those warriors would return home to their loved ones, it would kill him.
Yeah. Abigail and Valoel want you alive, so…here I am. I lied. Tristan was right! I was going soft. What was with me trying to spare his feelings?
I ran and ran through what seemed like a never-ending graveyard, but I couldn’t find Tristan. I went in circles. Almost half of the gravestones were in ruins because I smashed them into pieces during my search. I was covered in dirt, and there was no sign of either Abigail or Tristan. I was losing my mind, and giving up wasn’t an option.
I could just cross over and…
Don’t you dare! I shouted angrily. I came here to save you, and I’m not leaving until I do.
After I said this, both of us went silent. I thought about nothing but Abigail being lost. I even tried making sense of why when Princess Sela was shot and fell, that I fell, too.
Can you feel that? Tristan broke through my thoughts, a little hope ringing in his voice.
I couldn’t feel what he was talking about at first, but suddenly I felt his presence. I knew he felt mine.
I think I can find you, I said with renewed energy, and I started heading toward the pull of Tristan’s presence. I walked for a while before I finally reached the clearing and saw Tristan. I had never been happier to see him in my entire life.
You found me. Now I’m positive you like me, Tristan said, and this time his voice was full of teasing.
Don’t psychoanalyze this, I said as I rushed toward him. But before I could reach him, a scream from behind stopped me.
“Abigail!” I shouted when I saw her. She was hanging in midair with her hands tied behind her. I saw that her body was covered in bruises and blood. Her eyes were bloodshot and filled with tears. I rushed over to her, but the moment I reached out to touch her, she disappeared.
Tristan sounded scared when he said, “Gideon what’s going on? Was that Abigail?”
“Yes,” I said and made another attempt to free Tristan, but the moment I stepped toward him, Abigail reappeared.
Her appearance and reappearance could only mean one thing. “Cut the crap, D. I know you’re there.”
D appeared right beside Abigail, who was struggling to free herself. The moment my eyes met D’s, I charged at her, but she vanished, only to reappear behind me.
“Gideon, aren’t you happy to see me?” D asked with a seductive grin on her lips.
“D, let them go,” I demanded.
She laughed, “I must say, Gideon, I never imagined this day would come. You trying to save Tristan and a human.” She laughed again, and her voice filled me with rage. I turned from her and took a step closer to Tristan, but the moment my foot touched the ground, Abigail started screaming in pain.
“Abigail!” Tristan and I shouted. I moved toward Abigail, but D disappeared with her again.
D’s voice came from behind me again, saying, “You move, and I keep torturing her.”
“I swear, D, if I—”
She cut me off, saying, “You’ll what?” She smiled at me. “I can’t let you save Tristan, and I’m enjoying torturing this human, so I can’t let her go either.”
I was now standing between Abigail and Tristan, both within reaching distance, but I knew D wasn’t joking, so I didn’t move.
“What the hell do you want?” I couldn’t stand seeing the pain in Abigail’s eyes. Blood dripped from her wounds, and I knew whatever it was that D was doing to her was killing her.
“War,” D answered simply. “I’m tired of doing the same thing day after day. I lead souls here to the Underworld and make sure that they cross over—it’s boring. I want my freedom. I want to die and get my happy ending.”
I didn’t understand her reasoning. “Here’s an idea. Why don’t you go look for a freaking new job?”
“Oh, but you are missing the point. I’m bound to this job as long as those stupid humans exist.”
I still didn’t get where she was going with her speech. I couldn’t bear to see Abigail looking so weak and hurt. “What has Tristan got to do with this stupid plan of yours?” I demanded. I was pretty sure the human race would be around for a long time.
“I need Tristan out of the way. I can’t have him trying to save the humans when I try to destroy them all.” Finally, I understood why D held Tristan