A Shade of Vampire 77 A Fate of Time - Bella Forrest Page 0,87
a pretty big deal. And I was grateful to have survived all this with them. We were no longer just allies and colleagues. We were friends, close friends, ready to do whatever it took to save one another and the entire world, if possible.
Looking back on the person I’d been at the very beginning of this quest, I could barely recognize myself. I’d left my shell somewhere on Cerix, and I’d become a different person. Naturally, I still looked forward to a few days of solitude in the heart of The Shade, but I was also thrilled by the prospect of my relationship with Raphael, not to mention the victory dinner we would all attend later, after the dust settled.
“You were all incredible,” Lumi said to us. “The worlds you saved owe you a great debt.”
“Lumi, Nethi, we couldn’t have done it without you,” Taeral replied as the group hug split. “Your magic, your support, and… Acantha’s sacrifice… you were instrumental. I’m deeply sorry for what happened to her. I hope you know that.”
Lumi sighed. “I know, darling. She died a hero. She will forever be remembered as such.”
A thought occurred to me. It sounded like a stretch in my head, especially after what Death had commanded, but I had to ask. “Can you not bring Acantha back, as well?”
“She has already moved on,” Death said. “It would be a crime to drag a soul back from beyond. It was her time to go. Her choice. You cannot undo that.”
“We need to accept death when it happens,” Nethissis added, sadness thickening her voice. “What happened to the fae was different. It was caused by the Hermessi, and I understand that. Acantha, on the other hand, voluntarily surrendered her life for us to take Thieron.”
Dream cleared her throat. “Sorry to interrupt this clearly emotional moment, but Nightmare, Kelara, and I are going to stay here and work on Death’s seals, which is totally fine. But what about the rest here? What do you want Time, Widow, Soul, and Phantom to do?”
“They’re looking kind of aimless,” Nightmare chimed in.
Widow straightened his broad back, as if he’d just been insulted. “I’m aiming to crush your head with my bare hands.”
Death laughed lightly. “Widow, my darling, I am putting you in charge of a search mission. Your brothers and sister should join you.”
That certainly got the Reapers’ attention. Soul was practically jumping from the excitement. “Whoo-whee! Where are we going?”
“I don’t know,” Death replied. “I need you to bring the First Ten back together. Well, not ten anymore, but you understand me. The Night Bringer is missing. The Morning Star. Most importantly, the Unending. I need her back here. We have to talk, and I want you all present when that happens.”
Soul, Widow, Phantom, and Time exchanged fleeting but wary glances. I had a feeling this wasn’t the kind of mission they’d hoped for, and certainly not something they were keen on. Eva shot them a grin. “What’s wrong? Not your cup of tea?”
“If you don’t mind me asking, why do we need to bring them all back?” Widow asked, ignoring Eva completely. It made her and Varga stifle a giggle. The Reapers had been our allies, but they had not been the easiest to work with. A mild animosity would forever linger between us—just enough to warrant the occasional snark and jab.
After all, the Soul Crusher had been pretty specific before. They were not our friends. Not per se. They could easily turn against us if it suited them better. Until now, we’d had them on our side because we’d shared a common goal. However, that goal had been accomplished. There was nothing binding us anymore.
“Did I not make myself clear? I need to talk to you all,” Death replied dryly, hands resting on her hips. “Just because I’m under these wretched seals doesn’t mean you get to question my commands. You’d do well to remember that.”
I believed her. The tone of her voice was enough to send shivers down my spine. Then again, the First Ten were basically her children. I assumed they were used to Death in all her states, even when she was having a bad day, and this could easily qualify as such. I did wonder what was so important that she required them all to be present, but I was still wrapping my head around everything that had just happened. Cosmic affairs were too much to handle, even for me.