I genuinely didn’t think it would work but the next thing I know I’m back in the void. This time the voices are quiet and distant, and I briefly wonder if that’s because the demons are trapped in their own realm again.
Thea’s voice drifts in from the left and all thoughts of demons are gone.
“Thea!” My yell is met with silence. I repeat her name a few times before I hear a distant response.
“Luz?! We’re coming!” Thea calls out to me. I sit and wait for a moment, knowing that Thea will follow my light.
The minutes drag on and I start to worry. My ears ring as a bellowing roar assaults me.
“You dared to bind me!” Drekavac’s voice blares through the silence. “You will never escape the darkness now. I will find a way to get free from this spell,” he rants and I wrap my hands around my ears to block it out as he keeps going.
“Luz,” Thea screams as she pulls my hands away. It’s a relief to hear nothing but her voice and I look up at her before pulling her into a hug. Even though we’re here in dream form only, everything feels solid.
“Why are you still here?” I ask quickly, before he can start ranting loudly again.
“We don’t know. We’ve been trying to leave for a few days,” she explains. I cringe again as his booming voice interrupts my thoughts again.
“It’s Drekavac. He’s screaming into the void right now,” I bite out, hating that he’s able to get to me, even here.
“How do we get out then?” Thea says, slightly hysterical. I can’t blame her, I hate this place after mere minutes and for her it’s been days.
“Try again. Tether yourselves to Liam. He’s waiting for you on the other side. Emmett, you first,” I instruct. “Focus on his face, then picture yourself pulling your body through the darkness and back into the physical world. Keep at it until you feel the shift and can feel your body.”
He turns to Thea and kisses her softly, before his face goes expressionless. He takes a few deep breaths and furrows his brows in concentration. Thea and I sit quietly with our arms linked, waiting for a change. Slowly he fades away until we’re left alone.
“Thank God. I’ve been holding back until he got through. It’s hardest the first time. I had you then, and I think his anxiety was keeping him stuck,” she says in a defeated tone. I pull her in for another hug, knowing we both need it.
“Go first, I’ll follow,” I tell her firmly. She nods once and closes her eyes, following Emmett out of the darkness in a flash.
I close my eyes and try to find my tether when Drekavac starts yelling nonsense again, threatening to kill me, to kill my men and every soul he can get his hands on. It’s an endless loop of tirades and I can't seem to concentrate long enough to get out.
Who the fuck gave this asshole the power to talk into the void?!
After what feels like hours of hearing his narcissistic speeches, I’m finally gaining the ability to ignore him. This time I attempt to tether during his rant, instead of letting him interrupt the quiet. I also focus on all of my men at once, hoping it’ll be a strong enough connection to be useful.
I hear them first, then feel exhaustion tugging at me, and finally I’m back in my sedative addled body. My ears are still ringing from Drekavac but I’m finally free of the void.
When I blink open my eyes, I notice the worried looks on everyone’s faces. Thea is still next to me and wraps her arms around me.
“I’m sorry, Drekavac didn’t make that easy,” I mumble quietly, feeling a bit disoriented still.
“Thea explained why you were taking longer. It’s okay, let’s get you upstairs to nap. You’ll need rest before we meet with the council anyway,” Liam says, scooping me up and taking me out of the room.
“Emmett can either stay in Thea’s room or on the couch until we figure things out,” Mason says before following us out. I fall asleep sometime on the way up, and don’t even notice being put in Liam’s bed.
ChapterTwenty-Two
Luz
“Idemand to be on this council. I’ve put more work into saving these souls than most of you probablyeverhave. I know that I’m new, but a new perspective is needed. I wasn’t trained well enough to handle the demons. New reapers shouldn’t have to deal with that fear. Drekavac won’t be complacent for long.” My voice is firm and I make eye contact with each councilor in turn. I’m treating them like a pack of wolves and I need to assert my dominance.
When I’m finished speaking I start to pace. It’s a bad habit I’ve picked up from my big, burly ginger. The councilmen fight back and forth while I wait for the Head Councilor to speak up.
“Luz, you are making me crazy. Please sit,” he finally says and I give him a sheepish grin and take one of the seats lining the wall of the council chambers.
“This is outrageous. We don’t allow new councilors on this board,” one of the others protests. I don’t even bother to look his way.
“I formed this council, and brought all of you on board. I chose a mix of personalities and ethics so we could have an evenly represented group. I’m going to allow her to join us, as she is correct we need the perspective. Her role will be more active, as she will continue reaping and eventually, Luz,I would like you to train new reapers. Master Reapers, you will also be training as well as guarding your gates,” he informs us. Mason, Sam, and Liam all rise and bow to the Head Councilor. I follow their lead, giving him the respect he deserves.