Aeternum (Vincula Realm #2)

Chapter 1

ERDIKOA

No one reconsiders their life choices until it’s too late and the consequences are staring back at them with taunting smiles.

Rory wished she’d reconsidered her actions before they ruined her life, but she didn’t. Now, here she was, on her hands and knees, as the cold from the concrete floor seeped into the hand holding her up.

She looked around the tiny room, trying to figure out where she was. The last thing she remembered was the Scales of Justice sentencing her to five-hundred years in Vincula, and then everything went black.

Was she in a holding cell in the prison realm?

In one of her hands, she clutched a book for dear life, and, upon further inspection, she was surprised to see it was one of Cora’s favorites from when they were kids. She didn’t remember bringing this with her to The Capital.

Sitting back on her heels, she surveyed the small room and covered her mouth to muffle a scream. Everything was in color. Plush red chairs lined one wall, and a brown wooden table sat between them.

The door to the room flew open, and Rory scrambled to her feet. A woman with white-streaked hair stepped inside and looked at Rory with a tinge of sadness.

“Hello, Aurora Raven. Welcome back to Erdikoa.”

“Welcome back?” Rory squeaked. “It’s been five-hundred years?”

The woman shook her head. “Somehow, your sentence ended early. It’s been three months.”

Rory’s jaw dropped to the ground, elated to be home but terrified to see her friends and family again. Would they hate her? Either way, it was a miracle.

Rory stared at the woman with her mouth still open. She heard what was said, but understanding the information was proving to be difficult. “What?”

“Your sentence is over,” the woman said slowly, as if talking to a child. “We will process your release and take you home.”

Rory trembled as her brain tried to process not only her early release but the colors bursting around her.

“I can see color,” she blurted, not caring if she sounded insane.

The woman’s face softened with something akin to sadness. Strange. “Yes,” she confirmed. “Your grey-scale sight lifted during your time in Vincula.”

With the exception of souls, she’d only ever seen in shades of black, grey, and white, and now her realm was overwhelmingly bright. Her soul whispered the names of colors she’d never seen before, and it was too much to take in at once.

The book in her hand dropped to the floor when she pressed her fists to her eyes. “What is happening?” Her voice was edging on hysterical, but she didn’t care.

A gentle hand landed on her shoulder, and Rory cracked open an eye.

“I know this is a lot, Rory, but we need to get you processed and out of The Capital as quickly as possible.”

Rory’s brow furrowed. How did this woman know her nickname? “Who are you?”

The woman’s eyebrow arched as a smirk played on her lips.

“Lauren. I’m having clothes brought in for you to wear home,” she added, motioning to the pajamas Rory wore.

“And you’ll need to drink a shapeshifting potion.

No one, other than myself and another guard, is aware of your return, and we need to keep it that way. ”

Rory stiffened. “Was I released illegally?” Something itched at the back of her mind, telling her she was missing something.

Lauren snorted. “No, but the early release of The Butcher will not be well received.”

It wouldn’t. She’d have to face her parents and friends if they agreed to see her. The thought of their disgust and rejection ripped her wide open, and she covered her mouth to swallow a sob.

Lauren glanced at her over her shoulder and hardened her gaze. “You are not a weak little lamb being led to slaughter. Stop crying.”

Rory’s mind had the same itching feeling. Lauren’s words felt familiar, but she couldn’t place why. She eyed the woman again, wondering if they’d met before she was arrested.

There was one hard knock on the door before it busted open, and the largest man she’d ever seen walked inside. What did they feed this guy?

The man had severe features and light blonde shoulder-length hair. She was sure the t-shirt he wore was seconds away from ripping as it stretched across his enormous chest.

She hadn’t realized she was gawking until he said, “Close your mouth and put these on.”

Her eyes ticked from his face to his outstretched hand, and she tentatively took the bundle of clothes. “You don’t have to be so rude about it,” she mumbled under her breath.

“I was not rude,” he stated, and her head snapped up. Did he have supermystic hearing? “Drink this.” He held out a bottle, and Rory shuddered.

“Who will it turn me into?” she asked, staring at the bottle.

When he didn’t answer, she begrudgingly accepted it and took it like a shot. Don’t gag. Don’t gag. Don’t gag.

She gagged.

After handing it back to him, he didn’t leave.

“Are you going to watch me change?” She looked at him, trying not to laugh, when he narrowed his eyes and left. “Who was that?” she asked Lauren.

“That,” Lauren said, her face alight with amusement, “was Sam, and yes, he’s always blunt. You get used to it.”

Why would she get used to it? Rory straightened. “Am I going to be monitored?”

“Yes,” Lauren replied. “Sam and I will rotate.” Seeing Rory’s disbelieving expression, she added, “It’s for your safety. As I said earlier, the public will not take kindly to your release. We’re hoping to prevent them from finding out at all costs.”

“Why?” Rory’s suspicion peaked. “Why don’t you hate me, too?”

Lauren pointed to the clothes still clutched in Rory’s hands. “Get dressed. You would not have been spared from hell and released early if you were the villain they’ve made you out to be, but if you want me to be a bitch, I will happily oblige.”

Rory grumbled under her breath as she ripped the pajamas from her body and pulled on the jeans, t-shirt, and black cap. She expected the clothes to sag on her straight frame, but they didn’t. “They fit perfectly.”

“All of your information was documented during your stay in Vincula,” Lauren replied and stepped into the hall to grab something. “Here.”

Rory took the socks and sneakers from Lauren’s outstretched hand and pulled them on. Her mind was reeling as she tried to process what was happening.

She was missing three months of memories.

They released her early from Vincula.

She would be followed by a scary woman or an ornery giant for an undisclosed amount of time.

Nothing stressful about that at all.

“Won’t you two being with me every second of the day look suspicious?” She looked up to find Lauren examining her nails as though babysitting a serial killer was just another day on the job.

Maybe it was.

“Why would people not think we were friends or dating?” Lauren countered.

“Point taken.” Rory chortled. “But my apartment is small, and there are no extra bedrooms.” The thought of seeing her mother, Lenora, made her chest ache.

When she glanced at Lauren, the woman looked at her with pity, and Rory was immediately suspicious. Before she could ask what was wrong, Sam opened the door with a frown.

“What is taking so long?” he demanded and stomped into the room. “Do you not remember how to get dressed on your own?”

Rory bristled and motioned to her body. “I dressed myself just fine.”

“We need to leave,” he said, more to Lauren than Rory. “It is not yet daybreak, and the streets are empty, save for a few workers.”

“The potion hasn’t shifted me yet,” Rory pointed out, gesturing to her unchanged body, but when they looked at her, something on their faces told her to find a mirror. “What do I look like?”

They ignored her and discussed leaving, and as Rory continued to look around, her gaze snagged on the book lying on the floor.

It bothered her that she didn’t remember taking it to Vincula, but she pushed the mystery aside and picked it up.

Returning her attention to the two guards, she sighed and followed them into the hall, wondering what awaited her on the outside.

They ushered her into the dark night toward a black SUV with tinted windows. If they wanted it to look inconspicuous, they failed.

Once they piled into the vehicle and drove to The Capital gates, Rory held her breath.

Usually, they made everyone get out, hand over their mystic cards, and take a truth potion to ensure nothing was being snuck out, but when Sam jumped out and spoke with one of the Aatxe working the gates, the guard nodded and stepped back.

Sam climbed back behind the wheel and waited. “Who are you?” Rory demanded as he drove through, but before he answered, the magic surrounding The Capital perimeter washed over her.

She jerked in her seat, looking around frantically. Where was Dume, and why wasn’t she in the transfer van?

She grappled for an explanation, but the bursting colors around her made her gasp and cover her mouth. Two people sat in the front seat, and the woman with white-streaked hair turned around.

“Shit,” she cursed when she saw Rory’s frightened state.

“Am I being taken to the Scales of Justice for judgment?” Rory choked out.

The man’s gaze caught hers in the rearview mirror. “I forget the gates erase their memories,” he said to his companion, looking at Rory again. “Listen closely because you have already been told once.”

Rory looked behind her. The Capital gates grew smaller as they drove away. “What is going on? Who are you two?”

The woman sighed. “I’m Lauren. This is Sam, and you have been released from Vincula early.

It’s been three months. The last you remember is being transported to The Capital, correct?

” Rory nodded dumbly, and Lauren continued.

“Because of the magic surrounding The Capital, you don’t remember, but you were sentenced to five-hundred years in Vincula, released early after three months, and now we are taking you to your new home. ”

The magic surrounding The Capital made it so that when you left, you forgot everything that happened there, as did the magic in Vincula, but when you returned, you remembered everything. It irked her she’d lost her memory twice.

Wait. Sentenced to five-hundred years and released early? “What did you say?”

Sam glowered at her through the mirror. “Are you having trouble understanding or hearing?”

Rory narrowed her eyes at him. “Excuse me if I’m having a hard time grasping the fact that I have somehow come back from Vincula four-hundred and ninety-nine years early.” She motioned wildly to her surroundings. “Or that everything is in color.”

Her chest heaved as she fumbled with the safety belt pinning her to the seat. It was too tight, and the vehicle was too small. She needed out.

“She’s taking this worse than she did the first time,” Lauren remarked. “Calm down, Rory. Yes, your sentence ended early, and yes, your grey-scale sight lifted when you were in Vincula.” Lauren spoke as though she was explaining the weather forecast for the week.

“What the fuck?” Rory breathed, unable to form a sentence more complex than that.

Lauren undid her safety belt and twisted all the way around. “We’re driving you to a safe house. You need to keep yourself hidden.”

“If this is supposed to clarify things, it isn’t working,” Rory grumbled.

“You used to be smarter than this,” Sam grumbled, shaking his head. “No one other than us and your next of kin knows you have been released.”

Rory’s shoulders tightened at his sharp tone, and Lauren noticed, silencing him with a scathing look.

“What he means is that it would be in your best interest if the citizens of Erdikoa didn’t know you’ve been released.

Believe it or not, not everyone is a fan of mystics being slaughtered like cattle. ”

Rory’s cheeks heated, but something Lauren said caught her attention. “You told my parents?”

Lauren turned back around. “Yes.”

The leather seat creaked beneath Rory as she slumped down.

“No one will be there waiting for me, but I need to ensure my mother is taken care of.” When she moved, a book slid off her lap and onto the floorboard.

Why did she have a book? She leaned forward to see what it was, but Lauren’s words stopped her.

“Don’t be so sure they won’t come.”

Would her parents be there? Would her friends?

She blew out a long breath. Doubtful.

The look on Dume’s face when he arrested her was seared into her brain.

No, she would spend her days alone, and with no loved ones to disappoint, she would hide from the masses and resume her search for Bane. The Seraphim gave her another chance to avenge her sister, and she wouldn’t waste it.