Opening my eyes in the darkness is different this time. There are voices all around me and I can see the wisps of souls nearby. He’s taken so many their energy has bled through the void separating the worlds.
“Thea? Emmett?” I call out into the darkness. The only response is from the souls around me. I change tactics, knowing I need to wake up fast.
“If you’re in Drekavac’s castle, with the demons, make your way to me. I can get you to the afterlife, but only if you come soon. I can’t wait much longer or he’ll kill me. Then we’ll all be doomed.” I finish speaking and sink to my knees, trying to give my body a moment to heal.
The voices seem to be getting louder and louder until I’m no longer surrounded by darkness. Instead the souls are so close I could touch them, their light surrounding me with a comforting glow.
Thea did mention I was like a beacon. Hopefully that means I’m drawing the nearby souls to me, despite Drekavac’s defenses.
Their energy fills me slowly like an empty well until my mind is clear and my body feels strong. I know it’s likely temporary, but it’s exactly what I need.
Focusing on Drekavac’s room, since I have no one nearby to tether myself to, I try to form a connection. It takes longer since my body is badly damaged but I know I can't give up. Not for my sake, but theirs.
The pain is crippling and I’m relieved to see Drekavac left me alone when I fell unconscious. That’s enough for me to finally pull into myself completely.
Drekavac hasn’t returned, but I can hear him outside of the door screaming at his demons. The room is now filled with souls, way more than I can comprehend.
“I’m laying out my scythe, everyone take hold of it or another soul, or you’ll be left behind,” I whisper. Somehow, I manage to get my chain unraveled, but it leaves me even weaker than before. My chain lights up silver at first, then becomes an almost blinding white with all of the souls being bound to it.
This is going to fucking hurt.
“Everyone good?” I ask, having no real hope of seeing the souls who are lingering in the back. I get no sounds of protest or fighting, so I slowly wrap my hand tighter around my scythe and pull myself to my feet. It’s heavy with the burden of souls and I know there’s a chance I won't survive this. But they deserve the effort.
“Porta,” I rasp out as I stumble forward and straight into the portal. As we make it onto the dais I collapse.
When the pain doesn’t come, I realize the souls are somehow sharing a portion of their energy with me, healing me enough to live. I try to stand before the gatekeepers, but my legs are too weak and I collapse.
“Call the council!” a gatekeeper calls out. They approach us slowly, taking in all of the souls before them.
“You will all go to the After for now, but keep in mind we will be watching you. Use this opportunity as a second chance if you are not truly worthy,” the gatekeeper warns the souls in a cold tone.
My body is barely upright as I sit on the dais, waiting for someone to take charge. Someone wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me to my feet. I look over to see the Head Councilor. My chest tightens at the stern look he’s giving me, but I definitely don’t deny the help.
The reaper that is standing in for Liam hurries forward with wide eyes. He looks up at me and the Head Councilor and freezes in panic. It would have been funny if I wasn’t such a hot mess right now.
“Son, take these souls,” the Head Councilor says in an exasperated tone. His words break the kid out of his panic and his runes light up yellow, freeing the chain. The councilor’s arm tightens around me as the reaper marks burn into my skin, causing me to scream out at the pure agony overtaking me. This time I feel them sear into my neck, arms and torso.
Again, the force of it threatens to tear me apart but this time reapers surround me, helping me stay strong. I don’t recognize most of them but I don’t care. As they touch me the overwhelming pain starts to ebb away.
When it finally subsides enough to function, my body starts to shake, and most of the others back away on the Head Councilor’s orders. He lets out a low chuckle and that’s my only warning before I’m yanked from his arms. Mason crushes me in a tight hug before pulling back to glare at me. I give him an apologetic look before I’m snatched into another set of arms. I hug Liam back fiercely as tears start to run down my face.
“I’m sorry, I had to,” I beg for their forgiveness.
Sam is the last to pull me away, but this time he scoops one hand under my knees and one behind my back to carry me. I can feel his anger and more tears form in my eyes. I hate that I hurt them like this.
Despite his brutish behavior, Sam is gentle and keeps me upright, wary of my injuries. I look up to see Mason and Liam keeping pace behind us, their faces looking shadowed.
The guilt of what I’ve done to them is crashing over me. Even as it threatens to break me, I know I would do it again. I’m tired of seeing the demons hurt people, and I just wanted to end it. Truthfully, I don’t think it would have succeeded with them there. They’d be too worried about me and only I could get close.
By the time we reach the apartment, I’m bracing myself for being yelled at. Sam places me on the sectional and they all stand shoulder to shoulder looking down at me. I suddenly feel like I’m in the principal's office and unsure how this is going to go.
A girl saves the world and this is how she’s thanked.
ChapterTwenty-One
Luz
“I’m sorry.” Sam’s words shock me into speechlessness. He’s apologizing… to me?