"We do."
"So, chin up, River. Don't waste your tears on me." I sighed, feeling my lips stretch into a warm smile as I looked up at the sanctuary. "If I am to die here, it'll be right. It's what I want."
I wondered if I could at least see my Vesta one last time. The winds howled above, swirling and shaking the giant trees that surrounded the clearing where the building had stood.
"Thank you, Zeriel," River said. "For your service. Your kindness. Your expired jokes and goodwill. I hope I'll see you again soon."
"If not here, perhaps in the afterlife," I replied. "It's been an honor serving with you and everyone else. If there's one thing I'll never regret, it's my decision to join GASP. Best thing I ever did with my life."
She tried to keep it together, but her voice was breaking. "We were all lucky to have you."
"Don't tell Jax where I am until it's over, one way or another," I replied, my finger already on the end call button. "I know he's got a secret crush on me. He'll flip out when he hears I never made it into The Shade."
River laughed softly. "I will keep my mouth shut."
"So long," I said, and ended the conversation.
My chest constricted. That might have been the last exchange I would ever have with anyone. Glancing up, I found something more important to focus on. My fiancée. Mere hours were left. I could smell death in the air, gathering itself up, preparing to spread out and swallow everything in its path.
I'd caught its whiff before, but never so strong. Never so… determined.
"Hey, Reapers!" I shouted. "Reapers! Whatever your names are! One of you had better answer me!"
My voice echoed against the sanctuary's hum. I knew they could hear me. They could see me. They were probably aware I was down here. I just needed to get them to do me a favor. After all, I was a dying man.
I deserved that much.
Vesta
The Reapers spoke in hushed tones, but we all knew the end was coming. As much as they tried to hide it, we could tell. Their movements, the way they stole glances at us whenever they spoke, their inability to look us in the eyes. We could feel it, too. Our life-chains were fading. My last link was barely a faint orange, black flakes forming here and there, like ink stains. My soul was weary. My mind exhausted.
I'd put up quite the fight, from the moment I'd fallen.
Hours earlier, there had been a sliver of hope left. I knew Taeral would do everything in his power to stop this, and so would everyone who'd joined him on that quest. But, as time passed, mercilessly bringing us closer to the ritual's completion, even I'd had to admit that we might not make it, after all.
"They're not looking very optimistic," Ben said, eyeing the Reapers in charge of our cluster. "Rudolph can't even talk to us anymore."
Grace let a deep breath out, her gaze lowered. "I don't think we're going to make it."
"At least River, Lawrence, and the others are away from here," Ben replied. "If this is our end, they won't have to witness it. The Shade needs protection, now more than ever."
"I know," Grace replied, her eyes shimmering with tears that would never flow. Her body, however, was crying. "I hope they get another chance out there. I hope the Hermessi won't be able to destroy them the way they did us."
"Mom… Hold on, it's not over yet," Caia said, as she and Vita put their arms around her and hugged her tight. "Not yet. Please, don't lose hope."
"Honey, I'm just being realistic," Grace murmured, giving her daughters a gentle smile. "Whatever happens, I'm with you. We're together. We shouldn't be. You shouldn't be here, but… this is it, you know?"
My throat closed up. I wanted to scream and kick and cry, but I was as helpless as everyone else. Lucas, poor soul, was practically red with fury. He'd been brought back only to be whacked again.
"This isn't the first time we've hung by a thread," Kailyn reminded us.
"I wonder what it is they're talking about," Lucas muttered, scowling at the Reapers. Rudolph's gaze kept darting between the outside world and the sanctuary. A voice echoed in the distance, but with all our spirits here, murmuring to one another, and the structure's unnatural and constant hum, I couldn't make out much.
I tried to move away from my body, but I felt my movements grow sluggish, almost stiff. Maybe it had something to do with my life-chain dying. Maybe I'd be able to move more once the last link snapped.
"Rudolph, what is it?" I asked, raising my voice.
He stared at me for a moment, sweat glistening on his forehead. "I don't know what you mean," he replied from six crystal casings away.
"Get your ass down here and talk to me," I snapped. "Now!"
Hesitant at first, he made his way back to our cluster, his hands deep in his pockets, scythe tucked away. Still, I had a hard time getting any words out of him, until Lucas poked him in the ribs. He’d done it almost instinctively, then realized he could touch a Reaper—judging by the momentary flash of surprise on his face.
"Talk, pipsqueak. We're at Death's door!" he snarled at Rudolph.
The other Reapers stayed back, but they watched with renewed interest. Usually, spirits stayed away from agents of Death, but it did make sense that we could touch them. After all, we could touch each other. I’d even managed to give Zeriel a message in the plane of the living. And Reapers were in charge of us, so they had to be able to touch us, if they wanted—how else would they reap us, otherwise? In hindsight, I should’ve hugged Seeley before he’d left. Chances were I’d never see him again…
"Your fiancé is outside, shouting for you," Rudolph finally said.
My heart skipped. "Wha… What?"
"He didn't leave with the others," Rudolph replied. "He stayed here. I suppose he wants to spend whatever time he has left with you. Unfortunately, said time is rather short. We're in the last thirty fae now."
"He's outside?!" I yelped. "Why… Why the hell didn't he go to The Shade? He's going to… oh, God, he's going to die here, with us!"
My knees gave out, and Ben was quick to hold me, as dread washed over me in icy, biting waves.
"She needs to see him!" Grace said firmly. "If he's out there, you have to help her!"
