“The Elves are being targeted at the prison,” he began. “You guys already know this, but now that one of them escaped and didn’t die like the Warden said, the prison considers us a threat. Nobody knows that I have Elf blood yet, or that I’m the heir, but one day, they will. Before that day comes, I have to train the Elves at the Institute, and teach them how to fight back.”
“Charlie, you have no idea what you’re doing,” I said. “You don’t know how to steal another supernatural’s powers. How can you teach the Elves something you’re not sure of yourself?”
“I’ve been siphoning people’s powers by accident since the beginning of the year. I just have to learn how to do it consciously,” Charlie pointed out. “Once I do, I can teach the other Elves how to do it, too, and we’ll be ready to fight when it’s time.”
“But the Elves have such small numbers now,” Marcus said. “They won’t survive another war.”
“That’s the point. The Elves can’t hold the other races off forever,” Charlie said. “Which means I have to find the keys, and lead them to the Blessed Haven, like the prophecy says I’m supposed to do. I have to do this as soon as possible, before they’re wiped out. Every day that passes is another day closer to the Elves losing their chance to get to heaven and live in peace. I can’t afford to waste any more time. Which is why I’m asking you guys to step in.”
“Sorry, but why does this even matter?” I asked.
“What the fuck? Why does itmatter?” Charlie asked scathingly.
“Yeah. I mean, it really sucks, but if the Elves die, doesn’t that mean they get to go to the Blessed Haven anyway? That’s their heaven. Why do they needyouto lead them there?” I asked.
“They want me to lead their mortal bodies there, so they can live peacefully for eternity,” Charlie protested.
“But their souls are destined for the Blessed Haven anyway, right? That’s their afterlife. Maybe it would just be better if—”
“Don’t say it,” Charlie hissed.
“— If the Elves just died out anyway, because at least then they’d be at peace and in the Blessed Haven, and not in the middle of this stupid ass war!” I shouted.
“So you’re saying it would’ve been better to stand back and allow them all to be slaughtered in Forevermore?” Charlie asked, completely aghast.
“I don’t know, but we’ve condemned them to a life of suffering by letting them live!” I argued. “If we had allowed Forevermore to be conquered, and let the Elves be killed, their souls would be in the Blessed Haven right now. Instead they’re here on earth, suffering because we tried to save them.”
It was a dark-ass way to think, but my mind couldn’t help but go there. I wanted to wipe suffering from the worldso badly, and make society a more just and joyful place for all.
But as I was learning quickly, my ability to end suffering, or even just stop it for a time, was very minimal, even as a demigod. Was living really worth it, if it meant living this way?
“Life matters,” Charlie said firmly. “This war matters, bringing the Elves to the Blessed Haven before they diematters.”
“Why?” I flung my hands up. “Why does any of it matter who lives and who dies? We’re all going to the afterlife, anyway.”
“We’re here for a reason. We can’t just give up,” Charlie argued. “We might not know why we’re doing this, why we’re living, but the gods do.”
“Screw the gods,” I snapped. “If they wanted to give us an answer, they’d tell us. They’ve communicated with supernaturals before, but they don’t care now, and I don’t want to be a pawn for a bunch of egotistical maniacs who want to play games.”
Coyote Spirit came to mind. He hadn’t contacted me since the Darke Games, and he’d hardly been helpful since.
“There’s a war coming, Ava! We need to stop it!” Charlie shouted. Kallie tried to shush him, and gave a quick glance at the door.
“War is pointless. There’s no need for it. We’ll all be at peace when we die anyway, so why bother fighting?” I said flippantly.
“You gotta be sure you’re going to the right place,” Kallie pointed out. “If you don’t, you’re fucked for literally forever.”
“Who cares,” I said tirelessly, tipping my head back. I was sure my soul was fated for hell, and at this point, I couldn’t really give a shit. It couldn’t be a worse place than where I was now.
“You sure aren’t bothered by the thought of eternal damnation,” Charlie grumbled.
“Because this is all sodumb!” I complained. “Might as well just cork off now and get to the good stuff. Or the bad stuff, anyway. At least after we die, we won’t have to deal with a pointless war.”
“Maybe that’s not true,” Marcus said nervously. “Ava, your prophecy refers to a war of gods. Maybe… maybe the afterlife isn’t as peaceful as we think. Maybe war is happening there, too.”
I physically felt the blood drain from my face at that horrible thought. To die on this earth, only to go into the afterlife and have to fight there, too? Talk about eternal damnation.
“Marcus could be right,” Kallie theorized. “We know not everyone has a peaceful afterlife. There are some people in hell, whatever version of hell it is. Perhaps that’s where the gods will fight.”
