Head spinning, I returned to my cell with a sense of frustration.
What Zachary said left a tangled mess of questions piling onto the confusion already swirling in my mind since the moment I was thrown back into this place.
He didn’t have all the answers either, which only made things worse. My thoughts were spiraling, and the more I tried to make sense of it all, the more it felt like my head was about to explode.
One thing was certain: the moment I started hearing Chaos’s voice whispering inside my mind, I knew sealing Zeke back wouldn’t be as easy as the Rulers made it seem. Chaos had his own twisted agenda, and now that the descendant’s curse was clinging to my soul, I was certain it was feeding into Discordia’s return.
That must be why Lelith was willing to sacrifice herself. Zeke alone might not be enough to hold everything back anymore.
I groaned and clutched my head.
None of this was adding up yet, but one thing was clear—I couldn’t let Lelith go through with it. If she became human, she’d suffer the same fate as Mother Alexa.
When a god loses all their power in an instant, their body deteriorates, their mind fractures. The years they should have aged catch up to them all at once. I wasn’t about to let that happen again. Not to Lelith, not to anyone.
I turned toward the cell gate, frowning. It hadn’t shut yet. That was odd. Normally, it would have locked the moment I stepped inside.
My brows furrowed.
Where in the ever-loving name of Pete did Aiden’s seal go?!
Careful, I reached out and tapped the railings. No jolt of lightning, no magical backlash—nothing.
I scratched my chin. “Yosuke?”
No response.
I tried reaching out to the others through telepathy, but there was only silence.
Kevin? Maybe Charlotte?
Whoever broke the seal, I hoped they realized I still wasn’t sure about escaping. Whatever my so-called allies were planning, it could cost all of us our lives.
I sighed and carefully shut the gate myself before sitting on the bed—
Wait. This bed wasn’t here when I left for my meal.
I barely batted an eye. At this point, my ability to react to absurdity had been thoroughly dulled.
An exasperated snort left me as I flopped onto my back and stared at the misty brick ceiling. My thoughts were too tangled to unravel.
One at a time, I told myself, but where was I even supposed to start?
Maybe it would’ve been better if I had stayed home. I could’ve focused on finding the Sorcerer’s Book and fulfilled Mother’s wish before I disappeared for good.
But I’d chosen this path.
The Rulers had summoned me to tame the last descendant, knowing full well he wasn’t ordinary. Knowing there was only a slim chance I’d survive.
They wanted me dead.
I only realized it after Anthony told me about Discordia. They were trying to get rid of both me and the last descendant before we lost control of our inner demons. Before we became a bigger threat than the gods could handle.
I bit my lip.
All I ever wanted was my freedom. Instead, I’d gotten myself tangled in something far worse. And now that I knew the truth, I hated myself for resenting Lelith all these years.
Tears pricked at my eyes.
If I stayed and let them seal Zeke and Lelith’s power inside me, maybe I’d have a fighting chance against the last descendant. But Lelith and Mother would be dead before I could even try.
If I escaped, if I followed whatever plan Charlotte and the others had, I might save Lelith and Mother. But if Chaos took over me, if the last descendant awakened… I could doom everyone instead.
“I broke Aiden’s seal, which could very well cost me my title as a general, so you could escape unnoticed—and you’re just lying there?”
I opened my eyes to find Anthony leaning against the wall, arms crossed, scowling at me like an impatient babysitter.
“What are you doing here?” I asked dryly, pushing myself up.
“Helping you, obviously!” He sat on the edge of my bed, running a hand down his face. “Gods, I forgot how stubborn you are.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean, why?” His forehead creased in exasperation. “Did you already forget everything I told you?”
I sighed. “Are you with Charlotte and the rest?”
He nodded, though his gaze flickered toward my neck. The bite mark. His expression darkened.
“The fireball’s setting. You need to get out of here now.”
“I don’t know,” I muttered, dropping my gaze to the dusty floor. “I don’t understand anything anymore, Anthony. My mind is a mess.”
“You do understand,” he countered softly. “That’s why you’re hesitating.”
“Yes!” I whispered hoarsely. “I’m sorry, but… I have to stay.”
Anthony exhaled sharply and glanced at the small barred window. The sky was already darkening.
“I see,” he murmured. “I see.”
His lips twisted, but he didn’t argue.
“It was my idea to break you out,” he admitted. “The others agreed because they were afraid you’d die if the sealing failed. I knew you’d still choose to stay, but I had to try.”
His shoulders sagged. “Before our father died, I made a vow to protect you. You’re my only sibling. It’s my duty to keep you safe, but… I don’t think I can, not in this world.”
I smiled bitterly. “I know. I wish we had been born as normal humans.”
He placed a hand on my shoulder. “Do what you think is right. We’ll help you however we can.”
The tears finally spilled over. Anthony and I had never been close, but I hadn’t realized just how much he cared until now.
He didn’t stay long. Before leaving, he cast a new seal—an imperfect replica. Aiden would notice immediately, but I’d just have to play dumb.
• • •
A restless night didn’t change my decision.
Now, standing before the Rulers in the council chamber, my hands were chained like some serial killer. Two towering angels flanked me—one good, one evil. My former guardian angels, ironically.
Aiden shot me a skeptical look. He knew.
Damn it.
“How are you?” Lelith asked gently.
I didn’t look at her. “Peachy. Are the chains really necessary?”
“Yes,” Aiden snapped. “Just in case you actually go through with escaping like we expected.”
“But I didn’t.” I blinked innocently.
Adonis folded his arms. “Carter talks too much. I wouldn’t be surprised if you already knew what we were planning.”
“Oh, yeah, about that.” I smirked. “How can you just offer me to any god if you fail to seal Zeke back in me? I’m your best bet against the last descendant! Have you all lost your—OW!”
The ‘good’ angel smacked me. My skull cracked. Probably.
“What was that for?!”
Lelith stepped forward and cupped my cheek. “My daughter,” she whispered, a tear slipping down her face.
I could only stare. Lelith, she has always been a mother—someone I desperately want to let go.