99. Violette
VIOLETTE
After crossing the river’s steps, we find the cervahnith waiting for us.
I’ve only ever read about them in lore—something so ancient and elusive that eventually everyone assumes they’ve either vanished from existence or never existed in the first place.
From what little I’ve read about them and seen depicted, they represent death in all its forms, although they never do the killing themselves.
They simply lead one to it, and the realms beyond.
It can’t possibly be a mere coincidence that we are greeted by a cervahnith with a borderline suicidal god of death who’s also lost his powers and his incorporeal form... ?
Levi stalks in front of us, beside the cervahnith, maintaining his usual stoic ambience, but I can feel the tension radiating down our tether.
It makes me want to hug him.
Reassure him that no matter what comes to pass?—
My skin prickles with awareness, drawing my gaze in multiple directions. I lock eyes with another cervahnith several dozen feet away—a female—before I see another, and another.
A great yawn sounds from above, and I crane my neck upwards to see a sphynx perched on a nearby, moss-covered boulder that’s taller than a house.
Another appears from behind her, tilting her head at me in clear curiosity.
Both of luminous, iridescent fur and black eyes, completely void of sclera.
They both offer me soft, albeit surprised smiles, revealing their fangs before lowering their heads in a bow.
The distinct sound of a uniquely canine huff reaches my ears, and I shift to see a black lykanthros in its giant wolven form now walking beside us.
They’re all liminarchs.
Gatekeepers and guardians to other worlds.
How did I not know the Aersyan forest was home to liminarchs?
Azrael’s arm suddenly shoots in front of me, stopping me in my tracks. I was so lost in thought, I nearly walked straight into the cervanith’s giant, sinuous hindquarters, halting in front of me as we reached a small clearing. Just beyond it, a stone edifice leading into a mountain tunnel.
I look up at Azrael to see him watching me, concern knitting his features.
The cervahnith shifts to face us.
“You are welcome to forage. Kill nothing.”
When none of us object, he continues, gesturing to the foreboding stone archway leading into Akash knows where.
“You might find sleep inside the chamber of corpses beside your milra kelyfis.”
Milra Kelyfis?
My mind searches for meaning to the strange words, and is only able to produce a literal translation.
Beloved Carapace?
What the fuck is that?
I want to gag as my mind produces the image of some enormous insectoid creature’s shell-like body.
“Charming.” Azrael snorts a derisive laugh. “You expect us to sleep in a mausoleum?”
Levi stares at the cervahnith, blinking, as subtle tension forms in his brow. “Might?”
The cervahnith shrugs. “Do or don’t. I imagine you’ll visit the chamber of corpses soon enough.”
Levi’s lip curls. “Is that a threat?”
The cervahnith’s brows leap, wearing a mask of innocence and surprise. “In all my eons, not once have I harmed another.”
Entirely unconcerned with the cervahnith’s threat-not-threat, Azrael growls at no one in particular. “I am a god of death, and even I do not sleep among corpses.”
The Cervahnith tilts his head at him in question. “Are you though? Still?”
Azrael rears back like the words just punched him in the face. The cervahnith waits for a reply, and my heart shatters when Azrael can’t seem to muster one. His hand grasps his chest like the organ within is about to fail at the false realization this blasted creature has just thrust upon him.
Shooting a glare at the cervahnith, I tug Azrael close, grasp his beautiful face between thumb and forefinger, forcing his gaze to mine.
“What you are is mine. No matter your title or power, no one in this world will be able to fill the space you have so unceremoniously carved into my heart. Do you understand?”
The fact that mere weeks ago, I would have lamented such a declaration doesn’t miss me. Now, I am proud of it and resolute.
The words, I love you, are on the tip of my tongue, but just as I was with Levi, I find myself unable to say them.
Azrael’s eyes shine with unshed tears as he manages to nod. Satisfied, I turn to face the cervahnith.
“You demand our respect—we have every right to demand yours. Do not speak so carelessly to my mates, or I might lose my temper and carelessly spill someone’s blood.”
The cervahnith’s tone remains cool. Indifferent.
“I merely sought an answer to a question that, until now, has never been asked.” His eyes shift back to Azrael. “If you find the answer, I would like to know.”
Levi’s voice steals the cervahnith’s attention. “Do you know where he went?”
“I cannot fathom why you think I would know.”
What an asshole.
“But like all corporeal things, they are tied to the incorporeal. One cannot exist without the other... At least not in any cohesive form.”
Azrael’s bronze pallor nearly turns alabaster, and finally, there is something like a flicker of compassion in the cervahnith’s gaze.
Wait... that can’t mean...
“I would imagine you will be drawn back together soon enough.”
Tendrils of unease seep through me as I try to harden my will against the possibility of Azrael’s shadow not returning.
He will return.
Surely...
The cervahnith gestures vaguely at the forest around us before pointedly meeting our gazes and repeating. “You are welcome to forage. Kill nothing.”
Tension lines Levi’s features as he scans the forest. “Can you expand upon that? So we can avoid unwittingly eating something poisonous.”
The cervahnith looks mildly offended. “Poison? There is nothing here that will bring you harm.”
Levi doesn’t look remotely convinced. “Well, what do you eat?”
The cervahnith gives him a pleasantly surprised look. “I don’t. Not in the same way you eat, at least.”
Levi’s expression grows bored as he heaves a sigh. The cervahnith turns to leave, and I realize our former audience has disappeared. “You will not find us after dusk.”
Pardon?
“You’re leaving?”
He calls back, not bothering to look back. “This is not our home.”
Now I’m doubly confused. “Where is your home then? And why are you here?”
Finally, he pauses, glancing over his shoulder. The line of his profile glows against a brief sliver of sunlight peaking through the clouds and treetops, even as snowflakes continue to drift around us. His brow knits together as if the answer should be obvious.
“For you, of course.”