Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147891 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 739(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
“His wicked ties can’t taint virtue,” Hassha returns with a smile. “The good will always triumph. Once we’re done, it will all come back. Trust me.” She points her eyes to Milandra. “Milandra, Lilith, take them to the portal so we can clear him immediately.”
“Yes, your grace.” Milandra and Lilith step back, gesturing toward the darkness of the cave. Warren and Danica stare at each other, hesitant, before following their lead.
“Wait—Warren.” I rush after him, and when he turns a fraction, I wrap my arms around him and press my ear to his chest. “Get better, you hear me? I can’t lose you again.”
Warren nods when I look up. “I will.”
Thank you, Willow.” Danica’s voice is soft as she touches my hand. I nod, watching her take Warren’s. They follow Milandra and Lilith, disappearing into the darkness. I notice a flicker of blue light, almost like a camera flashing, and then the cave is dark again.
My brother is in Kessel. He’ll get better, and when he does, we’ll find out exactly what happened in our past. If our parents on Earth never birthed us…who did?
Chapter 95
CAZ
“Hassha, do you think I can have a word?” I ask when Milandra and Lilith have disappeared with the other Cold Tethered couple.
“I was going to ask the same thing.” Hassha stands taller, crossing her fingers together and resting them in front of her. “What’s on your mind?”
“I feel there’s something I should mention to you about The Council.” I glance at Willow, who nods her head. She’s the only reason I’m bringing this up. She believes the Regals can help us because the last thing she wants is this burden over our heads or me taking a trip to Inferno Isle. Juniper took it upon herself to show Willow images of that wretched place in textbooks while I was meeting The Council last night, and now Willow is losing her damn mind over it.
“Go on.” Hassha’s eyes lock with mine.
“They’ve told me they’re aware the Regals are making appearances again. They sense you and Korah have come out of hiding and that it will deter their plans.”
“Their plans to do what, exactly?”
“They’ve mentioned that my blood is charged and that it’s powerful enough to wake Selah. Apparently, she’s resting somewhere on Inferno Isle.”
Hassha doesn’t react with the body, but her eyes tell it all. There’s a slight flinch at the mention of Selah, but she blinks it away.
“Something tells me you already knew this,” I add.
“Of course, I knew. Why wouldn’t I know where my own sister is?”
“So, if you knew, why haven’t you gone to wake her yourself?”
“It has not been in my plans. I’ve been preoccupied with Kessel.” She drops her hands, closing the gap between us. “I’d advise you not to take the journey to Inferno Isle, Caspian. It’s a death sentence and impossible for any man to survive. I should know. I helped design it.”
“So, if you designed it, surely you can clear it and set your sister free.”
Hassha blinks but doesn’t answer my statement. Instead, she says, “Don’t listen to The Council. Remain in Blackwater, where it’s safer.”
“Why shouldn’t I go? Waking Selah will restore everything. Violence will end, everyone can be healed, and the world can be renewed. This is what The Council has told me.”
“The Council is lying to you.” There’s a difference in her tone. It’s sharper, huskier. Still, her body is relaxed, neutral. She knows how to play her cards, hold them against her chest. I’d expect nothing less from a woman who’s been alive for hundreds of thousands of years.
“How do you know?” I ask.
“They’re a group of bored liars. Everyone knows this.” She waves a dismissive hand.
Frustrated, I take a step forward. She’s lying through her teeth, I know it. “Hassha, why won’t you go after your sister? Why won’t you wake her?”
She holds my stare. “It’s much more complicated than that, Caspian, and I don’t have the time to explain it to you right now. If The Council is awaiting our next move, they’ll be waiting a very long time. We’ll keep our heads down, and I’ll find a way to inform Korah of this news about them. As long as they’re unaware of what we’re doing and think there’ll be consequences to their actions, they won’t send you. This, I know for a fact. Why do you think they haven’t responded to you? They know not to cross us.”
“They said you knew my blood was charged,” I add quickly. “That it’s enough to wake her. Why was that never mentioned to me in Kessel? And if Decius has been stored away, as well as most of his energy, how is Selah not awake yet? All the stories say Decius is the one who defeated her—who put her to rest. Shouldn’t she be able to free herself from whatever slumber she’s under if Decius is weaker now? Surely, she can break out of it. She’s one of the most powerful beings in all Vakeeli. Hell, she created us and him. Even if she can’t wake somehow, The Council is very adamant about getting this done, while you and Korah couldn’t seem to care less. Where is your loyalty to her?”