I mulled the thought over in my mind. It would fit with what we found in that nondescript book in the library. Three god babies born. Not that Connor seemed to know that part yet…
“If Asher had to die, then also … if we apply logic to the thought process, shouldn’t we also have to? Asher’s energy was enough to get Atlantis to here, but maybe that’s as far as it goes.”
The words had barely left my mouth when Connor’s face turned into something a little darker and more sinister. “Ah, if only it was going to be that easy. But you’re right. One sacrifice doesn’t seem to be enough.” His face softened, and I saw true regret in his eyes. “I’m sorry for what I’m about to do, but trust me, it’s not the end for us.”
Something grabbed onto my feet, and before I could scream or use my magic to try and save myself, I was dragged down so fast that by the time I blinked and started to breathe beneath the water, I was at the gates of Atlantis.
The gates were huge, two ornately carved stone and wood pieces that spanned about fifty feet high, and that much in width as well. Standing in front of them, not moving or floating despite being way under the water, were two beings.
One was a woman, coldly beautiful, with raven dark hair that hung in long, unmoving strands down her back. She wore a white robe that brushed her bare feet and left one shoulder free. Her eyes were the same dark blue as mine, and her face … it was so much like mine it was scary—same heart shape, same nose with the tiny kick up at the end, the same freckles across her cheeks.
“Daughter,” she said.
Unlike me, though, she was practically glowing, and everything about her was unearthly. Her energy actually set my teeth on edge, my jaw aching as I clenched it. It hurt to look at her, and yet at the same time I couldn’t have stopped.
“It’s time, daughter,” she said again, her words as clear as anything. Lightning raced across her skin, and I recognized it.Bitch.This was who killed Asher.
If I could have spoken under here like she somehow could, I would have whispered one word:Lotus.
The man beside the woman remained silent; I’d barely spared him a second glance, even though I caught enough to know he was as impressive as Lotus.
Connor appeared at my side then, shooting energy behind him, no doubt to keep my guys away. For once, I was on Connor’s side. I did not want my guys trying to protect me from the gods … I’d already lost Asher that way. No more sacrifices for me.
So when Lotus held out her hand, I took it without hesitation, hoping she would get this shit over with. I’d tried to outrun my destiny, but here was a god wearing my face, and … the past had finally caught up to me.
“I promise, you won’t feel a thing,” she whispered before leaning forward and pressing a kiss to my head. I closed my eyes, trembling in her embrace. For a second I forgot that she was a goddess, probably hell bent on destroying our world, and instead, for a moment, I had a mother.
Warmth spread from beneath her lips into my body, and at first it was pleasant, but all too soon the heat was burning me up. I opened my mouth to scream, but before I could make a sound, a light so bright it instantly blinded me lit up the water.
And the darkness that followed took me.
Until I was no more.
23
Ihad never believed in death being the next journey of my life. I wasn’t sure I’d ever really thought about it long enough to know what I believed, but I was definitely not of the heaven and hell belief, even when I thought myself a human. I just expected that I would die, and then it would be ... dark … forever.
After Lotus killed me, that should have been the end. The eternal sleep. My energy now part of the great circle that would bring about the next part of the supernatural world.
But then there was light again. It splintered my darkness, piercing my brain and bringing me back to the land of the living. Breath filled my lungs, water following, because I was still in my beautiful ocean.
Even without my eyes open I could feel the energy, taste the salt, sense the life around me.
Life … my life.
How was I still alive?
My eyes shot open, and in the same instant I spun into what would have been a crouched position if I wasn’t under the water. My vision was instantly clear, even though I was very deep in the ocean. Almost no light penetrated this far down; it didn’t hinder my sight.
Not alone.
I definitely wasn’t alone, and I drew my raging energy into my hands prepared to fight. I’d let Lotus take what she wanted before because I needed to protect my friends, and … truthfully, for a brief second, I’d wanted relief from my pain. So I hadn’t fought back.
But no more. She’d had her chance. She didn’t kill me, and that was a huge mistake on her part, because I was nothing more than a rage of power and sorrow and vengeance.
I was taking her down.
The shadow moved closer, and I remained where I was, barely moving, letting the current of the water shift my hair and nothing else.
