Chapter 56 #2
“Savaé, how did you know it wasn’t the Fates’ voices?
” Orion says softly. She’s now down by my side, thrumming small circles on my back.
My shields are down. I’m unable to focus keeping them up through whatever’s going on with my body.
This allows Orion to send soothing energy into me.
She’s taking on some of the pain I’m experiencing to help make things more manageable, so I can speak.
Another thing S?las would be able to do if I accept the bond.
“I thought it was a dream, but it felt like I was actually there. I heard the voices of the Fates and Karma.” My voice barely a whisper. The vomiting stops, and I curl up into S?las, whose back is leaning against the bed.
He continues to stroke my hair, lowering his head over mine. “Why didn’t you tell me last night?”
“Too much has changed already. I just want things to go back to normal. I was hoping it was just a strange dream,” I muster out through chattering teeth, my skin frosting with a thin layer of ice.
S?las quickly pulls down the blanket from the bed and wraps it around me.
Pip also jumps in, curling into a scarf around my neck, while Cinder heats the air in the room.
“We will continue this discussion later. Get her up and dressed for class. S?las and Seraphina, combine your magic to get her cleaned up,” Atlas commands.
“She’s shivering and looks pale as a ghost,” S?las snarls, pulling me in tighter.
“So far as we can tell, she is an immortal being. If she’s strong enough to survive whatever happened to her, she should heal quickly enough,” Atlas replies dryly, clearly done with S?las’ protective nature.
“And whatever being left her like that was ancient and even more powerful,” S?las grumbles, more to himself than anyone else.
“It is my job to think of all possible outcomes of our actions as a Zenith. To ensure all of our safety, including hers. That’s an order, and I expect you to obey it. If she’s going to cause you to be insubordinate, we have an entirely new issue to discuss.” Atlas’ maroon eyes narrow on S?las.
“I’m okay. I’m sure with their help I can make it to class. We don’t have much time. Let’s not waste it arguing,” I muster, wobbling as I try to stand.
S?las helps me up, and Seraph grabs my other arm, leading me into the bathroom. They snap their fingers, and I’m being bathed and dressed at the same time. I brush my teeth quickly, glancing up in the mirror to confirm I look as great as I feel. Like shit.
“You look stunning, as always,” a smoky voice coos from beside me with a kiss on my temple. I can’t help but lean into him.
I tap Pip; four cobalt eyes open along my scarf.
“I need you on my wrist, little buddy.” A raspy whisper leaves my lips. Pip scurries to grab Dream Singer, and in a blast of light, he shifts into his typical bracer on my wrist.
“Has Calais said anything?” S?las asks.
“I am sorry, Nebulight. Even Scáil and I do not know what happened. My bond to you was also disrupted during the event. Which, to our knowledge, should not be possible.” Calais’ tone is all too gentle.
When she chooses to be kind, I find it off-putting, so unlike her.
It also doesn’t make the blow of her words any less.
I’m suddenly going to be sick again. Too much is unknown. Too much has changed too quickly.
After losing Sully, my life plan was simple: become an Ellian Knight, and die on the battlefield in glory.
I wasn’t meant to be some unknown immortal being.
I definitely wasn’t training to save the universe.
I didn’t even have lofty goals for my career in the Golden Legion.
I just wanted to slaughter monsters until they were all gone or I died doing what I was good at.
But I know if Sully were here, he’d tell me that nothing has really changed in my plan.
He’d give me some smartass, sage comment.
I can hear his husky and warm voice now.
“Your mission is still the same; the timetable and extent have just expanded. I trained you to become a weapon so no one would ever hurt you again. Defend those who cannot defend themselves, as you once couldn’t.
Fight for a better tomorrow. Fight for the light beaming within your darkness.
This is just another monster to slay. Find its weakness, and do what you do best. Unleash your fury. ”
The thought kicks up my lips at one end.
“There she is,” S?las’ smoky voice muses next to me. I can hear the smug smirk on his lips without even looking at him. He’s drawing idle circles on my lower back, inspecting me, trying to figure out what I’m thinking now that my thoughts are unclear.
I straighten my shoulders and gaze at myself in the mirror. I drag my power from its infinite well, reinforcing my veins, my bones, my muscles to give me strength for today.
As my magic courses through me, my translucent hair begins shimmering. Appearing to move on phantom winds, twinkling like starlight. Mmm, that’s a little too much. I rein in my magic, my chest-length hair returning to its typical, unnatural, wraith-like demeanor.
A wraith. Hmm. I suppose I am more like one than I realize. Perhaps that’s where my darkness comes from—an ethereal harbinger of death. A weapon for the Fates to wield in their endless games.
If they want me to become a wraith, a weapon? Done.
“I’m not gonna lie. That feral look she has is turning me on,” Seraph says with a rakish grin teasing her lips.
S?las curses under his breath, knowing his best friend all too well.
In being born female, I’ve learned to hone more than just metal and magic into weapons.
I prowl right up to Seraph, tracing my finger down the corded muscle of her neck, my voice sultry and low. “He gets rather possessive over me, particularly when thoughts of all three of us in a bed run wild through my mind. Luckily for you, he can’t read my thoughts right now.” I smirk with a wink.
S?las is immediately behind me, growling down my neck, “That wicked mouth of yours is going to be the death of me. Where has this sudden surge of energy come from, my starlight?”
I turn in his arms to face him. “If the Fates want me to be a weapon in their game, then I shall become one. Yet I shall be my only wielder.”
“I would expect nothing less. And where does this game leave me?” S?las purrs, eyes darkening with desire and pride.
“Beside me, I hope, continuing to sharpen my edges and inspiring me to see all that I can be.”
“Consider it done.” Sealing his promise on my lips with a burning kiss, withering all my fears into nothingness.
“As much as I hate to break up this skraith, tender moment… We need to go, unless you want to find out what Atlas’ wrath looks like.” Seraph arches a brow.
I huff a laugh, trying to envision an angry Atlas as I follow her out of the bathroom.
Kissa links my arm as we make it out the door from my room. “Glad to see you have your color back. Next time we hang out, can it be just us, without an all-powerful being possessing you?”
I shoot her a side-eyed glare, letting her know exactly how unamused I am with her unreasonable ask.
Kissa cackles. “It was worth a shot. I never thought I’d prefer going back to a time when finding you covered in others’ blood was a preferable outcome.”
“I have a feeling that’ll still be a regular occurrence, don’t you fret,” I sarcastically croon, tapping her cat-like nose, rousing a hiss from her lips. A giggle bubbles from my chest before it’s muffled by the blooming aching of the bond.
Without even searching for him, S?las is instantly by my side, soothing my soul.
“Missing me already, Luxsula?” he says with far too much confidence in his tone. I know whatever I feel is tenfold for him.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I taunt. It’s obvious he doesn’t enjoy the lack of being able to read my thoughts clearly.
“Be careful. I’d hate to see you trip and stumble down these steps.” A devilish grin curls on his face.
“You wouldn’t dare! If I died, so would you,” I say with shock those words even left his mouth.
“Apparently, you’re immortal.” He winks. “However, I’d happily follow you into death… but you’re right, I wouldn’t. I could never hurt you. I’m slightly appalled you thought I would.”
“I didn’t.”
“The shock in your face says otherwise.” He smirks.
“Careful, or maybe I’ll slip just to torture you,” I snark as I pretend to stumble.
S?las panics, encasing me in shadows. The rest of the walk, he stubbornly refuses to uncoil his arm from around my waist.