I moved away from her, utterly disgusted. Every inch of me ached with humiliation and powerlessness. But I wasn’t sure what to believe. Anunit had not fooled me as badly as Death. Anunit had been pursuing her own agenda this entire time, and the more I learned about it, the clearer it became that she had a bone to pick with my maker. She claimed she wanted me to see Death for who she truly was, but she had accomplished that by revealing the existence of the true first Reaper. So what was her real reason for tricking me into releasing the World Crusher, too?
“What is it you really want? Chaos?” I asked, running a hand through my hair as I moved closer to Tristan. His close proximity helped me stay calm, and I needed myself wholly put together for whatever would follow.
Anunit shook her head. “No. I was going to forfeit the third trial if you told me you wouldn’t set the World Crusher free,” she said, and as much as I hated to admit it, she sounded genuine. Of course, I wasn’t a lie detector myself, but I’d learned enough about people and Reapers in particular to at least suspect deception when it was present. I was getting nothing from Anunit. Either she was honest, or she was the universe’s most accomplished liar. “Honestly. I just wanted you to read the World Crusher’s story. From the moment I learned about her, I knew Death had to be punished for this and her many other failings. When you came to me asking for a body… I thought the universe was basically telling me to have at it!”
I froze, picking up on something. “Wait. When did you learn about the World Crusher? And from whom?”
“It wasn’t the Spirit Bender, if that’s what you’re wondering,” she replied dryly. “He had heard faint rumors, but never any leads worth pursuing. I was the crazy one who followed up, chasing down even the quietest whispers. Lo and behold, I found Biriane, spoke to the Ghoul Reapers, yadda, yadda… The rest is history.” Anunit sighed. “Listen, I’m sorry it turned out this way. Like I said, the trials were a way for me to give you a truth I wasn’t sure you’d accept under different circumstances. I know Reapers worship Death. I used to think the world of her myself until I started pulling the shades back. The more light came through, the better I could see.”
None of us said anything for a while. I wasn’t sure what to believe anymore. I wanted to believe Anunit because it was easier than believing I’d been played for the universe’s utmost fool. I wanted to believe Anunit because it would mean I hadn’t made a colossal mistake. Death had made colossal mistakes, and she had absolutely failed at repairing them. This was a test of my character. How would I proceed, now that the crap had so viciously hit the fan?
“The World Crusher is free, though,” Anunit spoke up after a while. “Technically speaking, you did complete the trials, and I do owe you a living body. I’ve kept my end of the bargain. I have made you a living body, especially for you. It took some work, but the genetic material is strong enough to hold your Reaper spirit.”
“I can’t even talk about this right now,” I replied, waving her away. I kissed my husband’s cheek. “I need to be alone for a little while.”
Without sticking around to hear the reply, I walked away from the rubble and lost myself in the silence of this dead city. This was beyond my control now. There was nothing I could do to revert everything back to how I’d found it. She was gone. The ghouls were gone too. And Death… Crap, I had to tell Death.
Some minutes tumbled by like rolls of dust as the temperature rose toward noon. The city was a silent white splendor, and about fifty yards behind me, the Temple of Roses had been destroyed. After millions and millions of years, only a pile of stones and dirt and broken gemstones remained. I walked for a while longer, trying to get my thoughts together.
Yes, Death needed to know.
I’d lied to her, and it would likely cost me dearly, but if I were to be honest with myself, I did not regret coming here or learning the truth. I only wished I’d known about what it would take to break the seal. Sitting down, I crossed my legs and closed my mind off from everyone and everything to focus solely on Death. This would be an awkward conversation.
“Unending,” her voice came through like a pleasant melody in the back of my head. “How are things? Have you completed your task for Anunit?”
“I lied,” I said, cutting right to the chase. There was no point in stringing her along, anyway. Death had always detested being coddled. “I’m on Biriane.”
The silence that followed nearly broke me.
“I’m afraid I underestimated Anunit,” Death finally replied, her tone flat and devoid of emotion. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. “She led you to the World Crusher, didn’t she?”
“Yes. And I didn’t tell you because—”
“Because you were mad at me,” she sighed. Holy crap. She’d seen this coming somehow. Maybe not now, maybe a hundred years ago, but this was not the reaction of someone who’d been utterly blindsided. “It’s not hard to figure that one out. First, the soul fae, then Thezin. And now, this…”
“Yes. I needed to know the truth, and I couldn’t trust you
