Page 32

“Your Mother’s body was recovered and laid next to your Father in the Upper Magi City.”

I sat across a small table from the young woman, her tawny hair wrapped in a tight bun at the crown of her head. She was one of those who met that night at the VanDoughten house before Lynette had ended my first life.

Cynthia Creedy.

I wondered if her brother had told her about me ahead of our meeting.

“We didn’t find any sign of Lynette in the wreckage, so the Council is considering her still at large. Until she’s apprehended, we are suggesting that you stay in hiding, Tobias. For your own safety.”

I snorted a weak laugh, nodding along. “Sorry, but it’s rather cute that you think anyone will keep her from what she wants.”

Cynthia frowned, scratching at the back of her neck. “There’s more. The Council has made the decision to seize all of the assets of the Greene family as a recompense for last week’s tragedy. Amelia and I were able to convince them not to pursue retaliatory action against you so long as you sign these documents forfeiting your rights to the Greene family trusts and properties.” She pulled a stack of paperwork from her satchel, setting it on the table between us.

I stared down at the summation of my family legacy, boiled down to a pile of paper and ink, shocked at the emptiness I felt towards it. The Tobias who had lived a life of wealth and privilege would have mourned the loss. But I gladly signed the documents, a weight lifting from my shoulders as I crossed the final line.

“Thank you for coming all this way,” I told Cynthia, sliding the documents over to her. “I know that it wasn’t easy for a Council member to come all the way to Brierwood.”

“Think nothing of it,” she replied, waving away my thanks. “You should know that negotiations have already started with the Rebellion leaders. Hopefully, it won’t be long till we can put all of this unpleasantness behind us.”

“Let’s hope you’re right.”

“There was one more thing, Tobias. If we could speak off the record for a moment.” Cynthia glanced over her shoulder, then leaned over the table, lowering her voice. “We tracked down Lorelei Orion after the incident, our scouts reporting that she was staying somewhere in the Lower Magi City, near the Mortal Row. But before she was spotted leaving the city a few days ago, there was an incident. An Adored couple was attacked by some kind of monstrosity that Lorelei was transporting. The male was killed, and the surviving party reported that the creature tore something from the victim’s chest, consuming it on the spot. Something that looked a lot like those gems you sport.”

My hand drifted to the stone embedded in my chest.

“Be cautious, Tobias. I fear there are greater evils in this world, waiting to fill the vacuum your mother left behind.”

I nodded once again. “Thank you for the information, Cynthia.”

The woman straightened in her seat. “Of course. We’ll be in touch if there’s any development on the front of your sister. Until then, I hope you keep well.”

“Tobias?”

I looked up from the table, spotting Bastien standing a few paces away.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he continued. “I can come back if you need me to.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Cynthia replied, gathering her satchel and the paperwork under her arm. “Till next time, Tobias.”

“Next time,” I agreed, rising from my seat. Cynthia gave a small wave before exiting the café, immediately stepping into the large, black vehicle that drew the eye of every passerby outside.

“Do I want to know what that was about?” Bastien asked, raising a brow.

“Just tying up some loose ends,” I assured him, then wrapped him up in a hug. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize how late it had gotten.”

“Don’t be. Cirian just arrived a few minutes ago on the train, so he’s waiting outside.”

“I guess we’re doing this, then,” I said, a swell of anxiety pressing against my stomach. We’d delayed the resurrection ritual long enough as it were, setbacks occurring each time we’d attempted it over the last week. The Anima stones were proving to complicate things more than Bastien originally anticipated.

“Wilhelm got everything set up at your apartment,” Bastien said, rubbing the small of my back. “So, we can head over whenever you’re ready.”

My ‘apartment’ in Brierwood was not much more than a bed, and some clothing scavenged from the second-hand store in town. Since we returned to the mortal town, I didn’t feel right taking up space in Paradise while they were still housing the Rebellion, so Bastien helped me find a place to stay on the surface.

Bastien and I exited the café, stepping out onto the sidewalk lining Brierwood’s main street. A tall figure leaned against the brick wall a few paces down from the entrance, their fiery hair pulled back in a ponytail. It took me a moment to recognize Cirian, his pedestrian outfit of dark jeans and hooded jacket a far cry from his religious paraphernalia. He took a long drag off the cigarette in his hand, then dropped it to the ground, stamping it out with the heel of his boot.

“There you are, Toto.”

“Here I am,” I replied, still taking in the stark difference of this Cirian.

“Azrael is waiting at the apartment already,” Bastien tells us, leading the way up the sidewalk.

“Why are you staring at me?” Cirian asked as we rounded the corner.

“I’ve never seen you without your vestments,” I explained.

“That’s not entirely true,” Cirian replied, flashing a wicked smile.

“You know what I mean.”

“I know what you mean. I figured, what with the secret society of Reviled living nearby, it would be rude of me to parade around in Hallowed paraphernalia. Plus, when else would I get the opportunity, you know?”

“How considerate,” Bastien chimed in, his words drenched with sarcasm.

“I can always get back on the train,” Cirian joked, pointing toward the station.

Bastien leveled a stare at him. “Don’t tease me unless you intend on following through.”

“Knock it off,” I chide them both.

“Whatever you say, Toto.”

The walk to my apartment only takes a few minutes, the three of us scaling the exterior flight of wooden stairs to reach the door. It sat over a shuttered shop front, so it was quiet enough that Bastien was comfortable with us performing the rituals there without drawing unwanted attention from the mortals in town.

I opened the door, letting the other two enter first, then took a deep breath before heading in. The smell of incense in the small space made my head swim as Azrael bounded over to me, wrapping me in a bone-crushing hug.

“There you are, Tobi. I was starting to get worried.”

“Sorry, I had a member of the Council come to tell me that I’m broke now.”

“Really?” Bastien asked, his voice filled with surprise.

“Are you okay?” Cirian added.

“Surprisingly, I’m relieved. It’s just another part of the Greene legacy that I get to bury. I’ll probably have to get a job soon to pay for this dump, but that’s a future Tobias problem.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Bastien said, giving me a reassuring smile. “First things are first. We’ve got work to do. Now, if you two will follow me, I need to talk you through the extraction ritual.”

Cirian and Azrael followed Bastien into my bedroom, where they had prepared the space for the ritual. Feeling slightly nauseated from the stifling air, I stepped into the small bathroom off the kitchen, shutting the door behind me. Splashing cold water across my face helped, and as I dried off, I couldn’t help but observe the violet gemstone poking out the deep cut of my shirt. I placed a hand over it, closing my eyes as I felt the invisible connection twinge, vibrating extra strong due to the close proximity to Azrael. The connection had only grown stronger the longer the stone stayed in my skin. The same went for the cerulean counterpart in my left and the verdant stone in my right palm. I ran my thumb over one, the invisible connection transferring to Cirian, his soft voice drifting into my head.

“ There you are, Toto.”

Bastien connection was the strongest of the three at the moment, as I barely had to brush against the green gem for the connection to snap into place.

He was worried about me. It radiated down the line like a pulsing heartbeat.

“This has to work. I’ll fix him. I promised.”

These connections were becoming a part of me. But what would happen if the extraction was a success? Would I lose the tethers to each of them? Was that really what I wanted?

My conclusion was a resounding no. But what if it were the only way I was going to be able to retrieve those memories that had continued to evade me? Now that I was more than a week into my second life, the kaleidoscope of memories had slowed, and gaps in my memory had become more apparent. Without fixing the fracture, I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to recover them.

Selfishly, I wanted them to stay gone. But I couldn’t keep running from my past. I had to face it head-on if I was going to have a future.

A soft knock on the door brought me back to reality.

“Come in.”

Bastien pokes his head through the cracked door. “We’re ready for you.”

I nodded, taking one last look in the mirror before leaving the bathroom.

In the other room, my bed had been pushed to the side, a long table with restraints in the center of the room. The previous attempts at extraction had proven difficult, as my body reacted violently of its own accord, so the restraints were probably for the best. Cirian stood on the side of the table, while Azrael stood at the far end, where my head would go. They both smiled at me as I entered, and a pulse of warmth steadied my trembling hands.

“Tobias,” Wilhelm greeted me. “Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” I replied, peeling my shirt off and tossing it onto the bed. Hefting myself onto the table, Wilhelm and Bastien worked to secure my limbs at the wrists and ankles. Cirian watched with delighted fascination while Azrael only looked into my eyes, his fingers padding through my hair.

“Okay, like we discussed,” Bastien addressed the others. “We attempt to remove them at the same time. You have your instructions.”

Azrael and Cirian nodded, each placing a hand over their stone. Bastien took his place last, wrapping his hand around mine so that his palm pressed into the smooth facet.

Wilhelm began to chant, the lights above us flickering as an acidic green haze drifted into the air around us. All at once, the three points of contact lit up with searing heat, my mind pulled in three different directions as the invisible threads connecting me to each of the men drew taut?—

“The Source has never made something more beautiful.”

Cirian cupped the side of my face, his dark eyes mooring me to him. His pale skin glistened in the moonlight that poured through the window across from the bed we sprawled across. My flesh burned with desire at every connection of his body to mine, his free hand wandering the channels of my thighs, then directing his cock to press against my entrance, slipping inside with ease as I roiled against the cool sheets, a whimper on my tongue as I begged him for more.

“I love you, Toto,” he breathed into my ear, the eager pace of my stroke driving me over the edge. “I love you, I love you, I love you ? —”

Shocked back into the present moment, I cried out as the gem embedded in my palm burned white hot, Cirian’s tugging sending a shooting pain straight up to my chest.

“Keep going!” Bastien shouted, clasping tighter to my hand as the thread between us pulled tight?—

“How was work today?”

I looked up from my plate, watching Bastien from across the dinner table. The small apartment was pleasantly warm, with candles glowing in the periphery and soft music drifting from the other room.

“I couldn’t wait to get home,” I replied, knocking my foot against his under the table.

He let out a deep, contented sigh, sipping from his wine glass. It stained his top lip blood-red, and I couldn’t help myself any longer.

Setting down my utensils, I rose from my seat, rounding the table and lowering myself into Bastien’s lap. He made a surprised noise as I wrapped my arms around his neck and devoured him in a kiss. Warm hands held my hips as he breathed into me, the two of us abandoning our dinners for the comfort we found in each other ? —

Another cry poured from my mouth as pain ricocheted up my arm. I was fracturing again, this time my entire body coming apart at the seams. These threads I held were the stitching holding me together, and the others’ efforts were trying to unravel them.

My body seized, muscles aching as I strained against the bindings that held me in place.

“Bastien!” Azrael's voice came in a growl.

“Keep going! They’re almost free!”

Azrael’s hand was in my hair again, trying to comfort me as the pain radiated through every pore?—

“He has your nose,” Azrael said, holding the bundled youngling in his arms, his head propped against a wall of pillows. His russet skin was still flushed, a sheen of sweat covering his brow as he cooed over the newborn.

“You did so well,” I told him, leaning into his shoulder but careful not to jostle the sleeping babe. “Is it always that terrifying?”

“From what I’ve heard,” Azrael chuckled. “Papa told me horror stories of his labor with me. I’m glad this one didn’t put up as much of a fight.”

The youngling stirred in his arms, one of the furry, pointed ears protruding from the crown of his head, twitching as he yawned, then settled back in.

“You still haven’t decided on the name,” I reminded Azrael, resting my head against his.

“Would you be angry if we called him Balthus?” he asked, watching me with violet eyes full of worry.

“I could never be angry with you,” I assured him, planting a soft kiss across his lips. We looked down at our creation. “Welcome to the world, little Balthus ? —

“No!” I cried, tears streaming down my face.

“Just a moment longer, Tobias!” Bastien shouted, his voice strained.

All three tethers pulled at me, threatening to rip me apart. I couldn’t let them do this. I didn’t want to rid myself of the connection I held for them. Reaching down into that place in my chest, I drew out my aura and wrapped the connections up inside of it, reinforcing the threads till they braided together into a single cord, connecting the four of us?—

“Are you coming to bed?”

Bastien looked across the sofa at me, the question still worn on his brow.

I set my book aside, pulling out the watch from my pocket and checking the time. “Shit, I didn’t realize the night had grown so late. Yes, I will be up in a minute.”

He nodded, leaning over to plant a kiss on my head. “Don’t take too long.”

My heart sputtered at that, and I quickly marked my place as Bastien ascended the staircase. Heading down the hallway, I peeked into the office where Cirian sat at his desk, one hand tangled in the locks of his fiery hair, the other tapping the end of a fountain pen against the parchment beneath.

“Writer’s block?” I asked, leaning in the doorway.

“The worst,” he replied with a sigh, returning the pen to the ink well across from him. “Are you turning in for the night?”

I nodded. “You know, if you’re looking for a little help breaking through that block…”

Cirian was out of his chair in a flash, wrapping me up in his arms and trailing kisses down my neck. “I was hoping you’d offer.”

“Head upstairs. I’ll be right behind you.”

He held me for a moment with his stygian gaze. “Don’t get lost, love.”

Cirian disappeared down the hallway, headed for the staircase as I rounded the corner, nearly running into Azrael as he came out of Balthus’ room.

“Another nightmare?” I asked, wanting to smooth the furrow from the man’s brow.

“Hm? No, no, not tonight. He just wanted me to check his closest one last time,” Azrael explained. “I’ll be glad when we get through this monster phase.”

“I think we all will. Bastien almost got stuck under his bed last night. I had to drag him out by his ankles.”

Azrael smiled as I grabbed him by the waist, pulling him against me.

“We’re headed to bed. Would you care to join us?”

He grinned back at me. “Let me guess, writer’s block?”

“You know Cirian needs all the help he can get.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that before. Tell you what, if you can catch me, I’m in.” His smile turned mischievous as his body shimmers, then disappeared.

Holding back laughter, I chase my invisible partner up the stairs, managing to grab hold of his tail just as we clear the bedroom door, and he becomes visible again in time for me to crash into him with a kiss.

Waiting in the bed, Cirian and Bastien are already locked in a kiss, and as I push Azrael over the edge of the mattress, I join them, tangling myself between a mess of limbs and lips, and lose myself ? —

“Stop!”

The restraints holding my limbs snapped as a rush of heat pulsed through me. Azrael, Bastien, and Cirian were thrown backward with a flash of brilliant light, and Wilhelm’s chanting ceased.

My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath, the visions sinking back into my subconscious as Bastien appeared in my periphery.

“Are you alright?” he asked, eyes wide with concern.

I glanced down at my hands, the gems still firmly sunken into my flesh, and breathed a sigh of relief.

“What the hell was that?” Azrael asked, regaining his footing. “I thought for a second we had it.”

“I don’t think those things are coming out,” Cirian added, poking at the stone on my chest. I flinched, suddenly feeling ticklish.

Wilhelm stepped up to the table, inspecting the Anima stones one by one. Her lips pulled into a hard line. “I’m sorry, Bastien. But we can’t perform the resurrection ritual while these are present. Besides, there may not even be enough of Tobias’ magic left in the ether to return to him. I think it’s time we start thinking about alternatives.”

Bastien nodded, disappointment evident on his face. “Thank you for trying.”

“Of course, seeker,” Wilhelm replies, her tone apologetic. “I must be gone, but do come see me tomorrow, and we’ll go through the archives again to see if anything sticks out, okay?”

He nodded, and Wilhelm embraced him, kissing him on both cheeks before exiting the room.

Azrael helped me sit up, my head spinning. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine, I think. Just a little fatigued.”

“So, I come all this way and have to leave empty-handed?” Cirian complained, folding his arms across his chest. “That’s right fucking rude.”

I swung my leg over the edge of the table, then kicked him in the shin. “Give me a few minutes, and we can have a bout. Just like old times. Hope your sword skills haven’t diminished in your old age.”

His eyes lit up at that. “Are you taking a piss?”

“Never.”

“Right then, I’ll need to get the strip set up. Can we use the alleyway outside?”

“Go for it,” Bastien answered.

Cirian bolted from the room, humming a happy tune. Azrael watched him leave, then turned back to me. “I told the Urchins I’d touch base when we were through. Kaine’s been asking about you, so I figured I should at least let him know you’re alive.”

“Tell him that if he’s got a crush on me, he needs to tell me to my face like a real man.”

Azrael barked a laugh, pulling the device from his pocket. “I’ll be sure to do that.”

“The Urchins are invited to dinner,” Bastien joined in. “If I can squeeze enough chairs into the other room. And don’t worry, I’m cooking.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, frowning at the two of them.

Azrael laughed again, knocking his shoulder into mine. “We’ll be there. Kaine can come see for himself that you’re right as rain.”

Still laughing, Azrael headed out, leaving me and Bastien to put my bedroom back together. I pulled my shirt back on as he cut what remained of the restraints from the table, then folded it up.

“I’m sorry, Tobias.” He paused by the window, his expression pained as he gazed through at the drifting clouds.

“What for?” I asked, moving to his side.

“I promised you that I would help you get your memories back, but I failed.”

“Hey.” I caught him at the hip, pulling him to face me. “You’ve done more than enough for me, Bast. More than I ever deserved. You’re the reason I’m alive right now. And if I’m being honest, I’m more than happy to leave my first life buried.”

He nodded, pulling me into an embrace.

“I’m just glad you’re here,” he whispered.

And I couldn’t agree with him more.

There, in the derelict apartment, penniless and battered, I had never been happier. Death was just the beginning for me. A chance at the life I never knew I was missing. And if anyone out there thought they could tear it away from me, they were wrong.

Dead wrong.