Dervinias thought it was ridiculous, but King Antyon’s followers believed only certain kels should be allowed to possess such power, and everyone else should age, grow old, and die.
Earth had become a part of the plan because his father wanted it to be his Home Away From Home… his Godly Planet. Like Stiel—a planet where the gods were created—King Antyon wanted that for himself. He intended to keep some humans as slaves and make them pay homage to him, build statues and temples to honor him, and write songs and poetry in his name. King Antyon believed it was his divine right because he had found a way to travel from Kelari to Earth without using a Transport. It was like two doors joined by a hallway across the Universe. One opened and closed on Kelari and the other on Earth. He’d never shared how it was done with anyone.
King Antyon and The Order were all fine and good, except Dervinias didn’t care about his father’s plan any longer. He no longer cared that while his father lived on Kelari, he had promised Dervinias he could rule in his stead on Earth. He only cared for his child and Chev. Sadly, Dervinias had a feeling his father wouldn’t care about such things and would expect him to continue with the plan he’d set in motion after killing Michael’s earthly father, Frank, the leader of the government group with the name, Alien Life Tracker or A.L.T. There were those on Earth already in place, still doing as Dervinias instructed. He figured it would be easy enough to make them do as he commanded; he just didn’t want to deal with it.
Dervinias sighed. He’d figure it all out once he had his body back.
He searched the cavernous room filled with floating souls for Venus. She spoke with a soul and it flitted over to the left side of the room. She moved on to the next one. After a few words, it moved to the right. Michael followed behind her, ever watchful. It was obvious he loved Venus.
They had just been married. Dervinias got the feeling Venus hadn’t really comprehended what that meant, but then she’d had a lot to take in.
Besides becoming Michael’s wife she’d also helped him kill Ramien, and had discovered she wasn’t even Kelarian, but a goddess, daughter to Ith and Aetha. He felt sure she was freaking out. He would have been, anyway.
She seemed to be handling the situation well enough.
Her sister Amberlee, on the other hand, was fuming. She sat in a chair, her arms crossed, a ferocious glare on her face. Her eyes followed Venus, a combination of loathing and wonder evident. She’d stormed in and told Venus that Kelari was at war, wanting her pretend sister to come help the people of Alayeah immediately.
Dervinias couldn’t blame the child, but Venus continued to speak with each of the souls. At the rate she was going they might be down here another six years, but Dervinias forced his soul into a corner and watched. He couldn’t help but think about Michael. It had been revealed that the boy was no more human than Dervinias. He was actually half Ferether and half Kelvieri.
His father was Ramien, a demon Ferether. He’d kept the souls of the dead for himself so he could feed off them. He’d been doing it more than a thousand years. That’s what the Ferether species did, though; they fed off souls in order to survive. Dervinias wondered if, like his father, Michael needed the essence from a soul to survive, or if the Kelvieri blood of his mother kept that part of him in check. For a scientist like Dervinias, Michael was a specimen he longed to study.
Venus spoke softly to two souls. Tears streaked down her cheeks and he wondered who they were and what they talked about. After a few more minutes the two souls moved to the right side of the room.
Venus sighed heavily, stood up straight, and rolled her shoulders back. Her gaze found him and he shuddered.
What will she do to me? he wondered, but he didn’t need to wonder long.
“Dervinias, I need your help.”
He tried to act confident, but when he spoke his voice shook. “What do you want of me?”
She smiled wearily. Michael placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes tearing into Dervinias.
“I need you to help me end the war on Kelari. I need to you tell me what your father has planned, and assist in stopping him.” She clenched her jaws together when she was done speaking. He realized what she asked must’ve been difficult for her.
“If I help, what will I get in return?” He held his breath, waiting for her to respond.
She took a deep breath. “What do you want, Dervinias?”
Ah, this would be easier than he thought. She’d admitted she needed him and now he had something to bargain with. “I want to be whole again, obviously. I want my body back. And I want Chev to get her body back as well.”
“I’ve already talked to Chev. She’s…” Her voice trailed off and he knew she’d witnessed the change in Chev as well.
“I’m not done,” Dervinias growled. Venus gave him a serious look and he added, “If you please, Your Highness.” A little respect went a long way and he knew he was already on thin ice.
“Watch it, Vinny,” Michael hissed.
Dervinias pressed his soul against the dirt wall. For some reason Michael was terrifying up close.
“What else?” Venus asked, rubbing her temples.
“Once we’ve beaten the king and this war is over, I wish to be free to go after my daughter.”
That seemed to surprise Venus. “You know what happened to her?”
“Tawny took her.” He gave Michael a pointed look. “It seems she isn’t completely human but has a little Ferether in her… just like your husband.”
Venus gasped like he had slapped her but didn’t say anything.
Michael and Dervinias waited. Finally she nodded. “Of course. Those terms are more than acceptable as long as you keep your promises.”
“I will,” he agreed readily.
She reached her hand into his soul and closed her eyes. There was a shimmering and an excessive pulling, then suddenly he had his body back… all six feet of blond hotness. If it had been appropriate, he would’ve kissed her. “It feels good to be back.”
Venus gave him a sad smile. “I’m glad, but we need to discuss Chev.”
Dervinias stepped back and held up a hand. “She’s nonnegotiable, Venus.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Really?” There was venom in her voice and, for the first time, Dervinias felt a pang of fear. She’d shown him a glimpse of the truth of what she was… more than Kelvieri and more than a princess. Venus was a goddess.
“I need her,” Dervinias said lamely. “I love her.”
Venus’s features softened. “I understand, and I intend to give her back her body even though she has told me she doesn’t want it, but…” She paused.
“What is it?” His mouth was instantly dry. He had a feeling whatever Venus was going to say, he wouldn’t like it.
“I think I should take her memories from her. Return her to Earth, to her family, but without any knowledge of what’s happened.” She frowned heavily. It was obvious she didn’t like the idea either.
“So she won’t remember me? Or getting pregnant? Or her baby?” He was completely astounded. How could she even suggest such a thing?
Venus’s eyes flashed anger. “She also won’t remember being eaten by the dorvey or all the hell she went through delivering her child in Helker. She won’t remember witnessing you commit murder, or all the other craziness she’s been through.” Venus paused and looked back at Chev’s soul. She shook unhappy. “She demanded I not return her soul to her body. She said she wants to move on, that she can’t live another moment with everything she’s seen.”
Dervinias ran a hand through his hair. Doing so briefly reminded him of the joy of having his body back, but he refocused quickly. He didn’t want to raise his daughter alone.
“Would you rather have her suffer?”
He shook his head again. “Fine. I accept those terms.” His voice broke as he choked on his sorrow. He really did love Chev, loved her enough to let her go. For now.
Venus let her shoulders sag with relief. “Good. I’ll make sure she get
s back to Earth and to her family.”
Dervinias wanted to say he was her family, that their daughter was her family, but he sensed the idea was for the best. “What about Palmo? Will you give him his body back as well?”
At the mention of Palmo, Amberlee’s head perked up. “Please, Venus.” She spoke each word fiercely.
Venus softened immediately upon laying eyes on her sister. Dervinias wanted to point out that they weren’t really sisters, but that would probably just piss her off again, so he held his tongue.
“Of course. We can use all the help we can get.” Venus smiled at Amberlee.
“What about Mom and Dad?” Amberlee asked, wringing her hands together.
Venus tensed. “They don’t want to return.” She bit back her disappointment in the King and Queen. With her newfound powers she was able to see their souls for what they truly were: selfish and arrogant. All this time she’d believed—they’d all believed that the King and Queen of Alayeah were good. And to an extent they were, as long as the choices they made for their people didn’t affect their own wants and desires. Venus thought of childhood memories. There were incidents of kindness, moments she’d treasured.
She and Amberlee had risked their very lives in their quest to save them. The King and Queen had even told Amberlee how much they loved her, that all the times they ignored her had been for her own good, for her protection.
Venus wanted to scream in frustration at the lies, the deception. The reality left a foul taste in her mouth and she wanted to spit.
She would keep much of what she knew from Amberlee because she saw that most of it wouldn’t do Amberlee any good.
Venus growled internally. “They believe you and I can handle whatever war is going on in Kelari.” She placed a hand over Amberlee’s. Her sister immediately pulled away. Venus bit back a sigh. Lifting her chin, she went on. “They said they are done and they wish to continue their journey back to the planet of souls.” Her voice broke on the last word. Michael wrapped his arms around Venus’s shoulders. She leaned into him and Dervinias realized they were made for each other.
But where did that leave Zaren? A pang of sadness touched his heart. It was a strange feeling, a new feeling, but Dervinias embraced it. He knew the Formytian had feelings for Venus. He searched the room for Zaren’s soul. It was easy to recognize him. He flitted next to another soul, and Dervinias recognized Palamina. Zaren would be fine.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
It depended on whether Venus intended to give Zaren his body back.
Venus turned away from the group and surveyed the room. Souls fluttered nervously on the left and less noisily on the right, a large gap between the two. The reason for the separation was simple. Those on the left were returning to Kelari’s surface, their bodies intact. Those on the right had chosen to move on.
Her parents were in the group on the right. She had easily deciphered their souls, huddled together, and exhaled heavily. They wanted to leave. Death had damaged them—at least, that’s what her mother said. Venus’s eyes watered. It didn’t matter that they weren’t her parents by blood. They’d raised her, hugged her, and kissed her when she got hurt. They’d encouraged, sang, talked… For sixteen years they were all she’d known and she loved them.
They were her parents.
Certainly not the Gods, Ith and Aetha. Their DNA might flow through her immortal veins, but they weren’t her parents, they’d given her up. Of course they had their reasons. They wanted to protect her. They wanted her to understand and have empathy for the people she would rule.
Amberlee and the souls of her parents stood a ways off from everyone. What they were saying to each other, Venus didn’t know. She could’ve listened in, if she’d desired, but didn’t feel it was necessary. Amberlee had tears running down her cheeks. Her arms were wrapped around her waist, as though she were trying to hold herself together.
For a brief second, she almost changed her mind, but she resisted. Amberlee deserved the privacy.
Venus knew the King and Queen’s choice would make Amberlee more bitter, more hardened than she needed to be, but she hadn’t been able to convince them to change their minds. They were going. At least she’d convinced them to give their only true heir, their daughter, Amberlee some words of advice, a proper good-bye, and even forgiveness.
Once they had finished speaking, Venus addressed the crowd. “Souls on the right, I command you to rise and move on. May the Gods guide you and keep you.” As she spoke, she raised her hands and spoke words that were foreign to her ears, though she somehow knew to say them and what they meant. “Return to the world of your Maker.”
Like a rip in a dress seam, the ceiling pulled apart. Venus watched layers upon layers of soil give way to inky black water, then a deep blue that proceeded to grow lighter and lighter until it was the color of the sky. She noticed it was not the sky of Kelari though. It was filled with smoke and clouded gray.
The sight saddened her. “Go,” she commanded gently.
A force moved toward the souls, surrounded them, wrapped them in a cocoon, and carried them like a gentle tornado from the room. Except Cheverley. Venus made sure her soul remained. The poor girl seemed confused and huddled against the ceiling as it closed again, as though trying to force her way out.
Venus turned her attention to the souls on the left. One floated toward her. It was Chev.
“I told you I wanted to move on as well,” she said, her voice hard.
Venus nodded. “You will,” she consoled. “Stay here, next to me. I’ll help you move on when I’ve finished restoring these souls to their bodies.”
That seemed to calm Chev. Her soul fluttered patiently next to Venus.
To the remainder of the souls, she spoke. “I command your bodies and souls to reunite and place Kelvieri boots on those kels still in need of them.” She still wore her Kelvieri boots. They were part of a ritual every Kelarian went through at the age of sixteen. Inside the heels of the boots were symbols of the weaknesses each kel needed to work on.
The boots had been Ith and Aetha’s way of keeping the Kelarians safe from Ramien. He was a Ferether, and survived by consuming the essence of other souls.
Michael is half Ferether , Venus’s mind whispered.
She remembered feeling a tugging from him that night on the beach, right before he brought her into Helker. He was half soul eater, half Kelvieri. He was also her husband.
Kind of. Sort of.
Wasn’t he?
She’d been about to marry Ramien when Michael showed up. They’d used a special knife to destroy the Ferether while the priest continued the ceremony, seemingly oblivious to the death and destruction happening in front of him. After Ramien died, Michael stepped into Ramien’s place and said, “I do.”
It couldn’t be real.
Yet somehow she knew it was. She felt more connected to him than she had before. She sensed Michael, his presence, no matter where he was in the room.
At the moment he was a little ways off to her right, standing beside a distraught Dervinias. She could feel Michael’s eyes on her and she wondered what he was thinking. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she heard him. His voice whispered into her mind: I’m here.
Venus wanted to turn and make sure she hadn’t imagined it, but was distracted as a bright golden light filled the darkened cavern.
A myriad of colors danced and sparkled while bodies and souls combined. The whole process was new and brilliant and breathtaking. It was her first day as a goddess; she was proud of herself.
When the lights diminished there were thousands of higher souls, including her irrihunter Sadraden, dancing and moving around the room. She focused on her irrihunter and watched the animal roar and shake her wings. She was happy to be whole again.
Thank you, child, Sadraden said into Venus’s mind. The large animal lumbered toward Venus.
The goddess couldn’t help but admire this animal with the head and body of a black panther, the m
ane and tail of a horse, and the wings of a giant bat. Sadraden slid to a stop in front of Venus and nuzzled her cheek.
Venus responded, wrapping her hands around the silky fur neck. Just that simple caress released a floodgate of emotions. So much had happened. Nothing would ever be the same. It wasn’t a question or a statement, just a fact. Venus knew it. “It’s good to see you again.” She stroked Sadraden’s head.
The animal purred in response, nudging Venus with the top of her head.
Amberlee came forward. “Sadraden?”
Venus and the irrihunter turned their attention to Amberlee. Her face was no longer streaked with tears. Amberlee had composed herself. A part of Venus longed to ask Amberlee what their parents had said to her before they left, but she held back
“I-I’m sorry,” Amberlee whispered.
Venus watched her sister’s hands form fists. The girl tilted her chin and locked her jaw as though preparing for an angry response from the animal.
But if that had been what Amberlee expected, it didn’t happen. Instead Sadraden pressed her forehead into Amberlee and purred.
Venus watched her sister’s armor instantly melt as Amberlee leaned into Sadraden. It was quite a sight. She knew her sister had a fear of the animals, yet that seemed to have vanished.
She stepped closer to her favorite animal and her sister, about to hug them both, when she heard a throat being cleared. Venus froze.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I want to thank you for returning my body and…” He paused.
Venus faced him. Zaren. The Formytian she’d believed she loved. Still loved, and always would. He meant a great deal to her and though she wasn’t in love with him, she wanted him to be happy, which was why she’d returned Palamina’s body as well.
Palamina had been wrongly accused of a crime she hadn’t committed. She’d been framed. Another of King Antyon’s plans. There was no reason Zaren and Palamina shouldn’t be together. And even though Venus knew Zaren loved her, he loved Palamina more.
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