“Then you ought to know I am one of the few immortal ones.”
Damn. That explains the old lady bit.
“Seems like a horrible way to exist. An eternity of watching everyone grow old and die.”
“I was sworn to help the last remaining gods by providing guidance to the Paradox,” Nexus states, sweeping her arms out.
I notice her robes are kind of ragged. Giant holes like in a slice of Swiss cheese are nestled in their thin folds. If I were going to spend all of eternity down in this pit of doom, I’d at least have some new clothes sent to me every now and then.
“Good, because I have no idea how to pull this off. Like, where do I even start? How do I actually kill the Four Horsemen? How—” I start.
Nexus holds out one very knobbed old finger. Its color isn’t very lively.
“No, dear. No time for that,” Nexus says.
“My team will reveal all the finer details of the how and when in good time. But right now, we have other things to discuss. Something that will determine the fate of all.”
Trust me, lady, I am wrapped up in all the fate of all currently. Hit me with your best shot.
“Okay then.” I shrug. “Though, I can’t see how figuring out ahead of time how to defeat my enemy doesn’t directly impact the ‘fate of all’ and kinda take priority here.”
I’m pacing and thinking as she watches me. Now I know how animals in cages feel.
“This quest to stop the end of the world can be done with a guide or without. Trust me, without is far worse and bloody.”
Oh, so she’s threatening me now? Well, I didn’t see that coming. Okay, I kind of did when she pulled me through the earth at 80 mph.
“Okay, so you’re here to guide me?”
Yes, it’s obvious and she already said it, but honestly, the woman is talking in circles. Cut to the chase already, Nexus.
“No, I’m here to see if you are worthy of guidance. If you pass my test, I will help you and your team; however, if you fail my test? Well you are on your own. Alone, that is, apart from your team, and given the situation with Rye, it’s doubtful he and his team will be much help.”
“What situation?”
She cackles, which feels like a slap in my face. Nobody seems to want to tell me anything straight to my face in this business. It’s starting to really piss me off.
“That’s not in my job description, sweetie. Ha. You could always ask him yourself!”
She’s still laughing and I am not really sure what’s so funny.
“Seriously? You are gonna be like that? Drop a bomb like that on my head and not tell me? I have rights you know. Like, if I am working with some mass serial killers, or maybe they are false gods and actually demons, either way, I deserve to know. So, tell me. Pretty please?”
Now is the time to pout and beg like a puppy for a bone. Nexus stops laughing, but it echoes a minute more.
“No.”
Exasperated, I toss my hands in the air and huff.
“What makes you think I am even going to say yes to this mission? I mean, I was told I could say no.”
“Before midnight a horse will give you a rose.”
“A horse will…okay, sure. That’s not insane at all.”
I roll my eyes to the ceiling of the underground cave and really think on that. I mean, considering everything, I suppose a horse presenting me with a rose isn’t all that insane.
“If you take the rose, you agree to take the mission. If you decline the rose, this will be the last days of civilization. I’m giving you this test so that you know going forward if you will have help or not. It may affect your decision.”
I think about it. So, accept the horse’s rose, accept the mission. Whatever, I already made up my mind before crazy lady sucked me into the ground. If for nothing else, I want to make sure my dad survives to see his grandchildren one day. At least, I hope it plays out that way. Still, something is bothering me. Why is Nexus the one telling me about this?
“Why didn’t the team tell me about this?”
“They didn’t know about it. Now, shall we begin?”
Huh. Seems like something they should have been included in but okay. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who doesn’t get told what the hell is happening.
“In what way can you help me?” I demand.
“I can protect your home with strong spells that ward off evil. I can lead you to the location of the weapons you will need to kill each of the horsemen, and yes, each one requires a different weapon. So, are we doing this or what?”
Her staff sparks again but doesn’t shoot off like the Fourth of July after-party. I’m curious about her magic, and having someone who can help me track down the weapons I’ll need while also protecting my father sounds pretty useful, but how do I know I can trust her?
Nexus taps her nails against the wood, clearly impatient with me for stalling, which just annoys me more.
“I’m sorry, you seem a bit annoyed. Is there something more important than helping me save the world?”
Yes, poking the proverbial bear of the Immortal Avo is going to go down as one of the dumbest, but ballsiest, things I have done. What can I say? I’m a true New Yorker.
“If you must know, Hamilton tickets.”
I scoff. Seriously?
“Are you freaking kidding me?”
“The world will end, think about it. When will I get another chance?”
I shake my head. Could this get any weirder?
“If you are certain that it will end, why are you even helping me?”
“My family swore an oath to be of service to the one who’s worthy. Now, personally, I don’t think the Paradox stands a chance against the horsemen. And here you are before me. I’d say our odds of
