The professor finishes writing on the chalkboard and brushes off his hands. "There are also ancient accounts of revenants which describe them as deathly berserkers—for once they reached a certain level of feeding, they fell into a trance-like state and would hunt down and kill any living thing within miles. Likewise, their unique magic had a terrifying snowball effect, for the more they slaughtered, the stronger they became, creatingan unstoppable, formidable cycle. As a matter of fact, the Entity used a group of revenants to kill the goddess Reniah during the Great Wars."
A shifter in another quintet pipes up. "Wait, if these things were strong enough to destroy a fuckinggoddess, then how the hell did they go extinct?"
"Excellent question. Despite their immense power, they were rather slow beings, so it wasn't difficult to hunt them down after the kill order went out following Reniah's murder. And though they would reanimate much of the time, therewereways of permanently destroying them even before they fulfilled their purpose."
There's a menacing edge to Crane's voice when he asks, "What ways?"
The professor tips his head back and forth. "The most effective methods are debated among scholars, but as I understand it, these monsters could be permanently killed through full dismemberment or by being burned to death. Records also say either blessed bone or nevermelt through a revenant's heart worked quite well."
Nevermelt?
Crane, Decimus, and I all glance at Frost simultaneously. He's pale as snow. Probably because when we were young kids, he'd proudly bragged that he was the youngest ice elemental to ever craft nevermelt, and when Crane dared him to prove it, he did.
Precious few other ice elementals have that ability. If Frost's rare ability is one of her few weaknesses, maybe I should kill him as a precaution after all.
"In any case," the professor keeps droning, "these beings had to be destroyed completely, or else they would inevitably rise again. Quite fascinating monsters, though it was never clear how they were created or how they multiplied in the first place.Luckily for us, they haven't existed for hundreds of years," he smiles. "And, since you will never have to fight those evil beings at the Divide, let us move on to a presentation of something youwillneed to be prepared for. Fulton quintet, you're up."
A group of legacies begins talking at the front of the room, but I pay no attention as I absorb everything I just learned about my keeper. I'm so distracted that Maven has to gently nudge my hand on her thigh to get my attention when class ends.
But as we leave the room, instead of heading toward lunch, Crane takes Maven by one gloved hand and storms toward the private alcove where we first met her after the Seeking. She keeps up with him easily, as do Decimus, Frost, and I.
As soon as we're alone in the space where we won't be overheard, Crane whirls on Maven, his jaw clenched and crimson eyes severe.
"Tell us your purpose."
She pauses. "If you're mad because you're stuck with a monster?—"
"That's not why he's mad," Decimus snaps. "I'm fucking pissed, too, Raincloud, and it's not because of what they made you. All I want to fucking know is what your purpose is so we can stop you from fulfilling it because youpassing onis not an option. It's just fucking not. Okay?"
Maven looks dubious about answering, so I offer my two cents. "Ending the Immortal Quintet is your purpose, is it not?"
"It is."
"And once they're dead?" Crane asks impatiently. "Will you die? Permanently?"
"Yes."
My chest hollows into that same feeling of abysmal nothingness that I used to exist in until I met her. I can't lose my reason for being.Even if it means that fucking prick Somnus lives forever, I refuse to let this happen.
Frost swears viciously, covering his face. "Okay, then we're leaving Everbound. Immediately. I don't care if we have to go on the fucking run. I'm not letting you stay anywhere near them."
"It's laughable that you think youletme do anything. But you don't have the full picture. Remember, I also made a blood oath."
That shuts us all up as we realize the distinction. Maven has some revenant-focused purpose…anda blood oath. Two separate things to worry about, both of which could take her from us forever.
Decimus growls, "Okay, then who did you make the blood oath with if it wasn't that Undead king-of-the-assholes wannabe father of yours?"
Her lips twitch. "Very apt description."
"This isn't a joking matter, darling," I warn.
Maven nods. "You're right, it's not. I'll tell you the truth. There are humans in the Nether. And I don't mean humans that were stolen away to be raised there like me and the twelve others," she clarifies.
Crane frowns. "Other humans? How do they survive?"
"They don't. They're kept, just like cattle. Bred, fed, sacrificed, eaten. They're even used for entertainment," Maven adds bitterly, shaking her head as stark disgust eclipses her features. "You have no idea the hell they're living, but I do. And I'm the only one who can help them."
"How?" Frost demands. "I don't get it. How did the humans get in the Nether in the first place?"
