“Hate to disappoint you, Ms. Godrun,” he says, “but it’s only a matter of time. He either fulfills his responsibilities here or eventually Hell spills over. So one way or another, he will have to deal with it. It’d be easier for him to get it over with and allow his soul to find its place here permanently.”
“What?” Sevryn and Gladian bark.
Damn. I forgot Sevryn had already left the Soul Chamber when Creed admitted that.
“That’s no longer going to be a problem. Isn’t that right, Ms. Godrun?”
My back straightens and everyone’s attention whips to the left. My eyes stay peeled on Zareb as he strolls up to our group. Phoelius, Barir, and even Delun bow their heads at him.
“I received word that you were here, but I see the God of Death isn’t with you. What’s the meaning of this meeting?”
Before I can tell him none of his business, Phoelius jumps right in, explaining, ignoring my scowl.
“I see,” Zareb hums. “May I see the parchment?”
Again, before I can rip it from Phoelius’s hands, he passes it over. I hold my breath and hide my shock as Zareb scribbles his name across a line and it glows as he embeds his power.
“There you are, Ms. Godrun.”
My mouth opens and closes as I stare down at his signature.
Zareb, God of Confinement.
“Why?” I ask.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, a signature is a signature, but I don’t understand.
“I stood in the archway that day to verify the God of Death was going to do as he promised. I believe a very reasonable compromise is coming in our near future.”
He heard and saw what my soul did.
I’m in no position to answer or make decisions for Creed, but I know Amick’s already been working on a way to fix some of Hellveilious’s issues. He had already jotted down notes about it. One of the key things he wrote was, keeping Creed’s soul from attaching to this place.
My soul can prevent that from happening.
“There is.” I nod.
“That’s comforting to hear,” he hums and bows his head to me, then focuses on the others. “I’d advise you three to rethink the stance you’re currently taking on this decision.”
With that, he starshoots out, and I stand here a little dumbfounded.
“What was that about? Zareb has been angrier with the God of Death far longer than us. Why the sudden change of heart?” Barir asks.
“I was right.”
My gaze jerks from him to Phoelius’s smile. That’s the same look he wore when he made that comment about how he couldn’t wait to see how worthy Creed actually was.
“Right about what?” I ask.
“You’re changing him, and in turn…he’s going to change Hell.”
Phoelius holds his hand out, and my eyes bounce between him and the parchment clutched in mine.
Eventually, I pass it back to him.
A subtle breath slips through my lips as his power flashes across the parchment. Barir stares at him for a long moment as he hands it over to him.
“You’re sure about this? All because of Zareb and his cryptic words?”
