I sit ramrod straight, a bit embarrassed to be so close to him in front of the others. But no one bats an eye at us, evidently already well aware of how close Sin and I have become.
Instead, the room is filled with a collective tension. They’re all waiting for the worst.
I decide not to prolong their worries and rip off the proverbial band-aid. My eyes find Morgana’s, and I give her a small smile before blurting out, “So, it turns out you were wrong. Myths are real.”
Chapter 42
Rule forty-two:Do not let matters of your life or death fall to a group vote.
Morgana does not take the news well about Hades being real. But then again, I guess learning that you’re not the strongest creatures in the realms might make immortals a little uncomfortable.
She frowns at us, spinning her dagger as if considering where to impale it. “You’re telling me that souls are meant to go to the Underworld Realm? Just like in the silly stories mortals tell?”
Sin nods. “That’s what he said.”
Morgana narrows her eyes at him. “And why would we believe the man in the wall?”
I take offense to that. “Hey, he was good enough for you to send us through dangerous territory to gain information. But now you don’t believe him?”
Morgana huffs, “I thought he’d give us real information, not spin fairytales.”
Sin’s thumb rubs gentle circles against the small of my back as he answers, “He’s not bluffing, Morgana. He took away my power for hours.”
Morgana blanches. “But if he’s telling the truth, then…” She shudders. “I figured the Fates have always eaten souls. That it was just what they do.” She takes another breath before continuing, “It’s just another reason to stop the Council. Was he able to give you any information about your powers?” she asks me.
Sin and I explain my Reaper powers and how I was immune to the Underworld spells.
Arianna is thrilled with the news. “This is so exciting! You’re a dark creature! Just like me!” She rushes over to pull me up off Sin’s lap. “I always knew we weren’t meant to be light creatures. The Guardians made sure of that when we were offered to the dark side of the moon.” She’s beaming, clearly excited to have something else in common.
Smiling at her apologetically, I burst her bubble. “That’s not all, Ari. You weren’t here when we discovered it, but Need imbued me with Creator energy.”
Arianna lets go of my hands, stepping back in shock. “Wait, what? Why in the Fates would she do that?”
I give a slight shrug. “We can’t be certain, but I’m guessing it’s to keep me collared and under her control.”
Magnus interrupts, “I knew your energy tasted different. This makes sense. There are so manyenergies inside you, it’s not leaving a clear signature.” He looks pleased to know his own powers were not the issue.
Just me. I’m the mess.
At least energetically.
Physically, mentally, and spiritually, I’m probably a mess, too.
Arianna frowns at me, looking confused. “How is it possible that you’re a Creator, Keeper and Reaper all at once? Those are very conflicting energies.”
I walk over to sit on the arm of the neighboring couch, tired of giving my back to half the room. “It isn’t,” I answer honestly. “The Creator and Keeper power cannot fully exist in me at the same time. One has to give out to the other.”
Morgana is directly across from me, and I see her figure it out before I continue, “Hades said that the only way to let the Creator power fully take root is for the Keeper bond to break. And the only way to break the Keeper bond is death.”
Arianna doesn’t let me continue. “That’s ridiculous. You’re not going to die, Vivi,” she says in a harder tone than I’ve heard from her before. Pools of darkness start to leak from her hands.
“Hades believes that ending my mortal life will likely allow the Creator energy to fully take hold and make me immortal,” I finish.
Sin and Arianna start yelling at once, and Rosie flies over to me, her wings twitching anxiously as she tries to reason with me. Magnus watches on curiously, but I keep my gaze centered on Morgana.
I know who holds the most power here, and she’s the ally I need if I have any chance of convincing one of them to kill me.
Morgana watches me curiously but doesn’t seem opposed to the idea. I press my case, “Leon almost got us back in the Underworld Realm. As long as I’m bonded to him, I’m at risk of betraying you all and going over to the Council. If you want me to fight for the right side of the war, then I need to get rid of the bond. Otherwise, your precious chosen one prophecy crap will be useless.”
