by Ali Winters
Pink tinted her cheeks and she jumped up, smoothing her hair and straightening her clothes in a flurry of movement. “I guess you caught me sleeping on the job.” She laughed nervously.
“I-I was not sure how to wake you,” he said, stumbling over his words.
They both turned at the sound of a man clearing his throat. Colin looked between them with narrowed eyes, as if he were trying to suss out what he’d walked in on.
“I’m guessing Holter is expecting you?” Colin asked coolly.
“Yes,” Caspian confirmed. He turned to Azira and nodded to her, then followed Colin toward the office he and Holter would meet in. He knew the way but allowed the Hunter to lead him. This was their territory after all, and several months of working together did not erase centuries of feuding.
The sound of running footsteps pounded behind him, then slowed. Caspian couldn’t help the fraction of a smile that formed on his lips knowing Azira followed a few paces behind.
Colin grunted, but otherwise said nothing to her either. He only lifted his arm with the wrist device all Hunters wore. The distinct beeping accompanied the gesture.
“Wait in here,” Colin snapped.
Caspian chose to ignore the open hostility and slid silently past him and into the office.
Azira moved to follow but was stopped when Colin’s arm shot out, blocking her from entering. “Shouldn’t you be working on something?”
Azira fisted her hands on her hips, leaned in close, and said in a scathing tone, “I do get time off once in a while. I’ve been here since yesterday morning working almost nonstop.” She gripped his arm in her small hand, and even from across the room, Caspian could see her digging her fingers into his forearm. “Now, if you don’t mind,” she said through clenched teeth and shoved his arm out of her way.
Colin huffed and stormed off without another word.
Azira dropped heavily into Holter’s chair and leaned back, pushing herself in slow circles.
“Just ignore him. He sucks at handling stress. And…” her voice softened as she looked past the door. “He’s still upset about Finn. They used to be close. I think he’s looking for someone to blame and you’re the easiest target.”
“For what it is worth, I had believed Finn was strong enough to bear the weight of Yeva’s powers.”
“I know.” She gave herself another slow spin.
Caspian’s brows shot up. “You do?” he asked carefully.
“You’re a Reaper… and my friend. You’re not some heartless monster.” She kicked at the floor, sending the chair spinning round and round, faster this time. “We are all practically the same.”
He couldn’t help but stare, frozen in amazement. She was so neutral about their two groups, as if the hostility between them had never existed.
Was she here for Holter, wanting to support him as Caspian worked to test his powers and ready him, or from duty… or was there another reason she wanted to be part of this?
“Good morning, you two,” Holter said. He tilted his head back, chugging the last of whatever was in the plain Styrofoam cup he held, and then tossed it into the wastebasket without looking. It hit the rim, nearly toppling out before going in. “You two look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for such an early hour.”
Azira snorted. “You are such a dad.”
She pushed up from the chair to let him sit.
“Are you saying I’m old?” Holter teased back.
“Ancient.” She bumped his shoulder with hers as she passed. “So what are we doing today?” she asked, looking between the two men.
“We will need to start at the altar, where the ceremony will take place. I will have to transport you both separately,” Caspian explained.
“Really?” Azira brightened.
“There’s no need, Azira can stay here—”
She thumped a tiny fist on the desk, halting Holter’s objection. “You’re family, and I’m going to be there for you whether you like it or not. Besides, I never got to transport with a Reaper before.”
“Very well then,” Holter gave in, clearly not as put out as he pretended to be.
“Shall we?” Caspian stepped forward.
Holter nodded, and the three of them walked outside the boundary that blocked Caspian and other Reapers from being able to transport in and out of Hunter Corp. without warning.
“Me first!” Azira said, bouncing on her toes.
Caspian sucked in a breath and held it, first looking to Holter, who only shrugged, then down at the overly excited Hunter.
He swallowed hard and wrapped his arms around her. If she could feel the furious pounding of his heart against his chest, she made no indication.
He transported the two of them to the top of Yeva’s mountain sanctuary, holding on to her for a second longer than needed. She took a step back, then stumbled on unsteady legs. Caspian caught her by the arm.
Azira started to smile, then doubled over and retched.
When she finished, she moved away and fell to her hands and knees in the grass.
Caspian knelt in front of her, pushing strands of sweaty hair off her forehead. Looking into her glassy eyes, he couldn’t help but despise the games fate played on them. She was to him what Kain was to Nivian. But the gap in their ages was far too wide. She was still new and hadn’t lived yet.
She was the opposite of him in every way. Where he was dark, ancient, and brooding, she was bright and young and bubbly. Azira might feel the same pull toward him, but she was too inexperienced to understand. The more time he spent in her presence, the more he wanted to embrace the link, but what she needed at this time was a friend.
And he would be that for her as long as she required.
“Are you steady?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She smiled, then covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m fine,” she said, her voice muffled. “You can go get Holter. I’ll just sit here until you get back.”
Caspian straightened and vanished, returning within seconds. Unlike Azira, Holter suffered no ill effects. It boded well for what was to come next.
Holter bent to help her up. “Not prepared for that crazy ride, were you?”
“Ugh, you can say that again!” Azira looked him up and down. “Hey, why are you fine?”
“I’m ancient, remember?” He winked. “You’ll get used to it with practice and the more your powers grow with time.”
Caspian dragged his gaze away from her and said, “Shall we get started?”
“Lead the way,” Holter said, placing one of Azira’s arms around his shoulders.
Caspian took his place at the head of the altar and waited. Azira kept a fair distance, watching with a mixture of amazement and uncertainty.
Holter sat on the dais, hesitating. “If something goes wrong, just keep going, perform the ceremony if you have to. Even if it will fail, at least use it to gauge—”
It was the same thing Finn had told him.
“Nothing will go wrong.” Caspian said in a clipped tone, interrupting him. “We are doing this so when the time comes, we will not lose you.”
He wouldn’t risk Holter unnecessarily. They had time. And if this did even the slightest bit to ensure the transfer of powers was a success, then he would use all the time he could allow.
Caspian held out the chalice. “Drink.”
Holter obliged then lay down on his back.
Caspian glanced from the corner of his eye to look at Azira. She held her arms close to her body, chewing on her thumbnail as she watched on.
He took a deep breath and cleared his mind, focusing on Holter.
Raising his hands, he let them hover over Holter’s head. Caspian closed his eyes and sent tendrils of his power through the man, searching out his Hunter’s power, slowly moving and examining every inch of them until he found the brightly burning core that radiated within.
He coaxed them, wakening them slowly.
The energy flowing from his hands wanted to surge, to be free, to do as it pleased. B
ut Caspian fought to keep it reined in, slowly mixing theirs together until the darkness of his own mixed with the sheer brightness of the Hunter’s.
Then, carefully, he allowed it to envelop Holter. The gray light found it’s way, winding and twisting through him, stretching it’s fingers until it took hold as it explored.
Caspian opened his eyes as he maintained a steady grasp. It pulsed like lungs expanding and contracting, and with each beat, it expanded just that much more.
Holter’s breathing came out labored, as one by one, every muscle in his body tensed. He was quickly reaching his threshold.
Just a little more. Caspian thought. Allowing one final stretching of their power. The Hunter’s body took on a strange blue and gold hue as it emanated from his pores.
Holter grunted then cried out. Caspian pulled back, their powers snapping apart like a broken rubber band.
He fell forward, catching himself on the edge of the cold stone of the altar. Holter gasped, rolling to his side. He coughed and sputtered, struggling to catch his breath.
Azira ran up to them. She placed a hand over Caspian’s. “Are you two all right?”
“Holter,” Caspian said breathless, ignoring her question. “How did you fair?”
The man sat up and rubbed at the center of his chest. “Gaia, that hurt. It feels like I was hit by a semi-truck.”
Azira let out a breath and hopped up on the dais next to Holter. “It looked painful. How many times are you going to do this?”
Caspian looked down at her fingers, still gripping onto the sleeve of his cloak, then back at her. “As many times as needed.” He swiveled to face Holter. “Again?”
“Again.”
NIVIAN
* * *
Nivian grabbed her pounding head and sat up. Dawn spilled through the open balcony doors. The books she’d been studying still surrounded her.
“Was that a dream?” she asked aloud as if her empty apartment could give her the answer. It had felt so real. But that wouldn’t stop her from retracing the steps of her dream.
Just to be sure.
Nivian stood and stretched her body, shuffling into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. Something about the familiar scent allowed her mind to drift and de-stress.
She ran a hand through her hair and stopped when her fingers caught on something strange. She plucked it out, wondering what could have gotten into her hair, and examined it.
A thin, green vine.
It took a few seconds before her mind accepted the truth.
It hadn’t been a dream after all.
It was real.
Nivian dropped the stem and bolted for the door. The freshly brewed coffee, now forgotten. Grabbing her cloak, she whipped it around her shoulders and transported to the gates of G.R.I.M. Headquarters, arriving panting and breathless.
So many times over the past year she had stood outside these gates with the Raven emblem emblazoned on the front. And every time, one name sat at the heart of her thoughts and motivation-—Kain.
This time it was no different, but it might just be the last.
She took a step forward, her legs suddenly like jelly. Once she entered, there would be no going back. By taking the eye from the Tome of Fate, she would be crossing a line, one that she couldn’t come back from.
Her stomach twisted. But if she didn’t follow through, then how many more Hunters would have to die trying to become what had been destined only for Kain? Even the Moirai had claimed as much.
Nivian fisted her hands, her nails digging crescent moons into her palms. She had let Kain down by not fighting harder for him at Yeva’s underwater domain, she owed it to him to protect his father, and she owed it to the world to keep the balance.
She would not pretend that even if all of those reasons ceased to exist, she would still do it for her own selfish motivations, because it was what she wanted. What her heart demanded. And there was nothing in any of the realms that would keep her from bringing him back.
There were so many reasons to push forward, and only one to make her hesitate.
She would destroy any and all trust Caspian had for her, and worst of all, completely wreck their friendship. But if she could bring Kain back and save the balance, then she would take whatever the consequences were. It would be worth it.
Nivian strode through the gates and entered the main hall of Headquarters. She matched her pace with those around her and no one seemed to spare her a second glance. And for the first time in ages, she felt like she used to.
She wasn’t the Reaper who let a mark get away. She wasn’t the Reaper who befriended their enemies, or the one who mourned her mark. She was just another in the mass of Reapers who thought only of completing her assignments and keeping the balance.
Indistinguishable.
Invisible.
Nivian took the stairs up to Caspian’s office two at a time. At the top, she paused and leaned against the wall. She clenched and unclenched her sweaty palms, frowning down at them. Caspian had said he suspected these effects were caused by her time with Kain. He brought out the part of her that had long been dormant.
She wiped her hands down her sides and kept going.
Butterflies danced wildly in her stomach as she approached the office. Pressing her ear against the door, she listened. No scratching of a quill on parchment, nothing but silence.
Slowly, she opened the door and peeked inside. The room was dark and empty. It seemed Caspian wasn’t planning on returning for some time.
She closed the door behind her and crossed the room. Each step muffled by the carpet beneath her boots seemed to whisper, “Traitor… liar… thief.”
The guilt of betrayal left a sour taste on her tongue.
But she would live with it. She had to. There was no other choice.
Nivian licked her lips, her mouth suddenly dry as sand as she stood behind the massive mahogany desk for the second time in a matter of days.
Letting out a breath, Nivian opened the bottom drawer and pulled out the Tome of Fate, setting it atop the desk. What would Caspian think if he saw me now? She wondered. Anger? Hurt? Or something else entirely?
She ran her fingers over the thick, leather cover. She thought finding the information, finding the Moirai, and then the eye would take weeks or months. But with their guidance, she was already about to take the first step in bringing Kain back.
It had been relatively easy so far, and she could only hope her journey into the Underworld would be as quick. If she took the eye and returned in a matter of hours, Caspian might never know what she did. He wouldn’t feel as if she betrayed his trust, even if she did have the best intentions… though there would never be a case where what she was doing wouldn’t be pure selfishness.
She would do it even if her own desires were the only reason to, even if he wasn’t needed to take Yeva’s place.
Nivian picked up a small letter opener and wedged it under the amber stone of the Tome. With gentle pressure, she angled the point of the blade for the best leverage and pried, bending the prongs that held the stone in place until it wiggled loose. She twisted the oblong gem and it finally popped free from its cage.
Holding it up to a small sliver of light that broke through the curtains, it glinted knowingly, as if it had been waiting for this moment for a very long time. Though that was most likely just her own imagination riding on the giddiness of knowing the balance would be saved and she could once again hold Kain in her arms.
Nivian searched the desk until she found a strip of leather. She tied it around the stone and fashioned it into a necklace, placing it around her neck.
The book seemed to grow dark with the absence of the eye. Her heart thudded in fear that she had just rendered it useless.
Quickly, she opened it and asked, “Will you work without the eye?”
She waited a long moment, but nothing happened.
Nivian felt lightheaded. Her legs weakened and she dropped into the chair. She reached out to the book with
a clammy hand and stroked the almost translucent page. “Do you still work?”
Again, nothing happened.
Her chest tightened and she found it hard to breathe.
“No,” she whispered. The roaring of her pulse was deafening. “No, no, no, no, no!” Nivian slammed a fist on the book. “You have to still tell Caspian the marks!”
Pale shapes swirled, slow and dim. Then, a single name formed.
Nivian let out a shaky laugh. It worked. Barely, but it still worked. Taking the only source of the Tome’s power would have spelled disaster.
Not wanting to waste a second, she wrapped the cloth around the Tome and placed it back in its home.
While she only anticipated being gone for a few hours, a day at most, the Moirai had told her success was not guaranteed. There was no knowing what awaited her in the Underworld. She would be vulnerable, but she would do everything in her power to survive.
She would return with Kain, or not at all.
SEVENTEEN
KAIN
AS THE EFFECTS of the river Cocytus tempered, his body calmed, leaving him feeling hollow and numb. Kain lifted his head and brushed the dried, gritty salt from his face and looked to the edge of the final river, Lethe, and wondered what this one would demand in order for him to cross.
He had lost himself, his body, his heart, and his joy. He couldn’t image there was anything else he could give, willingly or otherwise.
The barren body of water spread wide, as if the winding river took everything from the small patches of land between the two, slowly chipping away at the shore. The wind kicked up clouds of dust, obscuring the horizon.
Kain stood. His clothes were ripped, though not as much as he would have thought. Watery blood ran down his arms from the large gashes, some almost bone deep. He squinted as the flesh knit itself back together before his eyes, much faster than his Hunter’s abilities ever could.
Kain ran a hand over his arms, expecting his fingers to find the wounds beneath an illusion, but the skin was flawless, as if nothing had happened.
