Alless’s expression shifted from one of excitement to one of adoration and fulfillment. “Thank you for sharing. I wish I could ask you so many more questions, but we don’t have the time. You came to me for answers.”
“Right. So…” I took a deep breath. “What about from now on? Now that I’ve met Syrion and Daath, now that I’m Spirit, will I live forever, or-”
She smiled sadly, and that mere expression halted my question. “You will die. Once you die, you will be reborn. Some of your life spans may be short. Others may last centuries. But you will always be the Queen, and you will always be the completion of the trio, the Spirit. You will always return to join Death and Life.”
Tears fell from my eyes as she spoke. I’d been trying not to think of it, honestly. I knew that as a human, I had a life expectancy of maybe seventy or so years, but I’d hoped being a reaper would save me from that fate. I never wanted to leave Daath and Syrion. But to find out in the same moment that not only would I die, but I would be reborn, I would find them again, love them again… I wasn’t sure which was more prevalent, joy or terror.
Alless took my hand and squeezed it. I looked up at her and smiled as I wiped my face. “Thank you… thank you for explaining all of this.” I was still anxious for what was to come, but for the first time since the night Lindsay and I went to that night club where I was attacked by the reaper, I felt clarity.
“There’s still more you want to know, isn’t there?”
I blinked. There was, but I’d nearly forgotten that I wanted to ask. “Yes, actually… I have a question about the Upper World.”
Alless had a knowing smile and nodded. “Yes?”
“Why does no one talk about it? And if Syrion is its ruler… why isn’t he there?”
“The Upper World exists, but many consider it a myth because it’s closed. It will remain closed off completely until Life, the King of the Upper World, accesses it. People have been trying to ascend to the Upper world as long as time has existed, but it will never work until its King sits on his throne.”
I frowned at that. “I don’t understand. Then why hasn’t Syrion done that?”
“When I foretold the prophecy, it was as much for you as it was for him,” she sighed. “It was my job as the Seer to find him, to tell him. Before I could… Minerva killed me.”
I looked down and bit my lip. “Alless, I’m so sorry. I feel like you died for me…”
She looked at me with an obvious expression of confusion but smiled. “But I don’t feel that way. I died for an evil woman’s vanity. No one caused that but Minerva herself. Besides, even if I had died for you, I can’t imagine a better way to go, your majesty.”
I smiled warmly at her and squeezed her hand. “Thank you… tell me one more thing. How can I help Syrion to ascend?”
“You can’t,” she shook her head. “He doesn’t need your help. All he needs is your trust.”
I wasn’t sure what she meant, but I nodded anyway. “Okay… and there’s nothing-”
“One more thing,” she cut me off with a thoughtful look. “I want to tell you, during my life, I always had an affinity for the name Tawney.”
I blinked and felt my expression melt into one of confusion. I was about to ask her what she meant and why she told me that, but she cut me off by shaking her head. “There is nothing else I’m meant to tell you, your Majesty.”
I frowned. “What?”
“That’s all I needed to say to you.” Alless smiled as she stood. “I’ve fulfilled my purpose, and you’ve fulfilled yours here.”
I stood myself and looked around, more than a little frustrated by the sudden dismissal of the conversation. “If you say so…” I still felt like I had so many questions, but none that I knew how to ask.
“Don’t worry,” she took my hand in both of hers. “There’s nothing else you need to know.”
I wasn’t quite sure I believed that, but I knew I should trust her, anyway. “Alless, thank you for everything.” I hugged her tightly. “This has made things so much clearer.” In some ways, at least.
She smiled and nodded. “Goodbye, Spirit. I am honored to have met you.”
“The honor is mine,” I smiled back.
I began to walk back. My mind flooded with questions about what she’d said and about the future, worries and excitement at the prospect of being Queen of not only Earth but every other living realm, and confusion over her parting thoughts. After walking for a few minutes, I stopped, closed my eyes, and black clouds swallowed me.
27
Syrion
I sat in the armchair next to Myrcedes’ bed where her body lay, just as Daath and I had done the first time she traveled to the Bay of Souls. That had taken several hours, but this had exceeded any other trip we’d ever known anyone to take where their soul left their body. After fourteen hours, we decided we should take shifts so we could get some work taken care of as well as sleep. About thirty-five hours after her departure, my brother slept on the couch while I kept watch. I’d begun to get concerned about how long she’d been gone. I’d even tried to wake her a few
