He didn’t as much as blink.
She tried again. “Nathaniel?”
“I’m here.” Nathaniel’s thumb smoothed over her skin. “I can’t hear Saul. Did you block him?”
“I think so.” Saul’s presence made pressure build behind her temples, but she locked her jaw and locked him out of her head. “Is it a good thing if Delphi comes? I mean, if he’s here, then things might go according to plan.”
“They might.” Nathaniel sounded uncertain. “Let’s hope he arrives sooner rather than later.”
“We don’t have long,” Saul said. “I’m here to negotiate, not argue.” A shark could have given a more convincing smile. “You have something I need, and in return, I’ll give you something you want.”
Nathaniel barked out a laugh. “You have nothing I want.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. Delphi will come for your woman, and he won’t rest until her soul is harvested. You know that. She will die, and this time, there’s nothing you can do to save her. But”—he leaned forward—“share your knowledge with me, and I will help you bring her back. Second chances are difficult, but thirds are a near-impossible feat… without practice. Such mastery requires time you don’t have and experience I have in excess and will share.”
“Your word carries less weight than air.” Nathaniel’s breath warmed Chloe’s neck as he said, “I have no way of knowing you can do what you claim, nor would I want any part in it.”
“What you’ve accomplished with Chloe on your first try is admirable. Luck has always favored you. But I must ask you, can you do it again?” His tone gentled. “We’re brothers, Nathaniel. It’s our duty to aid each other, and I can think of no greater gift than sparing our lovers from fates neither deserves.”
“You can’t save Mairi,” Nathaniel said. “With no host, no form, she’s too far gone.”
Chloe suppressed a shiver. If Saul attempted to revive them, Chloe imagined the results would be horrific. What he wanted to do… wasn’t natural. Whatever his practice had accomplished so far, the results must not be sound. Otherwise, he would hardly be here now, asking for help Nathaniel couldn’t give.
“Hosts can be acquired and forms relearned,” Saul said. “Her salvation would be complicated,” he admitted. “That’s why I need you. I can’t resurrect what I can’t reach, and Aeristitia is off-limits for me.” Saul glanced at Nathaniel’s hip and frowned. “You do have your shears here, don’t you?”
“And if I do?”
Saul smiled, once again at ease. “Then we come to some sort of mutually beneficial agreement.”
“We can’t trust Saul.” Chloe leaned against Nathaniel. “He’s up to something.”
“I know.” Nathaniel rubbed her shoulder. “The question is what?”
“There’s one way to find out.” Chloe fisted Nathaniel’s shirt, revulsion churning in her stomach as she allowed her connection to Saul to widen. His excitement caused her heart to race in response, nauseating her further.
“Let her die, brother. Unlike you, I’ll show mercy and bring your lover back—the exact same way I did all the others.” Chloe felt Saul’s amusement thrum in every thought. “I’m sure you’d grow to love her new appetites… eventually.”
She pressed her thumbnail into Nathaniel’s back and directed her thoughts toward him. “He’s thinking that if you let me die, he’d bring me back—with new appetites. What is that supposed to mean?”
“I’m not sure. It sounds as if he’s attempted to bond souls to new hosts. Whatever his method, it must not work or he wouldn’t be so interested in you.” Nathaniel’s hold on her loosened, which was a good thing considering she had lost feeling in her arm. “I’ll keep him talking. See if you can pick up more information we can use to barter with Delphi.”
“I’ll try.” Hiding her face behind Nathaniel’s arm, she squeezed her eyes shut tight and pushed at the weak barrier Saul had placed between them.
Images burst into her mind, blinding everything else from her vision.
A charred mountain range inside a massive cavern filled with red haze. The only light came from pits belching flames. A long stone wall ran over the baked clay ground.
“I think we both know time is running out,” Nathaniel said. “Lay out your terms or leave.”
“Very well,” Saul said, turning serious. “In exchange for my favor to your woman, I expect an equal favor in return.” He paused. “You are to go to Aeristitia, find Gavriel’s journal, and use it to locate Mairi. Then bring her back to me.”
“No.” Nathaniel’s answer was firm.
“Have you even considered your punishment?” Saul asked. “After all, you picked a big rule to break. How about this? I’ll extend my offer, two souls for the price of one. If you’re banished to a pit, I’ll bring you back first. You’ll be together.” He smiled as he mentally tacked on, “Scavenging the Hell plane in misery for all eternity.”
Chloe kept her expression neutral as the reality of his offer flickered through her mind with perfect mental snapshots of other souls he had re-created this way. How wrong they were. They were nothing but mindless killing machines left to prey upon each other. Nathaniel was right. Whatever Saul had done clearly wasn’t working as he intended it to. Yet he hadn’t given up experimenting.
Nathaniel’s voice hardened. “I have no way of knowing if you could bring back one soul, let alone two.”
Saul clicked his tongue. “Even now, when I am the only person who can save your mortal’s life and benefit us both in the process, you refuse to share your power with me.” He withdrew the copper dagger from his hip and pointed it at Nathaniel. “Do you think Delphi will listen to you? He won’t. So what if you have the shears. He gave them to you because he thought he could trust you. Congratulations. You’ve just proven he can’t. Delphi only cares about one thing, and that’s making an example out of those who break his law.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Nathaniel said. “And pray he listens.”
“You surrender too easily.” Saul laughed. “Help me, and she can live. You can be together.”
His promise was too good to be true, and Chloe knew it. She dug into Saul’s head and his thoughts proved him a liar. More images flickered past. More rambling made her head ache. Still she looked into him, sifting through his thoughts, and his knowledge poured into her.
Steep cliffs. Howling winds. Heat. So much unbearable heat. And shadows. Movement from below. A secret army fortified in the heartland of Hell. They would overthrow Dis. Make this plane a safe haven for his abominations.
Chloe felt Nathaniel’s regret seeping into her and heard his voice in her head. “I’m sorry, meira. He can’t be trusted. Even if he could bring us back, we wouldn’t be who we are now. We would still have lost each other.”
She slipped her hand into his in a silent show of support. They still had one chance left. Delphi might still be persuaded to help them. All she needed was proof: a location, a snippet of thought damning enough to win Delphi to her and Nathaniel’s side. Her total focus became unearthing any information that could save them, and she fed those images to Nathaniel. He could make sense of the landmarks she had never seen and the images depicting acts she had never imagined.
“I can’t risk it,” Nathaniel said. “We will face Delphi’s sentencing.”
With a snarl, Saul launched himself at Nathaniel, blade in hand. “You’ll face mine first.”
Nathaniel shoved Chloe backward and she fell, grabbing at the coffee table to keep from busting her head against the corner. Cold metal met her palm and she closed her fingers around the shears.
A flash of light exploded and something—a man unlike any she had ever seen before—stepped from empty air. His ink-black hair hung past his shoulders, vanishing against the darkness of his tailored clothing. His fathomless eyes surveyed the room as his three sets of wings, shimmering with ebony feathers, nestled against his back.
Feathers. Wings. An angel.
His cold gaze
settled on Chloe, seemed to peer beneath her skin to the soul Nathaniel had spared. He ruffled his feathers and the scent of sulfur tickled her nose, teased her stolen memories, and sparked recognition.
No. This wasn’t an angel. Nothing born of the Heaven Nathaniel had described to her could exude menace the way this man did. This was Delphi. The governor of Hell was standing in her living room.
Delphi scowled between Saul and Nathaniel. “What is the meaning of this?”
Each man froze. Saul’s desperate charge halted. Nathaniel plucked the blade from his hand, then relaxed his defensive pose.
“This is why I had no need to hear you speak on your behalf, Saul. I knew whatever words you said in your defense would be false.” Delphi’s icy tone made Chloe shiver. “Over the past two weeks, you have claimed to have no knowledge of the lost soul’s location. Yet you stand here next to it.” His gaze settled on Chloe. “In her very presence, as I should have known you would be. You are ever leading your brother into temptation, and this occasion is no different. Your actions have proven the truth I knew your words would deny, and you will be punished accordingly.”
“No, you misunderstand.” Saul placed a hand over his black heart. “My son’s health has improved. He was able to recall an important detail I worried, in your anger, you would refuse to hear.” He gestured toward Nathaniel. “After I had gone home for the night, I was under the impression another harvester would carry out my assignment. Nathaniel took this soul’s collection on top of the one he’d already volunteered to harvest. He failed in his duty, not me.” Saul straightened his clothing. “I came here to confront him and he attacked me.” He locked eyes with Chloe and he poured himself into her mind. “Tell me what you know of how he bound you together, and I will save you both.”
“You’re lying. I’m in your head, Saul.” She stared at him. “I know. I won’t bargain with you.”
“Then you condemn yourself and your lover to death.” His eyes narrowed. “Enjoy your eternity.”
Chloe turned to Delphi. “Saul came here to bargain with Nathaniel. He wants access to Aeris—to Heaven.” Delphi transferred his frown onto her. “He wants a soul being kept there. He thinks he can bring her back. Mairi, her name is Mairi.” She was rambling but she couldn’t stop. “He offered to resurrect me if Nathaniel brought her to him. He said—”
“Is that the best you can come up with? I’m happy for Mairi, glad she’s where she belongs.” Saul chuckled. “Besides, resurrection is forbidden. I wouldn’t even know where to start.” He shook his head. “You can’t even think up a decent lie to save yourself.”
“Enough.” Delphi lifted his hand. “This ends here. Now.”
Time ground to a standstill.
Sweat rolled down Chloe’s spine. Would he rip out her soul from across the room? Nathaniel stepped between them and the forgotten shears seemed to vibrate beneath her palm. She slid her fingers into their smooth grip. Pain scalded her hand as the shears reached inside her, found her commonality with Nathaniel, and gave their grudging acceptance of her mastery.
If Delphi didn’t believe them, then maybe she could show him the creatures, earn some points tallied in their favor. Fear made her hand tremble, but if she was going to Hell and lose Nathaniel, then she would take Saul and his abominations with her.
She loved Nathaniel, so much, and if her death was the only way to save him… so be it.
“If you won’t listen,” she said to Delphi, “then I’ll have to show you.”
Before Nathaniel could act or Saul react, before Delphi’s lifted hand revealed her fate, she stabbed the air and sliced a portal. She couldn’t look back. If she saw Nathaniel, saw the horror of his realization written on his face, she might not have the strength to leave him.
Focused on the heat, on the fire pits from Saul’s memory, she went to her knees and allowed herself to fall through the glimmering portal as she’d seen Nathaniel do. Cool air evaporated from her lungs as darkness enveloped her. Sulfur plugged her nose and made her eyes burn, but that wasn’t the worst of it.
The skin covering her palms and knees hissed and crackled. The ground burned so hot, she jumped to her feet and cried out as she blistered. The stench of flesh roasting on her bones made her gorge rise.
White light brought her head around in time to see Saul tumble through the portal after her.
“Clever girl.” His teeth flashed in the darkness. “I underestimated you.”
Vicious snarls rang out from below at the sound of his voice. She had the sick feeling wherever they were was very, very high and whatever made those sounds was very, very hungry.
He lunged forward and Chloe dove aside as the portal’s light flickered. She skidded across the scorched ground as a scream rose in her throat, met with the heated air, and dissolved.
Saul lunged a second time and she rolled away, blinking back tears as her forearms burned. The pain blinded her senses until a split-second’s relief cooled her flesh as her body whistled through air and she fell. Their portal closed and took the faint light with it.
Impact stole her breath when she hit the ground. She gasped as Saul straddled her waist. Wind stirred by his wings blew sweltering sand into her eyes as his rough hands cupped her jaw.
“I never considered the side effects your bond with Nathaniel would have.” He studied the shears in her hand. “Whatever he did to bind your souls has enabled you to use his shears. They must recognize that part of him in you, which means they can feed off your soul as well.” His eyes glittered. “That means with your soul in my possession, the shears will obey me. I won’t need my brother’s cooperation.” He cast Chloe a pitying look. “I’m afraid I won’t be needing your body, either.”
Chloe clawed at his hands and writhed, but his weight pinned her to the ground.
Another burst of light shined overhead. Chloe sensed Nathaniel’s arrival but couldn’t see him. He must have followed their trail, his portal opening where hers had.
Delphi… he must have chosen their side. How else could Nathaniel be here without his shears? Hope gave her an adrenaline boost. Gathering her strength to forge a mental connection, Chloe warned him, “Watch your step. There’s something down here.”
Saul stiffened over her. “I’m sorry it came to this.” She gagged as he pressed a savage kiss to her swollen mouth. Her lips burst from the force and blood ran down her chin. “But Nathaniel would have made the same choices I did to save you.”
The pressure on her jaw increased until her head snapped sideways on a sharp pop and everything faded.
“Nathaniel…”
“No. Don’t waste your energy.” His voice broke. “Hang on, Chloe.”
“I love you.” The words were too weak to travel through their bond. “Always.”
“Chloe? Stay with me. I’m on my way…”
“Too late.” The last dregs of consciousness faded and blackness enveloped Chloe. She jolted one last time as an inhuman roar filled the cavern. Nathaniel. Her beautiful angel. Not even he could save her this time.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Mindless with fear, a feral roar ripped from Nathaniel’s throat as he caught a familiar shimmer from the corner of his eye. It couldn’t be. If that light was Chloe’s soul, then… He ran full out toward the cliff’s edge and leaped into the yawning void.
A freight train of upward motion slammed into his gut, knocking him backward. Nathaniel grunted as he landed in a sprawl. His head was still spinning when Saul pinned him down one-handed. Saul’s fingers crushed his throat as he slammed Nathaniel’s skull against the ground. Through the bloodred haze covering Nathaniel’s vision, he spotted the brilliant light bathing Saul’s fist.
Saul had wound a soul around his wrist and hand, using it as a glove. Its vibrant sunset colors lit the darkness around them. He clutched the shears through the insulating barrier.
“You.” Nathaniel summoned the depths of his strength. He surged up, caught Saul around the throat, and crushed his windpipe. When
that wasn’t enough, he shook his brother until Saul’s eyes refused to focus. “What have you done?”
“Given you…,” Saul panted, “a taste of my personal Hell.”
“Chloe.” Nathaniel tested the bond with Chloe he knew was gone. Hoping he was wrong. No response, though he winced against the flare of light as the soul responded.
For a second, his grip around Saul’s throat went slack, allowing Saul to wheeze out a laugh. “Tell me, brother, are you thinking of precious little Bran now?” He panted. “Or have you finally gotten a taste of what this cursed eternity has been to me?”
Oh yes, Nathaniel knew now what his brother had endured. An instant flickered past where Nathaniel wondered if this was the moment that would break him. Would he turn from all hope of salvation as his brother had done? Or would he embrace the justice he had been created to deliver? The sharpness of Saul’s teeth set Nathaniel’s on edge. Justice. Yes. It was all that was left to him now.
“You killed her.” His voice broke. He didn’t care, not about his brother, not about his punishment, not about Delphi, not about anything. Nothing mattered without Chloe.
Saul lifted his glowing hand. He gave it a shake as if her soul were a bangle to be settled on his wrist. The shears caught the shine of her soul and glinted dully.
Nathaniel’s spine bowed as his lips parted and his agony was given voice. She was lost. And Saul… he would pay. Some vital hope fragmented, shattered his mind while muscle took over.
His fingers tightened around Saul’s throat until his knuckles popped. Lifting him by the neck, Nathaniel slammed him onto the blistering ground. Rolling to his knees, he palmed Saul’s face and crushed down until his fingernails filled with skin and sand, smashing Saul’s skull against the jagged rocks until he heard a crack and warmth coated his fingers.
It wasn’t enough. Nothing would ever be enough again.
Grabbing Saul’s hand, Nathaniel unwound the severed spirit until he held the root of Chloe’s soul in his hand. Then he reclaimed his shears and faced his brother. Nathaniel’s chest ached with the guilt of how badly he had failed Chloe.
Soul Weaver Page 24
