Chapter 37
One by one, the supernatural beings on this island stepped forward and allowed me to touch their skin. This gave me the most direct access to their energy, and through that energy I could see their past and future. I could see lifetimes lived through multiple worlds.
Some of them had been through so much. Fought to save the world. Fought to save each other. Loyal and just and kind.
I hadn’t seen this side of humanity since absorbing the spirits. But there it was.
A reason.
I released Jessa and she winked at me. “Like your new look. Very … skeleton chic.”
None of them had flinched away from me, and I’d seen no disgust in their faces. The ones who considered me family … my appearance did not change anything for them.
Maybe it was time to bring my skin back. To close the gap between the two states of mind I inhabited now.
NO!
It was a single command, and my power surged as the spirits locked around me, tightly.
Release me!I told them.You need me. You have no control here otherwise.
“Fight them, Maddi,” Asher said, eyes flaring gold as he stepped closer. “They’re controlling you. Manipulating you.”
“Shut up!” I shouted, cutting him off before he could say anything else. That didn’t stop him though. He wrapped his arms around me, hauling me into his body. I’d stopped him from speaking but I hadn’t stopped his movements. I’d never have guessed he’d be comfortable with hugging a skeletal mass of darkness and spirits.
He hadn’t even hesitated.
Needing to hear his words, my power released its hold on his tongue.
He wasted no time.
“You are mine, Maddison James. I’m going to say your name until you remember. I’m going to love you forever, no matter what you look like. If this is the only way I can have you, then I will embrace it. Just … don’t let them take everything. I want the funny smartass of a girl who fears nothing and cares too much. I want her back. I need her back.” His voice got low. “You’re my light, Maddison James. My. fucking. Light.”
It hurt. His words physically hurt me, reminding me of the lava burning through my skin to what lay below. I didn’t have skin to burn any longer. I thought the softer side was gone, but he managed to dig into my bones. Into my essence.
“NOOOO!” I screamed, throwing my head back, blasting them all away from me.
Bodies went flying, but the gods amongst them managed to reach and save most of them.
I was too far gone to care though.
You have a job. Remake the world.
The spirits pulsed, restless, inside of me. Pushing and pushing. Forcing their will back into me.
We slept for too long. The world is corrupt.
My power flickered weakly against theirs, my perceived strength mostly from their abilities.
No, there is good too. Look at these people. Look at them! You saw what I did, and there is good. I can’t remake beings like this. They deserve better for everything they did and sacrificed.
I saw it coming and I was already running. I just didn’t know if I’d get there in time.
My body zapped out of existence, back into the underworld. It didn’t come from my own knowledge, but I understood there was only one way to save the rest of the world. I had to get the spirits back into the lava from which they came. I had to return them to their resting place, because there they were mostly harmless. Barely a blip. Waiting for one who would be strong enough to wield them.
There would be no more though. Asher, me, Connor. We were the only ones. So if I could return them, the world would be safe. But I had seconds, because they were grasping for my power, my control, my soul.
Slowly. Piece by piece.
