“I felt a trace of Four on the girl,” Ten finally revealed. “It is likely there because he saved her mother’s life and, thus, hers. However, thereissomething more to her, but I am uncertain what it is for now.”
That’s what the First King said that night about the girl.One had said the child could be valuable to the mortal realm...chosenfor a greater purpose. Few had seen One ever since they were imprisoned in their palace; Nikai had not seen them after Four vanished.
“Did you tell the girl Four saved her life?” Nikai asked, thinking the girl deserved to know.
“As you have reminded me, Reaper, we have not found my sneaky brother for so long and we have no idea how he is hiding from us. It would be wise to keep our cards close until we have more information.”
“How about the boy? Did you see him?”
“He was with her. I did not detect a trace of Four on the boy, but... he confuses me.”
Nikai tensed. “How so?”
“I want you to keep an eye on both of them,” Ten said, strolling to the window. “Inform me immediately if anything of interest comes up.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Nikai said. Ten had ignored his question about the boy. Was Ten hiding something?
Ten smoothed his flaxen hair. It seemed dull, its luster diminished. How far into the Tenth kingdom had the Nothing encroached? At least there were no signs of it here in the center of the Court yet.
“By the way, I made a deal with the girl.”
“A deal?” Nikai exclaimed. How could Ten drop this information so casually?
“Bit of a savior complex, that one. Makes it easier to fool her.”
“Fool her?” That bad feeling about Ten taking matters into his own hands returned. If he was operating outside the confines of stipulated rules between the realms, there was no controlling him and what he might do to the girl or any other mortal.
“There are two types of humans: those who run into a burning house to save a cat, and those that think,It is just a cat.” Ten considered Nikai, a cunning glint in his eyes. “I wonder which typeyouwere.”
“Did you tell her that deals with Kings are binding across lifetimes?” Nikai asked, refusing to let the conversation derail.
“I do not see why she needs to know.”
“You took advantage of her ignorance and desperation,” Nikai accused in a burst of courage. “If the deal is unfulfilled, the two parties will remain bonded until all conditions are complete. Did you tell her that before she agreed? What was the deal?”
Ten cocked his head like a bird spotting a worm. “My dear Reaper, who are you to judge when you have sinned as a mortal? Who are you to lecture me on righteousness when you do not remember how you lived your mortal life?”
“Reapers forgo our memories to take on this role. It is a sacrifice.”
“A sacrifice? Do not joke.” Coming dangerously close, Ten trailed a fingernail across Nikai’s throat.
The room dimmed.
Nikai froze. He could feel his insides slowly seizing.
“You call it a sacrifice, but it is cowardice,” said Ten. “How easy it is to forget all the terrible things you did when you were alive, to forget the guilt. How wonderful it is to have your slate wiped clean; all you need to do is to serve your King. Who would not want that? Never forgetwhereFour took you from.” Ten smiled at him, almost innocently. “Why were you in the Nothing, Nikai? Did you look into your past deeds while you were in the Archives? Or do you prefer to pretend that you were one of the good ones?”
A terrible darkness descended in Nikai, a shroud woven with everypossible horrific deed he could have committed in his mortal life. This was the Tenth King’s power—he pulled your eyelids back, forced you to see the ugly truth that resided within.
“The Nothing traps you for eternity, neither dead nor alive, merely existing,” Ten said. “It is pain in all definitions of the word, and it is forever. And now we are all in danger of falling into its abyss.” Disdain dripped from his voice as he regarded Nikai. “Let me ask you, Reaper—do you wish to return to it?”
Nikai hung his head, whispering, “No.”
“Do you want your King back?”
“Yes.”
“Then let me make the deals I need to. Get out of my sight.” Ten turned back to the windows.
