Widow Maker’s face was covered, but the Soul Crusher and the Phantom’s expressions were painfully obvious—they didn’t like it any more than I did, but it had to be done.
The Vetruvian stood next to them, his eyes dull, his head low. He’d been around for too long, suffering like the others. I could only imagine the horrors he’d witnessed, the millions of years’ worth of memories crammed inside that head of his. Maybe death would be a sweet release for him. Maybe we were just putting him out of his misery.
The other Vetruvians were still, watching us with curious eyes—that was the Morning Star, though, using the collective to communicate with us. “What did she say?” they asked in unison, sending shivers down my spine.
“Naturally, she agreed it must be done,” I said. “However, I can’t bring myself to do it.”
“I will,” Widow replied.
“Where are the remaining nine Beta elements?” Phantom asked, looking around.
“They’re on their way,” Morning said through the Vetruvians. “It will be over soon.”
“Damn Spirit for making us do this!” Soul said. “Even I don’t like what this is all about.”
“It can’t be helped. The universe needs us all back together,” Phantom replied. “At any cost.”
Widow took hold of the Vetruvian man’s arm, raising his scythe. The Beta element’s eyes sparkled with recognition at the sight of the blade, and I could almost feel his fear freezing the blood in his veins, but he didn’t move. Morning had a firm grip on him.
“May the universe forgive us,” Widow muttered, and brought the blade down.
The Beta element fell to the ground, purplish blood pouring from a gaping wound in his chest. As soon as his last breath left his lungs, the air rippled around him. A familiar pulse expanded outward, making my skin tingle. I felt it. I felt the seal break—a part of it, anyway, but I felt it.
I sucked in a breath, tears gathering in my eyes. “It worked.”
“That was it?” Phantom mumbled, staring at the Vetruvian’s body, now pale and lifeless, his blood already seeping into the ground. “I would’ve expected more… pizzazz.”
“He’s dead. The first Beta element is destroyed,” Soul replied dryly, and reaped the Vetruvian’s soul, now visible. It vanished in a puff of silvery sparks.
“Here comes the second,” another Vetruvian said, joining the hive voice as he came out of the woods. Morning had brought us a second Beta element, after digging through the memories of the locals. She’d identified all ten, and she’d begun sending them our way. This was the most heartbreaking hive mind situation I had ever come across.
What a monster the Spirit Bender had been, to put his siblings and all these innocent creatures in such a difficult situation.
Soul handled the second Beta element, cutting him down with his scythe before reaping him. Purple blood was splattered across his tunic, dripping down the white strips of leather tightly wound around his torso. They took turns as the other Beta elements came through.
Phantom killed two, the Widow and the Soul taking one more each. With six Beta elements down, the atmosphere began to change around us. The Vetruvians were shaking, some squirming against Morning’s mental and physical control. The weaker the seal, the stronger the people.
“They’re… They’re starting to break free,” Morning managed. One of the villagers gasped, suddenly loose, and ran off into the woods, screaming her lungs out. “I can’t hold on to them for much longer…”
“There are four more Beta elements,” Widow replied. “Where are they?”
“I’m trying to get them to move… but their consciousnesses are taking over,” Morning said. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult to steer them in your direction.”
Soul groaned with frustration. “Dammit. Where are they?”
“A young Vetruvian woman with a birthmark on her cheek. Five miles northwest of here,” Morning replied. Soul let a deep sigh out and vanished. Moments later, he reappeared with the Vetruvian woman in his grip. She struggled to free herself, but he didn’t give her a chance. His scythe cut through her, removing the life from her being.
The seal weakened further, my skin buzzing all over. I had to admit, it was tragic but also weirdly interesting. “Is anyone else feeling this?” I asked, glancing around.
“Feeling what?” Widow replied.
“This… skin thing.”
Phantom smirked. “You’re reacting to the seal breaking. Remarkable.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, frowning with confusion.
“I knew there was more to you than met the eye,” Phantom said, downright fascinated as she gazed at me. “You’re hypersensitive, Kelara. You feel death magic like very few of us do.”
“I’m