“One of you sold Taeral out to the ritual fanatics,” I insisted. “Which one of you was it? Huh?”
“Move back,” the Fire Hermessi said.
My blood boiled. I would’ve given anything for the power to smite them, right here and now. Unfortunately, that wasn’t part of my arsenal.
“Step aside,” the low female voice commanded from inside the room. “Let him in.”
The Hermessi didn’t seem pleased with that order, but they obeyed, making room for me to go in, as the double screen doors slid apart. I took in my surroundings, noticing the moving images on the paper walls. Glancing down, I noticed the absence of my reflection—the same as with every mirror I’d ever come across. A Reaper couldn’t be seen on any reflective surface, not even in his or her physical form. Part of being stuck between life and death, I’d figured.
Death got up from her throne, and I stilled, rendered breathless by her beauty. She was a vision in black and white, apart from her shiny red lips. Her silk dress had a life of its own, rippling across the marble floor as she walked toward me, smiling ever so gently.
“Seeley… What a surprise,” she said, her voice echoing in the back of my head, much like our telepathic connection.
I was floored in her presence. My knees were weak, and my heart pounded frantically against its ribcage. Warmth filled me to the brim as I saw the trillions of stars nestled in her eyes—the one feature we all shared with her. But there was no time for me to truly bask in this moment. The fae’s lives were at stake, along with the rest of the universe. Their deaths wouldn’t have affected Death, but it still didn’t make it right.
“I’m sorry to show up like this,” I murmured. “I wish there was another way.”
She stopped, leaving only a couple of feet of tightly compressed air between us, her hands clasped together in front of her. She looked at me, showing genuine concern. “What’s wrong, Seeley?”
“You’re not at all surprised that I’m here?” I asked, slightly confused. I would’ve expected a different reaction from her.
“I knew you were coming.” She chuckled softly.
“You did?”
She pointed a finger at her temple. “We’re connected, remember, Seeley? I know everything you know.”
Taking a deep breath, I decided that there was no need for pleasantries, then. She was already aware of the purpose of my visit. “Yet you’ve never bothered to tell me where you were,” I said.
“I’ve been a little… indisposed,” Death replied. “But we’ve always spoken, Seeley. I was always there for you, and you know that.”
“There’s a lot more I didn’t know, apparently.”
She sighed, sounding disappointed. “And I suppose you wanted to confront me about it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve helped you!” I snapped, suddenly fearless. “I could’ve gone out to look for Thieron. I would’ve stopped at nothing!”
“I was ashamed,” she said, her voice trembling. “And it’s not an easy thing to admit, but my recent encounter with my brother has shed some light on things, for me.”
“But you sent other Reapers out to find Thieron,” I replied, crossing my arms.
It made her smile, as if my gestures were merely endearing to her. “Oh, honey, I assigned the task to first and second circle Reapers only. Last time I checked, you were still in the sixth, still working your way up. You don’t know half the things they knew. Trust me, Seeley, you would have failed, and you would’ve disappointed me, and this is the one relationship I didn’t want soiled by the harsh truth of things.” She reached out and touched my face, a billion fires bursting beneath my skin. It felt incredible as she pierced my very soul. “I do not speak to Reapers outside the third circle. You know what a wonderful exception you are.”
I wanted to ask why I was so special to her, but I figured I’d leave it for later. Bigger issues here.
“Many of us are confused about your circumstances. We keep a straight face about it, but it’s tough. Some of the lower circles are losing their morale. A few have even jumped ship, choosing to become ghouls,” I said. “Your leadership is needed, and the Hermessi’s behavior is putting a lot of us on edge. We do our jobs, of course, but… it’s not right.”
She shook her head slowly. “It’s not, Seeley, I agree. But I can’t do much about it until I get my Thieron back.”
“And you trusted Taeral and his band of merry creatures to get it for you?”
“He’s special,” Death replied, the look on her face telling me that there was more to this story than she was letting on. “Taeral is very special. One day, he will become a Reaper.”
That wasn’t exactly mind-boggling. The odds of Taeral being a Reaper didn’t seem that low. I’d noticed it about him. I’d sensed that there was something familiar inside him when I’d met him on Hellym, but this was merely a confirmation. Nothing to knock my socks off.
“You’re not impressed.” Death smiled.
“I’m frustrated. What is it about him that makes him so perfectly qualified to find Thieron for you?” I asked. “He’s not even a Reaper. Sure, he’ll become one someday, but right now, he is literally miles beneath the ninth circle, not to mention mine, or the first and second you’ve already sent out to help you with this…”
Her hand settled on my shoulder. A faint scent of jasmine and night-queen tickled my nose. I’d remember this moment for the rest of my immortal existence—and that was a long damn time to revel in.
“Haven’t you noticed how terrified the Hermessi are of him? How desperate they are to stop him? Did you think it had anything to do with me?” Death replied, stirring a series of questions in my head.
“You’re right. They’ve been on him since before he even got to Cerix. Long before he heard about you, not to mention Thieron,” I said. “What… What is he, then, to worry them so much?”
She grinned, bursting with satisfaction. “Oh, honey, you have a lot to learn, still. But I promise, I will teach you. I will answer all your questions, too. No more secrets between us, but only if you do me a favor.”
I felt my eyebrows raise questioningly. “You’ll tell me everything?” She nodded. “Including why the fae spirits touching slows down the Hermessi’s influence?”
She laughed. “Ah, that… Yes. I’m surprised you witnessed such an event. Did it take place in The Shade sanctuary, perhaps? I’m fumbling through your memories now, and… oh, there it is,” she said, her eyes glimmering strangely. I could see that exact moment through her eyes, just like I’d seen it through mine, and I didn’t even feel her poking around in my head. What a subtle force Death was.
“Right now, the other Reapers don’t want the fae spirits talking to or touching each other,” I replied. “Surely, that’s not a rule of yours?”
“Technically speaking, it is, but I believe it can be bent for now.” Death sighed. “Don’t tell anyone I said this, but I’m kind of rooting for Taeral here. The universe has come a long way in the millions of years that the Hermessi haven’t tampered with it.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. This would make Vesta very happy, once I got to tell her about it. Hell, I was going to shine a light on every fae spirit in that sanctuary and in all the others, too, if I had to!
“Seeley, I’m serious,” Death added, back to her sweeter pout. “I need you.”
