But in the process I would be taking Death’s only hope for happiness. Could I live with myself if I went back on my word now? I wouldn’t see her again until it was my time to die for real. There was nothing she could do if I went back on my word. Well, nothing except maybe curse us again.
It was tempting. I was ashamed to admit it, but I was extremely tempted to turn my back on her and race out of there to enjoy my newfound freedom. But I’d already said goodbye to that future on the way up here. I’d made my peace with it. I was ready to move on.
I nodded.
Death stepped back, her lips parting in surprise. She’d apparently been bracing herself for disappointment. I felt a surge of gratitude for whatever had given me the strength to do the right thing. This poor minor goddess had been in pain long enough. It was time for her to be free too.
I dropped the knife. It clanged too loudly against the floor. The birds, which had finally gotten comfortable in their various resting places, took flight again, cawing in annoyance. I stepped toward Death, holding out my hands. “Take my humanity. I offer it to you willingly. Don’t waste it.”
“I promise not to take it for granted,” she whispered. “Not for a single moment.” She rested the backs of her hands over my palms. “I offer you my power and the responsibilities that come with it. There is no one more trustworthy or capable of bearing the burden of Mistress Death.” Her voice wavered. She looked down at our hands. They were the same size. “I did wish for us to be friends in the beginning. I wanted it more than anything.” She gave a tiny, shaky laugh. A tear escaped. “Now we shall never see each other again.”
“I’ll be collecting you,” I said through the rock of emotion in my throat. “Don’t forget about that. And, who knows? Maybe I’ll pop in from time to time and check up on you when I’m in this plane, collecting other souls.”
“If such a thing is possible, I have no doubt you will discover how.” Her aura glowed brighter, millions of tiny fireflies all rushing down her arms and flowing into me. “For you are far braver and cleverer than I.”
I focused on offering my humanity, small, frail, finite thing that it was. I poured myself out completely and soaked up her power, keeping the two channels separate in my mind’s eye. It was the weirdest feeling. The closest comparison I could think of was sitting in the sunshine after being in the snow for a long time. I was thawing out, replacing the bitter, stiff cold with a soft, warm heat.
I didn’t know if Charlie was watching this. I wasn’t technically dying. More like evolving into something else. But, just in case he could see what was going on, I smiled. Everything was going to be all right now. With a surge of power and a flurry of feathers, I left the land of the living.
October 11th, 2019
Is it fate that has brought us together? It can’t be chance. We never thought we could be enemies with our immortal brethren, but enemies we became. We never thought we would reunite with our enemies, but reunite we have.
If not for the twins, I would never have agreed to sit down with Segil and Izz. But Jasmine asked as part of an investigation they were working on, so we agreed. Anything to win their trust. Anything to get closer to answers. Anything to reach any sort of end.
I must confess, our meeting was far more civil than our last meeting in Brazil, but then again we were being watched carefully by Detective Campbell, who wasn’t afraid of Izz and Segil’s power. Anything they did would reflect badly on their political goals. Dare I say, I felt safe in this controlled environment.
We knew they were afraid. Proud and strong, but afraid nonetheless.
I almost felt sorry for them. I know the feeling too well. But since they allowed us to live through our last encounter when they were in complete control of their city, I’m certain they’ll let us live in a city they have so little control over.
I can’t say I’m surprised Fadele and Nij have finally come to attack their politically inclined brethren. It seems almost inevitable now that I think about it. One couple chose law and another chose outlaw.
And we the pacifists have found ourselves in the middle.
How poetic.
But like I said, now having met the miracle twins, now having the biggest connection to Death we have ever known embodied in this one girl, I’d do anything for her. If it means trust from Jasmine and her family, I would even put myself and Dymeka in harm’s way. For once that trust is established, we will meet Death through her somehow. I just know it.
Chapter 43
Charles
It was like having another vision, only this time I was watching myself die.
The process was slow. Agonizing. And surprisingly quiet. I meant that literally. I couldn’t hear anything aside from my ragged breathing and wild heartbeat as I got out of the car.
Something inside of me, something that had been there long enough for me to get used to it, had been unraveled. Taken. Cut out of me with surgical precision. It hurt at the time, but the second it was over, I knew we weren’t cursed anymore.
Still, I couldn’t celebrate or start crying in gratitude. Because I knew this was Jasmine’s doing. Death hadn’t been willing to undo this mess when my sister had asked the first time. That’s probably why she’d offered a trade when she’d cut open her
