65. ACHERON
Ash thought the best day of his life was the day he found Sofreya again. Ever since that day, his life, his soul, his entire Fate-forsaken being grew brighter and brighter. But today had to top them all. For today was the day Ash was going to meld his lifeforce with Sofreya’s. They were going to seal their fates, their souls, their bond and their power.
He’d never been surer about anything in his life. To think he was going to spend the rest of his immortal life riding the highs and lows of life with her. Her. He’d been counting his lucky stars since he’d found her again. There were far too many to count.
Ash looked at himself in his closet mirror and smiled. Tall. Strong. Free. His younger self would be proud right now.
Your dream came true.
Cal jumped up, tail wagging furiously, pushing into Ash’s thighs. Dirty paw prints dusted on his loose white pants and blouse. “Ready to go, buddy?” Ash leaned down and fixed the white bow tie he’d made for Cal. “Looking sharp.” Ash scratched Cal’s forehead.
The hellhound spun in circles and his tongue rolled out the side of his mouth.
Suddenly, Cal fell eerily still. His head tilted toward the bedroom door.
Cal sniffed the air. His flaming tail was rim-rod straight and his hackles were up. Ash stilled. “Hey Deymy! You alright?”
No response.
Cal moved backward, barking violently at the door.
“Cal! Stop! Sit!” Ash commanded.
But the hellhound did not stop.
Ash pushed past Cal. “Ssh. On me,” he whispered.
Immediately, Cal ceased his violent barks and glued himself to Ash’s side. They were partners in crime. Ash pulled out a knife he’d hidden in his draw as he slowly advanced to the living room. The cool evening breeze flew through the house. The front door was left wide open. The faintest smell of sea and sunshine lingered in the air.
Shit. Where’s Deymos?
Ash moved quietly to the front door, checking corners as far as his eyes could see. Cal prowled right next to him, ready to pounce once given the command.
Light footfalls sounded and grew closer.
Ash raised his knife, ready to strike.
“Acki!” Tenerife’s tiny voice shrilled into the air.
Ash quickly tucked the knife away and bent down on one knee. Tenerife crashed into Ash, wrapping her little arms around his neck. “Hey Tene.” Ash laughed. “What are you doing here? Where’s Amina?”
Cal took a step back and growled at Tenerife.
She booped him on the nose, which sent Cal absolutely feral. His barks grew more violent.
“Cal. Go to your bed. Now.” Ash bellowed, confused by the way the hellhound was acting.
Cal whimpered before obeying. It didn’t stop him from growling at Tenerife as he trotted into the bedroom, Ash closed the door and locked it at a distance with his powers.
Tenerife peered up to Ash with her dark onyx eyes. Her blonde curls were pulled into tiny pigtails. She pulled at his arm. “Acki?”
“Yes, Tene?”
Before he could stop it, hot pain sliced through Ash’s chest.
Ash looked down to where his blood began to seep into his white blouse, stunned. A blade with a handle carved of the blackest stone laced in shadows and dark magic protruded from his chest.
No.
Tenerife’s small hand was no longer small.
A larger hand was there now.
Blood gurgled up in Ash’s throat as he stumbled back.
No.
Through the pain that threatened to pull him into a deep, sleepy darkness, Ash looked up. Where Tenerife stood a moment ago, stood a female. Her light-blue hair, sea-green eyes and iridescent skin was nothing like he’d seen before.
Her face was pulled into a scowl as she kicked him onto the floor.
He felt his chest almost cave as the force of his fall knocked the wind out of him. His wound wasn’t repairing itself. Blood trickled all over his shirt and onto his hands as he clutched his chest desperately.
The female was upon him instantly, gripping her hand into his black hair. She yanked his head back as he sputtered more blood.
“What spell did you use on her? TELL ME!” She wrenched his hair tighter. “WHAT SPELL DID YOU USE ON HER!?” she screamed and spat in his face.
Ash had no idea who she was talking about. He gritted his teeth and shook his head as much as he could. He could feel the dirty clutches of death knocking on his door. He couldn’t even reach his lightning. Something dark was stopping him.
The female, with her slimy skin, pushed her fingers onto his forehead, sending through a tendril of sea-scented mana.
Memories of Sofreya and the time they shared together flashed before his eyes. Her laugh. The way the sun reflected on her skin. The way her nose scrunched when she was angry. The way her lips felt on his.
“Ohhhh . . .” the female cooed. “He’s not going to like that.” She laughed fully. Her chest shook with joy, before she stood up, kicking him in the guts.
Ash let out a pained groan.
The sounds of her booted footsteps grew distant.
And as she left, a high-pitched ringing started in his ears. His vision grew hazy. All Ash could feel was the cold bite of the evening air. He could barely move. The hot burn of the shadowy blade was excruciating but was the only reminder that a small part of his soul was still hanging on.
The sound of a door crashing reverberated in the air.
Cal came clambering to Ash, whining and whimpering. He nuzzled his nose into Ash’s arm as if to say Quick, get up! What are you doing?
But Ash couldn’t move. He no longer had the strength. Whatever power the shadowy blade held was stopping him.
Tears spilled from Ash’s eyes as he lay there helpless. The sounds of Cal’s cries filled his ears as he let out pained cries of his own. Sofreya was waiting for him. She was counting on him to not break her heart. Yet here he was, on the floor, breaking the one promise he had made to her. The pain of that alone outweighed the physical gaping wound at his chest.
The Fates were cruel to exact this on him. Now of all times.
It turned out that love was not just the name in which people started wars. Love was the final embers of Ash’s very existence. It was the cliff edge he clung onto by the skin of his teeth. If this were to be his final resting place, Ash found that he didn’t mind. At least he had the privilege of holding Sofreya in his heart. At least he’d found her again.
She was all that mattered in his universe.
The starlight in his storm.