No matter how she replayed what had led Mark to be tossed from his home, she couldn’t see any justification for it. No matter how hard she tried to see this old man in a different light, she only felt anger towards him for the cruel way he’d treated her Mark.
“I still can’t believe he’s dead.”
She felt her gut clench. “I’m done talking to you about this.”
You don’t deserve to feel sad, or to pity yourself. You closed the door on your child a long time ago.
He sighed. “I actually wanted to talk to you about more than just Mark.”
The sensation of fingers moving down her spine made every hair on her body stand on end. “Then what? Spit it out.”
The old man set the staff back down and turned to her. “I’ve been reading over the ancient texts, including what little we have about the time when Caine took over and the Immortals lost their thrones.”
She held her breath.
“Something is missing.”
No shit, if we knew everything this whole mess wouldn’t be nearly as bad.
“Have you ever heard about demi-gods?”
She raised a brow. “Like half-gods?”
“Yes, the children of the Immortals.”
She shook her head.
“Well, they’re rare, and most of them have little to no power. Their power might be something as small as being particularly lucky, or living abnormally long, or being incredible beautiful. Something small like that couldn't unbalance the Immortals’ power. But—“ he paused. “Then, there is Caine. He's not a vampire, a witch, a merman, a gargoyle… nothing about him makes sense. He lacks the characteristics of any of the paranormal beings.”
“So what does that mean?”
He held her gaze. “I believe he might be something… forbidden, a dark secret that should have never been brought to life.”
That sounds… bad.
Her heart raced. “What?”
“A child of two Immortals.”
She stared. “I don’t understand. I mean, why would that be so forbidden?”
He regarded her as if she were stupid. “Because there has only ever been ten Immortals. For this very reason. It’s too dangerous. It can change the balance. And yet…”
“What?”
“The balance doesn’t feel off.”
She sighed, tired of the old man’s riddles. “And what does that mean?”
“I believe there is a twelfth Immortal.”
Her brows rose. “So we need to find one more?”
“No, you don’t. But what you should know is that Caine is even more dangerous than we ever imagined, and these Immortals may have secrets that could complicate our plans.”
Like we need more complications. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “I wish we druids could offer you our help in the battle, but that is not our way.”
Mark did. “I understand.”
Turning away, she wondered what the significance of twelve Immortals might mean, and how it could impact the war between the two sides. I guess we’ll see.
14
Surcy lay on the grass, staring up at the bright moon. She’d left the warmth and comfort of the inner-sanctuary, where all the Immortals and druids lay sleeping amongst the magic plants, to take a quiet moment to herself. Tomorrow, they would attack Zudessa. They would take on Caine and his angels. Either the battle would destroy them all, along with all hope at a better world, or everything would change forever.
For some reason, both futures scared her.
This was everything that they’d been working toward, but now the unknown loomed in front of her, and for once, she felt empty when she imagined the future. Tristan had said he’d bought them three days before Mark’s soul was destroyed, but did he and Daniel have the same time?
Or had she already lost them?
And can the Immortals really bring them back if that’s where they were sent? For some reason, she couldn’t imagine it could be that simple. She didn’t want to think about what her demons might be facing in such a terrible place.
It’s possible they can’t survive there.
The moon blurred in her vision as her eyes filled with tears. She didn’t know the answers, but an emptiness clawed at her center, one she feared meant her demons were lost to her forever.
“Surcy?”
She shot up, and her gaze connected with Clarence’s. No, not Clarence, the God of the Earth. After dipping into the waters, he’d announced that he hated his human-name for this lifetime, and that everyone could call him Adan.
“Do you need something?” she asked, frowning.
He glanced down at something in his hand, a little vial that seemed to contain nothing but water. His expression was uncertain as he shifted it between his fingers.
“Yes, angel. I know that you don’t work for us… but I have need of you.”
His words vibrated through her in the strangest way. She touched her chest and frowned.
“You felt it didn’t you?” he asked.
“What was that?” she whispered.
“That, is how it feels when your ruler speaks to you. Once we’re in charge once more, that feeling will grow stronger when we give a command. When we wish something, you’ll all feel it deep within you. It isn’t in the forceful way that Caine commands you. It will be something more natural. Because that’s the way it was meant to be.” He moved a little closer, his gaze holding hers. “We trusted Caine. We never imagined he would be capable of what he did. But as much as he thinks he seamlessly rules in our place, he doesn’t. If anyone remembered what it was like before, they’d know how much was missing.”
She believed him, but that wasn’t what bothered her. “So, when all this is over, I’ll serve you?”
He nodded, lifting a brow. “Isn’t that what you desire most? Isn’t that why you’ve done all of this for?”
I did it because the world was wrong, because innocent people were suffering in the demon realm, and angels were mostly heartless thugs.
And because my demons convinced me to help them.
Not so I could serve a better leader.
Slowly, she shook her head. “No. I mean, I never thought about what things would be like for me if we restored the ten of you to power.”
He didn’t speak, just waited, watching her closely.
“After
