bChapter /bb193 /b

    Cassian

    The wild scent, mixed with that of daffodils, follows me like a person throughout the entire journey back. Every now and then, I find myself ncing over my shoulder as if I might catch a glimpse of ra’s ck hair or any trace of her. Truth is, those sights would be far better than what lies ahead. We make our way slowly through the Twisted Forest, refraining from using our speed so as not to alert the Kraugs of our presence. The stench of rot is unbearable, and coagted blood clings to the soles of my boots with a repulsive sound. I wonder who the poor souls were that dared to enter. Undoubtedly, they had no chance of escape.

    A snap echoes, and both of us turn our gaze toward the bone crushed under Drystan’s weight. We exchange a look, holding our breath, ears sharpened, waiting for any sound. At first, nothing seems disturbed, but minutester we hear the faint noise of earth shifting, as if something were dragging itself across it. What follows is the foulest stench I have ever smelled, growing stronger with every second.

    We quicken our pace, knowing one of those creatures ising toward us. We try to imove /iwithout further incident, avoiding even the smallest obstacles on the ground. Just when we think we’ll make it through without getting our hands dirty, wee face–to- face with one of those creatures that haunt children’s nightmares.

    “I know I’ve been a very bad boy, but a little bit of luck now and then wouldn’t hurt,” I mutter.

    We both turn to each other, sharing aplicit smile. I grab Drystan’s hand, using it as leverage to propel myself into the air, right to the height of the creature’s fangs, andnd a kick that sends it crashing into several trees, splintering them beneath its weight. Thanks to that move, we’ve opened just enough distance for me to gather the few seconds I need to focus. I fix my gaze on its serpentine body ending in a scorpion’s stinger, its half–human torso and face, and with a flick of my hand, I make it vanish. Neither of us escapes the stters, some burning into my skin as if they were acid.

    “It was too much to ask to show up clean to the meeting,” Drystan grumbles as he dusts off his jacketpels.

    I let out a ragged breath before straightening and scanning both sides for another threat. Everything seems quiet and empty, but I don’t allow myself the luxury of rxing. For the rest of the trek, I keep my senses sharp, my head snapping toward every faint noise, expecting another Kraug to pounce on us. When the density of twisted branches begins to thin, light filters in, along with fresher air, free of nauseating stench. Once outside, we abandon our restraint and head toward the De’ath mansion, where the Council meeting will take ce.

    The journeysts longer than I’d like, though shorter than one would expect. The astonishment is in on the faces we pass as they watch me stride up the mansion’s imposing steps and make my way to the chamber I know so well. Along the way, my eyes meet Walter’s, and for a moment, an idea flickers in my mind—one I’m not sure I should act on

    I push open the chamber doors, Drystan close behind me, and though my presence must have been announced, some faces still seem surprised to see me. I take my usual seat at the head of the long meeting table, Ciro on my left, Aeron on my right, and my friend standing behind me, guarding my back as always.

    “Here I am, just as you requested.”

    I tug at my shirt sleeves, trying to appear unshaken. I notice a small stain and re at it, as if I could make it vanish by sheer will. There are few things I despise more than showing up unpresentable. Presence is a weapon, just like words. If your opponent believes you are lesser in appearance, in speech, in thought, in wit… your confidence crumbles. You are nothing more than a puppy begging for scraps of affection.

    “Well then.” Aeron forces a tense smile. “Now that we’re all here, who wishes to be the first to voice their concerns?”

    A murmur ripples through the chamber until one of them–his surname unworthy of remernbering–puffs out his chest and speaks.

    “The girl.” His voice is raspy, the sound of a lifetime smoker. “She killed a Diluted one without even blinking. What the hell is she? She’s supposed to be human, a feeder!”

    Ciro shoots me a sidelong nce. Just then, I hear someone else slip into the chamber, and from the faint scent, I know it’s none other than Abraxas, who promptly positions himself beside his brother, ever the loyal guard.

    All eyes are on me, waiting for my response. If my heart beat, it would be racing, knowing that my next words could carry heavy consequences. I draw a slow breath and release it, steadying my temper.

    “She is not human,” I begin. “Nor is she a threat to you.”

    “Forgive us if we doubt that,” someone protests.

    “Let him finish!” Aeron cuts in, motioning for me to continue.

    “ra was born of the union between Lilith and Atarothz, disguised as human iso /ishe wouldn’t be hunted for her nature until she was old enough to defend herself–and to… find me.”

    “Atarothz?“.

    “The God of the Between,” Ciro interjects. “One of the Ancient Gods, the forgotten ones. Said to be the judge of souls.”

    “That’s right,” I confirm. “ra inherited some of his gifts. She can eradicate souls–that’s what you saw her do.” Faces pale even further. “But I swear to you, she is no danger to any of you. She is learning to control her powers, and so long as you do not harm her, she will not harm you. She is one of usb./b”

    “She is not one of us,” another spits with disdain.

    “She is,” Ciro interrupts, casting me a look.

    “As I said, she is Lilith’s daughter–our creator. Each of us, no matter how long our bloodlines stretch, are connected to her in some way. ra is her direct daughter and shares traits we possess–speed, immortality, heightened senses…”

    “And what did you mean earlier by ‘find you‘?”

    Ciro studies me as if he already knows the answer, as if he’s digging into the depths of my soul and sees it in as day. I shift uneasily in my chair, fists clenching before continuing with words I’d rather keep only between the two of us.

    “Lilith knows our problem–the constant dwindling of our numbers after thest massacre of the Pure. So when she conceived ra, she destined her for me, in hopes she would strengthen the bloodline.”

    “Are you saying she can…i?/ii” /i

    “Yes,” I cut firmly. “And she is mine. None of you willy a hand on her.”

    A silence like no other I’ve ever heard fills the chamber. Everyone searches theirpanions‘ eyes for answers, rifications, the next step to take—but no one knows what to do. Nothing is stronger in the universe than the thread connecting two destined souls, and mine leads to ra. A mate is not something easily found among our kind, ustomed as we are to debauchery, excess, the pleasures of the flesh and desire. Not all of us are destined to find a mate, and many don’t want one. But from the moment two destined souls be aware of each other, they cease to breathe for themselves–they breathe only for the other. The universe ceases to make sense without that person in sight, and they would do anything for them. Kill, lie, betray—anything to keep them

    safe.

    That’s what they’re all thinking now. Some may look at me with envy, others with pity.

    10:48 Sun, 24 Aug

    Oh, little devil, reduced to the existence of a woman.

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    What they don’t understand is that ra and I go beyond even that. She was literally made for me, as twisted as it sounds, as difficult as it is for me to ept sometimes.

    “If you have anything else to say, say it now.”