Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
“So why not Lucien?” I look to each god, one after the other. “You’re talking about boons. He was a faithful servant to you for thousands of years. My understanding is he did your bloodiest and most violent work. To leave him in the Crimson River—”
“He died by his own stupidity,” Circe says. “He played roulette with the fates and lost.”
“So what?” I snap at her. “Everyone makes mistakes. That cannot outweigh all the good he’s done for you.”
“It matters not,” Veda says softly, and I face her. “The Crimson River is utter destruction, not just of the body, but of the soul. It’s violently twisted and tormented and would never be suitable to place it back in a vessel. You can’t reincarnate that.”
“That’s bullshit,” I reply angrily. “I’m thinking I’ve got a lot more leeway to do things than you’re letting on and I have a better understanding of my powers now. I think I can do it.”
“And yet you won’t because we’re not giving consensus,” Onyx reminds me.
“Let’s say I did,” I propose hypothetically. “Are you going to strike me down? Punish me? You punished Rune for meddling in Finley’s fate. Imprisoned him. Is that what you’d do to me?”
“No,” Veda says, an edge to her voice that’s not normally there. “Of course, we wouldn’t.”
“But there could be retaliation,” Circe says.
“Retaliation?” I grit out.
“We have our games.” Circe looks almost proud of herself. “Our pet projects. It’s boring being eternal, so you may need to consider that Lucien’s death in the Crimson River is playing out exactly how one of us wants. If you stand against us, we may stand against you.”
Veda looks uncomfortable that Circe put it so bluntly, but Onyx and Cato nod in unison.
My hackles rise. “I’m telling you now, if you mess with my loved ones, I will unleash hell on this council.”
Veda gasps, but Circe merely smiles. “And who are your loved ones? Just so I know who to steer clear of.”
“You know damn well who I’m talking about. Finley, Carrick, Amell, and Nyssa.”
“All else is fair game?” Circe simpers.
“And Maddox,” I snap, although he clearly doesn’t feel the same. I just know I can’t bear for him to be dead.
None of them reply, and I’m not sure that’s an agreement to leave my family alone. There’s no doubt they are doing that intentionally to take back some control as I know this newfound confidence, and the ways in which I’m willing to wield it, is disconcerting.
“I did learn something else from Ariman,” I say quietly.
“What’s that?” Cato asks. The other three stare at me intently.
“He said you all forgot your purpose.” They exchange glances of confusion. “He said you were so old and so set in your ways that it made you weak. I’m thinking he might have been right.”
Circe’s eyes flash with indignation, Onyx growls, and I hear thunder rolling in the distance. Only Veda remains placid, as is her normal bearing.
“Just so I understand the rules,” I continue, “I am prohibited from reincarnating Lucien.”
“That is correct,” Onyx says with a grave nod.
“As long as I follow your wishes on that, you’ll leave my loved ones alone.”
Circe points at me, a true smart-ass. “Bingo.”
“So be it,” I say in defeat. “I won’t reincarnate Lucien. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
I don’t finish my sentence or wait for them to hold me for more conversation. I bend distance and leave them behind.
Right back to Micah’s realm where I stand on the beach where Carrick described the fight that took place between Micah and Lucien.
I might not be able to reincarnate him, but I’m not prohibited from doing anything else. At least that’s the way I interpreted what the gods said.
I can’t reincarnate Lucien, but perhaps I can do something to prevent his destruction.
Watching the flow of the molten river, I consider what I know about it. The truly depraved sinners end here. Their souls reside in an infinite inferno of torture. It’s a violent twisting of your spirit, endless pain and eternal insanity.
Suffering without end as punishment for evil misdeeds.
Veda might have had a great point… Lucien could be so deranged a reincarnation might end badly. It’s a risk I’m still willing to take though, because I believe I can restore his soul.
However, that’s all moot since I promised I wouldn’t.
But what if Lucien were protected somehow before he went into the river? That idea has been rattling around in my brain ever since I learned how the Blood Stone was stolen, plus there’s no way of knowing if the Book of Shadows will ever be found. If it is, there’s still no telling if it contains the solutions we need.
I’ve got a fix and I can implement it right now.
Ariman figured out how to go back in time, to hover between dimensions unseen to all. He moved effortlessly between past and present, and he was very careful not to change events, which I would assume could have catastrophic results for the future.