place not trusting what might happen if I did. It started to take me closer to the water that could have been an ocean or just a lake. I just couldn’t tell due to the thick fog that obstructed my view. It clung to the water like summoned clouds that needed to keep the edges of this place from mortal means.
Was this some kind of forbidden place?
I left this question unanswered like all the rest and continued to follow the steps until they finally stopped at what looked like something buried in the ash. At first it looked like a dull black stone that was wet from the water lapping at it. Pieces of ash clung to it only to be washed away again with every small wave that caressed it. I didn’t know what it was about the stone, but it seemed to be drawing me in. As though what I was looking at was not just a piece of history, but something that was looking for the one single soul that it truly belonged to.
The person with the power to change that history.
I had no idea where these thoughts were coming from, but I knew that I had to have it. I had to take it and protect it from being used. But then the second I did this I saw the faintest ghost of another girl doing the same. I tried to snatch out quickly, intent on taking the stone before she could get it but then the second I touched it something happened. The girl became whole and cried out as she fell to her knees still clutching the orb to her chest. Then it started to glow crimson and when she opened her eyes, they held the same power in them.
After this she said one name and it was one I knew well…
“Janus”
After this I looked around, now seeing the ghosts of a small army of men all dragging the shadows of screaming women behind them, trying to steal them away. It was like being shown the barest memory of history and from the looks of things, it was an ancient one. Then suddenly a blinding white light erupted and cut through everything. I watched as the rest of the memories were also swept away like an explosion of power had brought the wind of time.
All that was left, was the woman standing next to me, looking straight at me. She had a kind young face with sadness in her eyes. She held out the red orb to me that was no bigger than an apple and told me,
“For me love was the key to end this war…but for you hate is the only power you will find there. Hate is what made him. Hate is what failed him. Hate is what you must defeat…” She paused to look down at the orb still in her hands and said,
“Fate has chosen you.” Then she held it out further for me to take and the second I did, I suddenly gasped out for breath!
I sat up still clutching at the orb to my chest only to find it wasn’t there.
“No!” I shouted in panic and started looking for it only to find that I was no longer in the same place.
“Hey, whoa, calm down, Honey, you’re fine…you’re fine now, just take it easy.” A voice I recognised started speaking to me and I took a deep breath to try and calm the pounding of my heart.
“That’s it, deep breaths, yeah?” Nero said who was sat next to me giving me a warm smile. I looked around and this time it didn’t take me half as long to figure out where I was…not that I had the first time. But at least for now I was in Lucius’ bedroom in Hell and it was a far more welcoming sight.
“Nero?”
“Hey Chicky, here drink this.” I gave it a suspicious look and said,
“It’s not Devil’s Rum again is it?”
“No, it’s just water,” she said chuckling.
“Oh good, that stuff tastes like demon piss.” She gave me another amused look and teased,
“Had much of that have you.” I gave her wry look and said,
“You don’t wanna know half the shit.” And then I left it at that.
“Fair enough,” she said shrugging her shoulders in a way that she understood everyone had their personal demons…even for, well…a demon.
“What happened, where is Lucius?” She gave me a knowing look and said,
“Yeah, you kinda missed out the part where the King is your boyfriend,