat. One of them covered a mechanical hand a Shifter and a technopath created for her. It was supposed to link her physical reactions and brain transmitters, allowing her to use it almost as well as her real one.

  “As safe as she can be,” I replied. Sitting at one of the booths in the diner was a young man with dark hair. She asked him his order, and he looked up at her and smiled. Never the wiser to who he was. “Lucas will watch over her.”

  Alexandra made a disgruntled noise. “He betrayed you and got her killed to begin with. I still don’t understand why we’re trusting him with this.”

  “Because ultimately he’s the only one who can. Besides,” I lifted my eyes to hers. “Life is too short to hold grudges forever. He already hates himself more than either of us ever could. He’ll watch her and check in with me every week.”

  Alexandra made a tsking sound but didn’t comment on it further as we watched them interact. Her brown eyes were earnest and not a slither of power crawled beneath her skin.

  “You gave him the potion, right?” she asked me.

  “I did.”

  “With instructions?” she pressed.

  I sighed. “Milla explained it to him herself, Alex. He knows the deal. One drop, every day, will keep her powers at bay. As long as he spikes her drinks with blood periodically and keeps the memories away she’ll be safe—from everyone.”

  The Witches hadn’t joined us on the battlefield, but as promised, Milla did indeed remember. She had already devised a potion that would hold Lily’s powers back before I’d awoken. Her way of saying thank you. I wondered if perhaps it was her Goddess’ way as well, but I never asked.

  “What if she attacks someone? She’s still got vampiric tendencies?” Alexandra asked.

  “A couple of drops once a week and her eyes stay brown. You know this. We’ve ran through the trial to see how she really did.” And we did. Repeatedly. Before we’d placed her in the human world, we tried it on a smaller scale. It took about a month to get it right, but not once did her memories slip. Lucas’s hold was just that tight, and as much as I struggled to trust at times, this was her only chance at a real life.

  Ash wasn’t wrong that it would be difficult to hide her. Too many people had seen her face. We had to find the smallest, most inconspicuous town there was to let her live out her life, however immortal or mortal it may be. Much as the Fae queen was a pain in my ass, she relented when I reminded her that she didn’t answer my call for help and was now out from under both Supernatural and Vampire thumbs, so to speak. It also didn’t hurt that I now owed her a favor. Me, the matter manipulator, the Vessel of the Gods, the Alpha’s signasti. In return for that favor, she kept her people out of town and watched the borders, since Alabama was technically her land.

  The catch to all of it was that we could never see her again. Part of keeping her safe was staying away. If she ever saw our faces again, there’s a good chance all this could be for nothing.

  Anyone else besides Lucas risked triggering her memories. Just as too many people knowing her location risked word getting out.

  It wasn’t the greatest solution, but it was a solution.

  The best we had. For now.

  “Do you remember when we first showed up at Mariana’s? Back when you hated everyone and didn’t want to go to Daizlei?” Alexandra asked.

  “Yeah,” I said, only half paying attention.

  “Would you do it differently?” she asked. “If you could?”

  I watched the diner. The way my other sister, the one that I would never know again, flitted about. Despite the potion to cancel out her powers, despite the memories being gone, despite all of it—her reactions to things were still too quick. A tray toppled from the counter and she swiped it out of the air with reflexes she didn’t understand. I could see it in her eyes, the way they glazed for a moment, contemplating it. Much like humans had for a thousand years, she wrote it off as being nothing. As being ordinary.

  But for the first time in all our lives, she seemed genuinely happy.

  Content.

  “I don’t know,” I told Alexandra honestly. “We sacrificed a lot. Lost a lot of friends. Lost our family.” She swallowed harder, and I ignored it when her eyes teared a little. “We also gained a lot too. I found my signasti. You found Tori. We fought and we won. The prophecy is over and we’re finally free to live as we may.” I hooked my thumbs into the pockets of my jeans as I watched the girl in the diner, oblivious to the family she lost. The life she lost. The person she lost as she became someone new. “I wish I could say that I would, but the truth is I don’t know, and I don’t have to know.”

  Alexandra nodded, like she suspected as much. “I don’t think I would,” she told me. “I’ve thought about it, not that it even matters. She’s finally getting exactly w
hat she wanted our whole lives. She’s normal, and she’s happy for it. I’m going to miss her, but . . . she’s changed so much she’s not the girl she was. With or without her memories.”

  “She’s alive, and she’s not killing anyone,” I said. “That’s what matters in the end.” Alexandra snorted but behind it there was a sadness. I knew it too, because this was goodbye.

  “Do you think we’ll ever get to see her again?” Alex asked.

  “I think”—I glanced at the sky, remembering Valda’s words— “this is only goodbye for now. One day, in this life or the next, we’ll know her again.”

  I hoped I was right. That Valda was right. I couldn’t imagine she was wrong after my time with the ancients.

  Alexandra chuffed. “You’re a bit out there ever since you came back, you know?”

  I laughed. “As opposed to before?”

  “Well, I mean, I knew what to expect before. Now you’re ‘the Vessel of the Gods’,” she repeated with air quotes. “And you won’t even tell any of us what actually went down.”

  I snorted. “In good time, sister.”

  “Speaking of time,” Tori chimed in, strolling down the sidewalk. She came to a stop between us. “It’s time for us to go. My brother can handle it from here.”

  She held out both of her hands. I grabbed one and Alexandra grabbed the other. It was the diner we looked at—the sister we left behind that we watched—as Tori tore a hole between dimensions.

  Lily’s smile was the last thing I saw before the black hole sucked us in, and as much it hurt, I was happy for her.

  One year later…

  My alarm went off, pulling me from sleep. I jerked, toppling out of bed. My body hit the cheap carpet with a thud.

  “You good in there?” Blair called, popping her head in. As usual, she was up earlier than me these days. She preferred to ‘hunt’ earlier in the morning. Whereas I’d finally learned to sleep through the night and I wasn’t giving it up, not even to kill a couple of demons.