A Toiling Darkness
Page 26
“Wait a minute,” Kalen interjected. “He’s your father?” He pointed to Death, his mouth hanging open. I glared at him.
“No,” I said when Death said, “Yes.”
Kalen looked between us, lifting his hands up and took a step back.
“I found you. That makes you my daughter.”
“Found me?” I asked, laughing angrily. The man had balls. Big heavy, hairy balls. “You found me at one of my low points and then used me for your own benefits.”
“Okay, enough!” Kalen interjected again, stepping between us. “Darkness, you were dead.”
“You can call me Akhlys. No point hiding now,” I grumbled. I turned back to Death. “I heard you joined the Consort. Going against everything you were about, aren’t you?”
He smiled, still confident in everything he did. The damn hypocrite. “I did and I’m changing them.”
“Oh yeah? How?”
“You’re still alive aren’t you?”
I stared at him for a moment.
“They wanted to kill you. I got them to send El instead.”
“Why?” I asked, unable to believe him.
He sighed and for once, his cocky manner slipped. He looked out a nearby window. It was dark outside. I already knew it. I could also feel everyone in the city as they traveled around. I haven't felt this busy in so long.
“You’re going to find out soon, but for now, all you need to know is that the both of you are a part of an important prophecy.”
“That’s all you’re going to tell me?”
“That’s all I can tell you. When the time comes, you’ll learn more.”
“What the hell?” I asked. “Are you a seer now?”
He smiled again. “No, of course not. Anyways, I have to bounce. Got me some souls to fetch.”
With that he slipped away into the darkness. I didn’t even feel him. He simply became the shadow and then he was gone. I stared at the spot he disappeared at for a couple of minutes. Then I turned back to Kalen. He was rubbing his beard, lost in thought.
“How long was I out for?” I asked.
“Six months. You became alive again about two months ago, but your soul couldn’t handle it and it took another two months for your body to properly heal and reattach with your soul again.”
“So I have a soul,” I trailed off. I didn’t think I had one.
Kalen frowned. “Of course you do. Everyone has one.”
I sighed.
What the hell? I finally die and I’m just resurrected because it inconvenienced Death. I looked at Kalen again, staring at him. I guess it was okay. At least Kalen was free. And he looked even better. He seemed more alive. There was a vibrancy to his skin that wasn’t there before. The torment in his movement and expression was gone. He looked free.
“So what now?” I asked him. Death’s words kept going through my mind.
A prophecy? What was it? I never heard about one. And when Frey died, he mentioned more coming. Who was coming? Something was stirring up the world and it all began when Kalen was created. I looked over at him, taking him in.
What could possibly happen now? Dumb question. Everything was possible.
Kalen shrugged. He seemed just as lost and confused as I was. I just woke up after being dead. What was his excuse?
“I guess we just live, take it one day at a time.” He smiled and my breath hitched.
I nodded. “I can do that.”
We just stared at each other, grinning. If Kalen was around, I could live. Prophecy be damned. And I was in my true human form too.
I guess it could be worse.
About the Author
Jaliza Burwell grew up in Akwesasne, NY, a small reservation right on the border of Canada and New York. She moved to Boston in 2014 to get her master’s degree in Publishing and Writing at Emerson College. Currently, she’s still working on her degree but is also working at Tufts University in the Office of Research Administration. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s harassing her family and friends. Her biggest goals in life include Japan and also to find the perfect pork fried rice recipe.
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