Cult of the Hexad (Afterlife saga Book 6)

by Stephanie Hudson

  And I didn’t deserve it…because I had failed her. I promised her I would come for her and I…I…

  Failed.

  “I CURSE YOU ALL!” At this Heaven itself started to weep for their loss. The skies erupted with light and flooded the earth with rain. It hissed on the glowing embers but it answered back by becoming heavy enough that the flames died almost instantly. It wasn’t enough…it was too late! The Gods had only answered her death, not her plea for life.

  “Forgive me…forgive me…I was too late…I was…Oh God! By the Gods… can it be?!”

  “What is it?!” Sophia asked pulling her sobbing face from Zagan’s shoulder. I looked back in utter shock and even Vincent, who had fallen to his knees in despair raised his head to see the miracle that was an impossible dream made true.

  “Keira?” I called her name not trusting what my mind could have conjured up in the cruellest of ways.

  “It’s them! IT’S THEM! THEY’RE ALIVE!” I heard Seth shouting next to me as he too now started to remove the broken cabin from around them. The rain continued to aid us in our attempt to see if it could be possible. Just that shred of hope bloomed inside of me like a flower that just wouldn’t die. And sure enough, there she was. I fell to my knees just as my brother had at the incredible sight of my girl, my Keira with her arms around RJ, holding on tight as if her last thing to offer the world was as simple as comfort in death.

  But she wasn’t dead! And I cried as the realisation hit me like the Devil himself had delivered the punch into kick starting a heart that was so close to giving up beating without her.

  She was alive.

  It was the most perfect sight I had ever seen in my entire existence. Seth and I didn’t quite know what to do next. We looked to each other with a mirror of relief held in front of us, letting tears flow with little care of much else but knowing the girls we loved were still breathing in this world.

  “How could it be…? How can she…? Gods of truth…” Vincent said when flying up next to me on top of the rubble seeing what we were both witnessing. Because words of explanation escaped me as Keira had wrapped both their bodies in a shimmering protective bubble of light that emitted the most powerful aura, you could almost taste its brilliance in the air. In fact, I think if love had a scent or even a taste then this was it and from the looks of everyone around me now staring down at them cocooned inside it, they would agree with me.

  “You know what this means, don’t you Brother.” Vincent said, wiping away the same tears he had shed, just like the rest of us had.

  “It means that it isn’t just anger that her powers stem from but it looks as though it is love as well.” I thought on this and then I turned to face him and smiled before I said,

  “No, to me it means…” I paused and looked back to my precious girl looking so serene in such chaos, that she was my sun shining through the storm. She was my light guiding me in the night but most importantly,

  “She was my Love survived.”

  Chapter 39

  Love Survived

  It was the strangest feeling of calm that took over me the second before we died. I wasn’t scared or upset, because I didn’t want those negative emotions to follow me into my Afterlife. And as I held onto my friend, one I knew I had sacrificed along with me so that many others could live, I couldn’t find myself taking guilt with me either, an emotion I should be feeling for sure. Because RJ hadn’t deserved to have her life taken from her, a decision I myself had stolen from her. Her only sin was the love she had for her friend, one that pushed her enough to coming looking for me. And in the end what she had found was death at my own hands.

  Yes, I should have been beside myself with guilt but right now there seemed to be no room left for it. Because the only feeling I wanted to take with me was,

  Love.

  It was so strong I felt like my body could no longer contain it and it burst from deep within my soul in a blinding white light all around us. I didn’t dare open my eyes but saw it all happening in my mind’s eye. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, as it encased us in its warmth and safety and I knew it had come straight from Heaven. This was it. This was our time and the Gods were letting us go together. They were granting my final wish. My way to say sorry to a friend I felt I had never met but yet loved her dearly for the life that I had known her.

  The urge to open my eyes was getting too strong for me now and I lifted my head from RJ’s shoulder knowing that I wanted to see as we entered Heaven. Because what else could there be for us, well the alternative was too horrific to think about and besides, being surrounded by such a powerful and Heavenly force, it was hard to believe it could be anything else.

  But I needed to know.

  So I opened my eyes and what I saw took my breath away. It was like thousands of sunrays were coming from me and breaking through an invisible cloud, breaching the barriers I couldn’t see like I was… the sun. The end of the light would hit some kind of sphere that surrounded us and I wondered if this was to protect your soul as you travelled up into Heaven?

  “Open your eyes RJ, its beautiful…they gave us a beautiful death.” I said with tears running down my face. I felt her head lift from my shoulder and I reached up and pulled away the cloth they had tied around her mouth.

  “Keira?” I nodded feeling the tears fall harder at just hearing her name. The emotional attachment I had with just five letters was hard to describe but knowing it would be the last time I heard it was even harder.

  “What’s happening?” She asked me and I bit my lip knowing I would have to tell her. I didn’t know how people did it, doctors, nurses, policemen and anyone in the profession that had to deliverer such devastating news that would change so many lives forever. My respect for them was overwhelming and I held on to my lip, trying to find the inner strength.

  “RJ, I’m sorry but you’re…”

  “Is that Seth and…Dominic?” She shouted interrupting me, looking up and my heart froze. I could actually feel my body tingle at just the possibility. My head turned and I sobbed out his name,

  “Draven.” Because he was right there. He had come for me and even if it had been too late I knew he had kept his promise.

  “Oh God…Draven I’m sorry.” I told him and I reached out my hand to him as I said my goodbye. So this was what the Gods had granted me…my last goodbye. He reached his own hand out to me and even through the sunlight I could see the tears running down his face, just like mine. He looked like an Angel come to take me home. He was the most perfect sight I could ever possibly witness and I cried even harder knowing I couldn’t take him with me.

  “I love you.” I said just as our fingertips were about to touch.

  “I know.” He told me back and then I finally felt him break through the light and grab me. I gasped as the sphere burst around us and suddenly I was pulled into his arms, being held by him. I felt myself moving through the air and I clung on, with my face in his neck crying out all my emotions. I didn’t understand what was happening to me now but I knew I never wanted to let go. I wanted to stay with him forever. I wanted to be selfish and beg for this life that I had only had a taste of but it wasn’t enough. I lied before, because this would never be enough! I wanted it all! I wanted it to be mine and I wanted to keep it for all eternity!

  I wanted him.

  “Just let me love him, please.” I muttered into his neck, hoping that my prayer made its way into Heaven. Then I felt my feet touch the ground and I couldn’t bear to open my eyes and find out where my final destination would be.

  “Love, look at me.” Hearing Draven’s voice only made me cry harder and he understood my pain. He squeezed me tighter to him and said,

  “No one is taking you from me. Do you understand, look at me Katie” He asked again and this time I did. I pulled back and his thumb wiped away my tears, tears that were still flowing freely.

  “You’re going to be okay…do you hear me… do you understand what I am telling you?” He s
aid and I shook my head because I didn’t understand…I didn’t understand anything. He sucked in a breath, then placed his forehead to mine and whispered,

  “You’re alive Katie, thank the Gods you’re alive and you’re with me and I am never, EVER letting you go again. Tell me you understand that.” His voice was thick with an emotion I had never heard from him before, so I answered him in the best way I knew how.

  “Call me Keira.” I told him and he knew with that one sentence that I understood not only that I would never leave him again but that I knew who I was. I may not have her memories but I had her heart and for Draven, that was all that mattered. And in turn, that was all that mattered to me.

  “I love you. Keira.” Draven told me and I smiled against his cheek, kissed him and then answered him the way he had answered me,

  “I know.”

  After this emotional reunion I found myself being overwhelmed even more when Sophia ran up to me and I caught her in my arms, needing to go back a step from the impact. She too had been crying for the sister she thought she had lost…again. We held each other and just as Draven had needed to do with me, I comforted her into believing I had actually survived.

  I saw Zagan approach from behind and he nodded to me once which told me all I needed to know from him. He was both happy I was alive and also that it was alright, he would take over his wife’s comfort now. I turned her into him and he took her back in his arms to offer the only strength a husband could.

  I smiled at the sight and then felt a chill run along my spine before turning to face the man looking at me now.

  “Vincent.” I said his name knowing how he must be feeling and his heartbroken face said it all…he blamed himself for what could have happened. We both stood looking at each other from afar and I couldn’t stand the distance any longer. I breathed deep and ran to him. He opened his arms just as I reached him and he held me so tight I could only just breathe.

  “I’m so sorry, I am…oh Gods Katie, I am so sorry! I can’t believe we almost lost you and it was my…”

  “Ssshh. Don’t even say it because it isn’t true. I chose my own destiny Vincent and I knew the risks better than anyone. Now let’s go and get my sister…together.” He nodded taking in my words and hopefully holding them with him until the guilt went away. I took one last look at the crumbling charred wreck of the cabin and I was glad it was gone. I could only hope that it cleansed the horrors that had taken place there and all those girls could find rest knowing it was no more.

  Another place of Hell on Earth baptised by fire.

  Fire…and ice. I now understood what those words meant. The one in my dream had spoken of this and her exact words started to replay in my mind.

  “Take away their time and you take away their power. They have taken eight…don’t let them take nine. Find yourself and learn of the Prophecy’s seven, find the key and you will find me next time in Heaven”

  Which could only mean one thing… They still had their power as we had one job left to do. So I uttered the last words she had said to me…

  “To remember there is power in time and it is time for you to remember…To take time back.”

  “Keira, what’s wrong?” Draven asked me from behind. So I turned to face him and told him,

  “It’s not over.” To which he simply answered…

  “Then let’s go take back our time.”

  Chapter 40

  The Pathway

  “Then let’s go take back our time.”

  After Draven said this he took my hand and we walked past everyone else knowing they would follow. I looked behind to see that Seth was still with RJ who had passed out and rightly so, I had been close to doing so myself a few times already.

  Draven’s phone rang and he answered it in one swift motion.

  “She’s alive, the shields are down.”

  “Good, now get your fucking ass over here and bring your famous wrath with you because we fucking need it!” I heard Lucius growl from the other side and then the sounds of fighting raged on in the back ground.

  “Lucius...? LUC!” He shouted his name but it was useless as his side had cut out.

  “Sorry sweetheart, it’s time we went for a ride.” Draven said grabbing me around the waist and I screamed as he launched us both into the sky.

  “Holy shit!” I said at the feeling of being shot through the air by Draven’s race against time. Lucius needed us and without question the others followed in a shadowed blur. I pushed my hair back from my face so I could see as we flew towards, well I didn’t yet know what. However, Draven saw it long before I did.

  “Gods…can it be possible?” He uttered and I stared out into the distance to try and see what he saw. It was only when it started to come into view that at first it didn’t look real…because things like this didn’t happen on Earth. Hell’s monsters didn’t just pop up like this. Because that is exactly what this was,

  All Hell had broken loose.

  Draven looked where Lucius was and landed us down so quickly I was ashamed to say I almost lost whatever was left in my stomach.

  “Is that what I think it is?” Draven asked Lucius who was equipped with a massive sword that he held in his gloved hand. I looked around the open space that was usually filled with long tables for gatherings and communal meals. But now the sight was unbelievable and I couldn’t help but gasp in horror.

  “They are preventing us from getting into the church where some ritual has begun.” Lucius said just as Draven picked me up, spinning me round to protect me as Lucius thrust his sword into some strange dwarf like creature. It looked like it had dipped its hand in black oil and then dragged it down his face as its war paint.

  “How long?” Draven asked once Lucius’ bloody deed was done.

  “Five minutes, but this is merely the first wave. They keep us out by creating pathways to the nine worlds. We stop them, we stop this…” By this he meant the chaos that was going on around us. An actual battle between us and them and by them I meant an army of dark dwarves that were angry, twisted creatures that attacked like a swarm.

  “What about everyone? What about the humans?” I shouted praying that they were all still alive and hadn’t been collateral damage in this supernatural war between worlds.

  “Takeshi took care of them, putting them in a passive state of mind and led them to the largest barn.” He nodded to the one I suspected and I sighed in relief but looking at this lot I knew it might be premature if I didn’t get them out of here for good.

  Suddenly I saw a pile of the creatures being tossed up and out of the way like a battering ram was hurtling through the crowded enemy. It was only when it neared the end that I gripped onto Draven as it was headed straight for us. Thankfully I recognised Ragnar’s demon from that day in the marble room, when Draven and Lucius fought. He was charging his way through and knocking them clear of him with his huge, powerful form.

  “My Lord, they have to be stopped before…” Ragnar said after his horned helmet twisted away so he could speak freely. His demon appearance was no longer shocking and seeing it actually brought me comfort, knowing such a strong beast was on our side.

  “Tell me.” Draven demanded as Lucius started to take out a group that were getting too close to us.

  “The rogues have the type of Runes that when combined in certain ways it opens up a pathway to one of the Nine realms from Yggdrasil. The first was Swartalfheim, this is the army of dark Elves my Lord.” Ragnar said looking worriedly back at the church entrance where I spotted four of the six Fathers all holding painted stone in their hands, chanting something.

  “How are they doing this?” I asked, myself finding what they were capable of doing impossible.

  “It’s the blood rituals.” Vincent said coming up to stand beside us. Draven and I both looked at him and he continued to explain,

  “It makes sense after what Sigurd said. The wall wouldn’t lose its power after the full moon went by without a blood ritual. Which means the ritual
s were about gathering power for this and for whatever they are doing in that church…it must be, for all they needed was the ninth.”

  “So what you’re saying is that they had enough power gathered to bring forth the pathways to eight of the worlds, if they chose?” Draven asked and Vincent nodded.

  “Yes but we might have gained some time when saving RJ because why would they be guarding the church, using all of the power to do so. Whatever it is, we have to get inside and stop them.” I looked to see the Fathers just as they combined the stones they held in a certain shape, creating what looked like another pathway.

  “Easier said than done from the looks of what’s coming!” Lucius said fighting his way back to us and nodding to each of the runes that were lighting up on the stones one by one. They each shot out a beam of light, connecting the stones and creating a type of web until the cycle was complete. Next we saw something emerging from the centre as the circle of light grew bigger and bigger as if needing this to accommodate the immense size.

  “It is Jörmungandr, the great beast!” Ragnar roared and only Sigurd, who was also fighting the dark elves, as now I knew what they were, looked shocked. The creature he shouted about he had pronounced as ‘YOUR –Mun-gandr’ with the ‘Your’ part said louder with more depth from his heavy Germanic sounding accent.

  “Is…is…that…a giant snake!” I shouted this last part when a huge serpent slithered from within the portal with the head of a gigantic monitor lizard. It snarled and shook out spikes from beneath its scales and size wise I could only compare it to a line of pickup trucks all together, nose to bumper.