Page 109 of Dance of the Phoenix

I’d also witnessed the dance of the Phoenix, though in its smaller, less brutal form. It used it singularly on Atalon, but it could just as easily use it to massacre hundreds of thousands if it so wished.

There were five levels of threats in the Realm of the Living. The first level included regular supernatural creatures, like vampires, Dryads, Malachi, and the like. The second level involved more complicated cases, like Aileen Henderson, being the awful Morrow Gods’ descendant. Level three usually pertained to supernatural creatures who developed extremely dangerous powers. Ragnor Rayne was such a creature, but since he had no ambition to use his powers for mass destruction, his threat level was considerably lower.

The fact that the Phoenix was level five, the highest of all levels, was enough to cause a collective apoplexy among the shadow leaders of the Realm of the Living, with Marduk being their spokesperson in this instance.

So I had no other choice but to say, “I understand.”

Marduk was quiet for some time, giving my face a long look that made me fidget before he suddenly asked, “How is your eye?”

It took everything in me not to flinch. He was talking about my left eye. The one that was sewn shut by a long scar. “Fine,” I somehow managed to grit out. It had been years since he mentioned my left eye. Why now?

He grinned knowingly, and it made my stomach churn in warning. “How about this?” he murmured. “If you eliminate the Phoenix’s host within the next six months, I will give you back your eye.”

I stared at him, confused. It took me a full minute to comprehend what he was saying. My lips parted, and sweat trickled down my temples. I should’ve been happy; having my left eye back was the one thing I wanted more than anything else in this world.

But in all forty years of servitude, not once had Marduk promised me such a thing. Until now. And that fact could only mean one thing.

If I kill Aileen Henderson, he will kill me.

Why? Why did Aileen have to summon the Phoenix from Esheer? Why couldn’t she just stay put and act like a normal fucking vampire? Why was she insisting on making Ragnor my enemy?

Ragnor, the man who was like the brother I never had. A man I trusted with my life—but not with the knowledge I held.

Before Aileen appeared in Ragnor’s life, I had no trouble. I did my job. I acted like a good apostle of Marduk. I made sure to keep theotherin check. My left eye barely even itched.

Now, my left eye itched constantly, as if to warn me of what was to come. Theothertook control over my body, pushingmeinto my mind, unable to leave my mental chamber but for visiting Marduk, like I did now.

And the worst thing yet was, I was now considering betraying the being that was my everything. The being that had been there for me. That had hurt me and built me up. The being I served with my own entire fucking being.

How could I betray him? How could I betray my god?

Yet how could I possibly kill Ragnor’s Alara Morreh?

Sucking in a deep breath, I dared attempt a different way. A different path. I asked, “What if I manage to banish the Phoenix back to Esheer without harming its host?”

Marduk looked at me with his horribly beautiful face frowning in evident disapproval. “I did not expect my most excellent apostle to question my command. Especially not with the promise of a long-sought-after reward.”

“Please,” I blurted, looking down and bowing yet again.Don’t give up, Eliza. You have to try.“Let me punish the Phoenix directly, not its innocent host.”

“Innocent?” Marduk’s voice was incredulous, and I winced but kept my bowing position, despite the uncontrollable trembling of my body. “The host has summoned thatfiend. Nothing about them isinnocent.”

“The end result would be the same,” I said, voice shaking. “The Phoenix will be removed from Aderra, and ... and we’ll prevent a death—”

“You dare go against my words?” Marduk’s voice suddenly grew, making my trembling worsen. “Your insolence knows no bounds!”

I couldn’t do this after all. I just couldn’t. “Forgive me,” I whispered, crying at the terrible aftershock of his words. “Forgive me, Marduk. I did not mean to be insolent. It was a suggestion—a bad suggestion. Please ...” I bowed deeper, tears falling to the floor. “Have mercy.”

Marduk made a hissing sound that made my trembling even worse. “The only mercy you will receive is by bringing me the host’s head,” he said in a smooth, silky voice that made shivers cascade down my spine. “There is no othersuggestion.” He spit the word as if he didn’t even want to utter it. “My word is law, Eliza. You will do as I say, like you always did. You will not question my motives. You will not make any othersuggestions. You will do what you are told as my chosen apostle.”

His words were laced with venom and authority. There was no room for negotiation. As he said, his word was law.

And I was a mere apostle. A half-human hybrid who was forced to submit to her maker. Her destroyer. Her everything.

I wouldn’t be able to save Aileen Henderson after all. And neither would Ragnor Rayne.

My life as I’d known it, the life I’d worked to cultivate outside of my role as Marduk’s apostle was officially over.

Grief tore me apart from the inside. Grief for the life I thought I could have. The life I thought I deserved. The life I thought I could make for myself.

What a fool you are, Eliza Wains.

And so I did the only thing I could. I bowed again, staring at the floor, and in a barely audible whisper, forced out, “Yes, Spirit of Providence.”