When, one day, the world just suddenly ends, Em stumbles into the nothing, an empty void that lies beneath the surface of reality, the sole occupants of which are malevolent shadow beings called glowdarks.
Only a select number of individuals possess...
"All right." He makes a squinty face, as if he's lost deep in thought. "Nephilim."
"Nope."
"Vampire."
"Double-nope."
"A half-unicorn half-mermaid from hell on a never-ending quest for redemption."
I snort. "Now you're just making stuff up."
"They're real, I swear." He winks. "I'm all out of guesses."
My cross feels heavy around my neck. I go to grab it, and it scalds my skin. "I'm the reincarnation of an ancient witch hell-bent on bringing an end to existence itself."
"You know, I was just about to guess that."
"Shut up," I say, punching him playfully in the arm. The sudden movment snaps me back to reality. This isn't me—not anymore. I'm not this frivolous. "Look, uh, what did you say your name was again?"
"Colby," he says.
"Colby," I repeat. "I'd really rather not... it's just... I can't."
He nods. "I get it. You've been through a lot. I wasn't here to... Okay, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it. Em is a great guy. I've known him since preschool. He's practically a brother to me. But he doesn't think with his head. He cares, you know? And people who care... there's no room for them in the new world."
I cast a sidelong glance in his direction. "What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying Strix doesn't give a damn about us. She's willing to let us pass right through to Ganeden. It's Eloise she's got a problem with. But Em has made it very clear that no one's going to touch a hair on her pretty little demonic head. Even if it winds up getting the rest of us killed."
A funny feeling bubbles up in my chest and I break into laughter.
He makes a weird face. "Something I said?"
I bottle the laughter, wiping the tears out of my eyes. "You want me to back you up when you turn against him, right? Because I'm the all-powerful witch who can turn people to ashes with a single glance."
He shrugs. "Something like that."
"Let me make something clear," I say, grabbing him by the throat. I squeeze, watching the life drain out of him. His pain is an elixir, and I thirst for it. The cross burns through my shirt and sears my flesh. Finally, I let him go, and he drops to his knees, gasping for air. I crouch down and look him in the eyes. "I serve no one. I couldn't care less about you mortals. Don't you ever try to drag me into your petty squabbles."
He should fear me. He should run for his life. But instead, he just smirks. "Good talk," he says before dusting himself off and leaving me to reflect upon my actions.
I totally lost it. I allowed She of the Many Shadows to take over. The last time that happened, Jun was able to stop her, to bring me back. But if it happens again, I'll be lost.
I squeeze on my cross and stare up into the sky. The empty heaven above. If there is a Master of Light, he's probably laughing. He enjoys this. I tug on the chain until it snaps. Taking a deep breath, I throw the cross as hard as I can. I watch it plop into the water and vanish beneath the black surface of the sea.
I won't be needing it anymore.
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Author's Note:
Jewel has given in to despair, allowing She of the Many Shadows to take control. This doesn't bode well for anybody, does it? With the portal to paradise just around the corner, tensions have never been higher amongst the group. But, as you've probably already guessed, things are only going to get worse from here on out.
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