This part will confuse her heart, but she must be told the truth of it. To come to terms with it, and to be sure in her path going forward. “It is the purpose of his existence, and it was stolen from him.”
“What? His purpose is to destroy?”
“Destroy so that new life can begin. The Source of creation must be replenished, and it was his role to do so. To end worlds so that new ones could be born. To manage the cycle of life and death for this universe.”
I can see her mind working. “The Asura stopped him?”
The closer I remain to the core of me, the more I remember, and I owe her the truth. “No, Leela, the Deva did. And now he wishes to complete his task.”
“To end our world…” She chews on her lip. “What they did to him…that was awful, but what he’s doing now is unfair. The universe hasn’t collapsed because our world lives. It still stands. It still functions. He doesn’t have to end us. He’s choosing to because…He wants revenge.” Her gaze whips up to meet mine. “I won’t let him destroy this world. We can’t let him hold the mantle of deciding which worlds live and die. He’s not right in the head. Not anymore. I’ve seen the madness in his eyes…”
I stroke her cheek. “It will be all right. You will find me in time. You will bring my flame to me, and I will expel him from my body. Do you believe me?”
“Yes. He wasn’t evil when they trapped him, but…but the things he’s doing now…he’s becoming what they named him.”
“If enough of us believe that evil can be felled, then it will be felled.” I hug her closer. “Now tell me of your plan. How will you get to me? Maybe I can help formulate a path.”
She settles against me, her head on my chest. “I’m going to take the portway that’s inside the sea. At least that’s what we think the sea monsters are guarding.”
Portways? We drohi suspected such doorways existed for some time, but the suspicions had never been confirmed. “I did wonder if the human settlement locations were strategically chosen to guard portways, but it made no sense to make humans a target for the devouring force. Now I understand that by placing the settlements at portways, the Asura were deterring attacks.” I can feel her slipping from me. Her form getting softer. Mistier.
She frowns up at me. “Araz, I think I’m waking up.”
“I know, my heart. But it’s all right. You will sleep again, and I will find you. I willalwaysfind you.”
She reaches up to touch my cheek, but the contact never lands.
Leela is gone.
Until the next time.
Chapter 28
AN UNEXPECTED CONNECTION
PASHIM
The entranceto the gorge gapes like a dark, ominous maw waiting for me to step inside so it can swallow me whole. There’s a tremor in my belly, but it isn’t fear, strangely enough. It’s more akin to excitement, as if I’m about to learn something that will alter the course of this new life that I’ve been gifted.
The journey has been long and lonely, but my purpose fuels me. Leela fuels me. Ironic that my actions will undoubtedly push her into another drohi’s arms. That she can never be mine, but it is enough for me to see her thriving, alive and happy. To breathe the same air as her.
I cannot be her lover, so I will be her friend. I will stay as long as I am able. And today, I will muster her an army.
Cold fire blooms beneath my sternum. I glance down at the spiral glowing steady and blue through the fabric of my tunic and leather chest guard. It is a part of me and yet outside of me. Clinging to me. A gift from the djinn in the in-between who are waiting to pass on.
Now it’s time to meet the djinn who stayed. Who refused to cross to the in-between. I step into the shadows cast by the steep cliffs either side of the narrow valley, allowing the gorge to claim me.
The wind picks up instantly, icy needles raking at my skin and frosty fingers tugging at my hair. Tears rise to protect my eyes. I blink them away, moving steadily forward into the howling rising around me. The air grows heavier, pressing down on me in pulses, as if testing the integrity of my form.
I don’t speak.
I don’t need to.
They sense me—the intruder to their refuge. They will come with talons and the promise of death. But Death is on my side, and she will not take me. Not yet anyway.
The world goes dark as storm clouds rush in to block out the sun. Cold gnaws at my skin with tiny eager teeth, and the spiral at my breast reacts, warming properly now, sending pulses of heat out to envelope me, until I’m looking out at the world through a sheen of blue. Protection against the phantoms rising from the shadows. They rush at me with spectral talons and weapons glowing with lethal intent.
Faces whoosh past me. Open mouths and dark pits in place of eyes, housing glowing pinpricks for pupils.
