35. Karmic Justice
TESSA
Our month-long honeymoon-like vacation is likely ending soon. We made the most of it and visited places around the world during our time off. We’ve been going on dates in Paris or popping right to the top of Mount Everest for the views. Whatever tickles our fancy.
As if my depressing thoughts of things coming to an end summon its arrival, Megan pops into our kitchen. Fortunately, it’s during our breakfast and not while we were enjoying each other only a half hour before.
“Hello, ya pervs,” she greets, crossing her arms and cocking her hip out. “Playtime is over.”
We collectively grumble and sigh, slumping back in our chairs and not feeling hungry anymore. None of us are excited about soon having to spend our days apart while we were working for Death or Karma.
“You’ve all been asked to report to the underworld in an hour.”
That gets my attention real quick. “All of us?”
“Yep.”
Kurtis narrows his eyes at her. “Why?”
“None of my business.” Megan shrugs and grabs a muffin off the counter like we invited her to pilfer our food. “Dude, I’m just the messenger. But if I had to guess, things are about to be shaken up.”
Before we can ask her what the fuck that means, she pops away.
The four of us sit in silence and stare at each other for a solid minute.
“That can’t be good, can it?” Dante asks.
“Only one way to find out,” I say, reminding myself that Death has been a chill and caring boss. I doubt he would give us this time if he only meant to kill us off now.
We abandon our breakfast and hurry to the showers to get ready for the meeting.
With my Death magic, I’m able to transport my guys with me to the underworld. They all shiver after we materialize, shaking off the cold of Death’s power.
Speaking of Death, he’s in his cloaked garb, standing in the main receiving room where the agents come and go. A grand central station of sorts.
“Right on time.” Death waves us forward. He turns to lead us down the library corridor. “Follow me. We have much to discuss.”
Anxiousness rises within us, but we comply, almost running to keep up with his unnaturally long strides.
We enter the library and the guys glance around in awe. It’s huge. So big you can’t see the end of it. When I first started working here, I’d been tempted to walk down one of the rows, but I was afraid I’d be lost forever. That was before I had my transport magic, so perhaps I could risk it now.
Karma walks out from behind the stacks. “I trust you had a lovely vacation time?”
We give her our thanks for the gift of the retreat and the time off.
“Do you wish to keep the house?” she asks.
I glance at my guys, and they nod. “We would, but I suppose that decision might be influenced by whatever we have to talk about today.”
“Yes, on to the reason for this meeting,” Death agrees in his devastatingly deep voice. “Have you given any thought about where your future is leading you? Or have you been too… preoccupied?”
I blush. It’s weird when your boss knows too much, like about me boning three guys.
“I’ve given it some thought.” I wring my hands together, because it feels odd to admit this. “I don’t feel like I belong here anymore. No offense. You’re an amazing boss. It’s just when I think about coming back, my instincts warn it isn’t the right answer.”
“So you’ve noticed the shift in your power?” Karma asks. “And how you have grown in strength?”
“I’ve felt it.” I look at my guys again. Part of that boost in strength seems to come from them. Their devotion to me, but it seems crazy to admit.
“Yes.” Karma reads my expression. “You would have come into your power with the proper conditions on your own. For your whole life, Instant made sure you were weakened until she could take over control and claim your power for herself.” Karma acknowledges my guys. “I suspect she was hoping to slowly consume your three soul mates for their energy to maintain your powers. But Tessa, you’re strong in your own right.”
“I figured as much when she went back for them, but what does this have to do with my future?” I ask. Then add, because it feels like this is bigger than just me. “ Our future?”
“Instant would have been able to use your power,” Karma explains. “But she would never have been as powerful using your unique gifts as you can be with them, since they are tied to your soul. And to your soulmates.”
“So they are my soulmates?”
They each place a hand on my shoulders and give me a light squeeze, letting me know they’re there and supporting me in whatever comes our way.
“Your mates have fueled you,” Death answers. “And now that you feel safe enough to access your power, it will only continue to grow. You’re correct—you no longer belong here. You are a goddess in your own right.”
“But if I’m a goddess…” This is still hard to wrap my head around. Sure, my guys kept calling me their goddess, but I thought it was just them being adoring with a nickname. “What would I be a goddess of?”
“Your ancestor was the death god of karmic justice.” Death moves closer and I swear I can see beyond the shadow of his cloak—everything and nothing. “So your path should be in line with that manifestation.”
“I’d be a death god?” My mouth goes dry with the implications.
What am I?
“Well, that, but for karmic justice,” Karma adds.
“How so?” My heart pounds in my chest. It was one thing to be a reaper, but this feels like the beginning of something huge.
“We believe you are meant to be the goddess to keep an eye on all the gods and entities.” Karma moves closer, and I feel her power more keenly than before. I definitely have more juice.
“You can keep the gods in line,” Karma adds. “Make sure they aren’t abusing their power—like Instant did.”
“I’d be like the god police? Keeping them in check? Keeping tabs?”
“And be their executioner, if it’s required,” Death says, like that isn’t a big fucking deal.
“Why me?” Panic rises in me. This feels like too much responsibility. To be police, judge, jury, and executioner.
“You have an innate sense of karmic balance. Justice.” Karma nods to Death. “We can both see you will make the correct calls when it comes to big decisions about how to enact that justice. You aren’t prone to overreacting. Instead, you have a habit of using intuition and making rational decisions. That will only grow with experience and learning to trust your enhanced instincts. We expect with your devotees at your side, they will help keep you grounded in your new role.”
“We get to stay with her?” Kurtis blurts out.
Karma smiles. “Yes, I relieve you of your Karma duties to support your new goddess. All four of you will be as immortal as any other god.” She looks at me. “What do you say, Tessa?”
I don’t answer, but spin to talk to my guys. Ultimately, this is my decision. But if they are my soulmates, I want to check in with them.
Their faces are filled with excitement, fear, pride, and so many other emotions that I can hardly process it all.
“I support you,” Dante says before I can ask their thoughts.
“No matter what,” Evan adds.
I look at Kurtis, and he smiles.
“This sounds scary as fuck.” Kurtis grasps my hand and holds it to his chest. “But it also sounds like it’s what you are meant to do. And if I can be by your side, loving you, worshiping you, then that’s what I want. If you’ll have me.”
I reach out to them, an unspoken agreement in our eyes. We’re doing this. Taking on the big bad in the universe. And I get to do it with my men at my side.
We fall into a group hug and a golden glow lights up our bodies. I sense it goes deeper, down to the soul level. We are born anew with our acceptance of our upgraded powers.
Finally, I have people in my life who I trust and who trust me. People who love me unconditionally.
Tears well in my eyes as I realize I get to spend the foreseeable future with my best friends, my fellow spiritual warriors, and my loves. Together, we will help heal the world.
THE END