Chapter Nine #3
Viktor startled for a moment, then laughed as he picked up the open bottle of wine on the table and poured them both a glass. “I guess you can sense the upgrade?”
Killian nodded as he accepted the glass of wine. “With the amount of power radiating off you, it’s hard not to. She must be very powerful.”
“She is, though I’m not exactly sure how. Her magic is the only thing that doesn’t seem to reset during each new cycle.”
“That’s interesting.” Arson rubbed his chin. “Her situation can’t be easy.”
“It’s not,” Viktor agreed solemnly. “I’ve witnessed some of what she has experienced, and it’s enough to drive someone completely crazy. Instead, she has endured everything with far more grace and dignity than I would have.”
“I actually have no idea what I’m doing most of the time,” Naomi announced as she walked outside.
Viktor immediately stood up and pulled out a chair for her. She smiled at him before taking a seat, then she grinned at the male sitting across the table.
“Hi, Arson.” She did a double-take when she noticed the other male. “You’re Killian Black?”
The reaper nodded. “I am. I’m guessing we’ve met before?”
She hesitated before shaking her head. “Only in passing.”
Viktor felt her panic through their bond. He didn’t understand her reaction, but he immediately reached for her hand to comfort her.
“I did meet him and his mate…briefly. There was a big mystery surrounding how they got together. I only heard rumors about it since I didn’t arrive at The Manor until several months later during that cycle, but I’m worried about saying something that might screw up their timeline,” she explained.
“Don’t worry, love. He won’t press you for information you don’t want to give.” Turning toward his friend, Viktor said, “There are some things you shouldn’t know yet.”
“Ah.”
Naomi relaxed when that was all he said. She sighed in pleasure when Viktor waved a hand and a steaming bowl of her favorite ramen with a variety of toppings and several side dishes appeared in front of her.
“Oh, wow, this is good,” she moaned around a mouthful of noodles. “Exactly what I was craving. Thank you, mate.”
Viktor smoothed a hand down her silky hair. “I’m glad you are enjoying it.”
More food appeared on the table, and the others began eating while they went back to discussing the raid. After several minutes, Arson glanced over at Naomi.
“I heard that you…acquired The Last Judgement.”
Naomi eyed him suspiciously. “And if I did?”
He laughed and held his hands up. “And nothing. I’m not going to fight you for it. It’s good that we can finally cross it off the list of missing items.”
“That wasn’t the only relic I stole from the bastard who had the sword,” she confessed.
Viktor coughed to cover his laughter. “We can discuss that later, and I will figure out a way to cross those items off the list as well.”
“You are so good to me.”
He smiled. “I try.”
“It’s quite odd,” Killian said. “I can’t sense your magic at all.”
Naomi nodded. “I know. No one seems to be able to.”
“But you clearly have god powers,” Arson pointed out. “Otherwise, Viktor wouldn’t have leveled up. Now that you are mated, his dark angel magic has completely merged with your magic. But I am only sensing it from him, not you. If I didn’t know better, I would think you are just a human.”
“It’s just one of the many mysteries I haven’t figured out yet.”
“Speaking of mysteries, I actually thought of something earlier that might be useful in breaking your curse,” Killian suddenly announced. “Giving someone a second chance at life isn’t something that is easily done. In fact, the only person I know of who has the power to resurrect a soul is Death.”
“Death, as in—?”
“Death of the Four Horsemen,” Viktor finished for her. “Unfortunately, he has been missing for centuries.”
“The Horsemen are real?” Naomi groaned. “Why do I feel I shouldn’t be hearing this?”
“I should probably mention that three of the four are missing, so there won’t be an apocalypse anything soon. At least, not one they cause,” Killian amended. “That is why I figured we could try a different approach. By breaking the curse.”
Naomi gasped. “You know how to break my curse?”
“Not exactly,” Arson admitted. “That would be almost impossible since we don’t know what kind of curse it is. If we guess wrong, it could have dire consequences if we make a mistake.”
“So, we came up with a way we might be able to disrupt the curse without actually breaking it,” Killian explained. “What better way to counter a death curse than by eating a piece of fruit from the Tree of Life?”
“The Tree of Life is real?” Naomi asked. “Why do I keep saying that? I swear, you people are unreal.”
“Says the girl who keeps dying and coming back to life,” Arson shot back.
“You have a point.”
“The tree is real, but it only gives out fruit to those it wants to,” Killian said. “I know where it is located, but there is no guarantee this will work.”
“It’s something I haven’t tried before. What’s the worst that could happen?” Naomi paused before adding, “Actually, if I end up choking and dying on a piece of fruit, I’m totally blaming you.”
Killian nodded. “Fair enough. Just remember…take small bites.”