“I have to go. Will you send Desi to the cottage please?”
“Of course. Will you let me know if the stars change their minds about the cause?”
“Yes, absolutely.” I began to back away, my mind a raging storm, an ache beginning in my jaw. “You’re doing the right thing, Commander. I realize that now more than ever.”
“Thank you, Nova.”
Nodding, I turned and walked back through the wards. My mind continued to spin, the whispers of the stars growing louder as I shadow walked.
It was a risk. But what did I care? My boots scuffed against the floors, my mask suffocating. Only one elite guarded the doors, their eyes barely scanning me before they waved their hand, both doors opening for me. I walked in carelessly, practically dragging my legs.
No one was there, the large, open space void of life. On heavy feet, I walked forward, letting my knees fall at the end of the path before the stairs.
“You are about to do something with repercussions you cannot possibly understand.”
Laughing, I shook my head, tears streaming down my face and heating my mask.
This world needs to heal.
“Will you spit on us like this?”
I can’t keep doing this anymore. Everything I touch dies. Everything magic touches dies. We were never meant to experience your power like this. It’s unnatural, and the universe is punishing us for it. Punishing you, too, by inflicting misery and boredom upon you.
“It is not solely our fault it exists, and we were bored long before we blessed you.”
This isn’t a blessing. It’s a curse.
My fingers hit the cold floors as I leaned forward, my breaths coming rapidly and my bones aching. My head pounded, the skin beneath my necklace seeming to sizzle.
I missed Mama. I missed Dad. I missed Celeste. I missed the life I had before I ruined it all.
“Do you truly think they can win this war without you?”
I think they’ll be better off with me gone. And at least I can give them this gift before I go.
“What about Azazel Altair? What will he do in your absence?”
He’ll do what he did before I came along.
“But you love him. We see it. Feel it. Taste it.”
Sometimes loving someone means being willing to let them go.
“Do you say that in the hopes we’ll free you?”
Will you?
They remained silent for a few seconds, their consciousness floating amongst mine. Twirling and merging.
“Yes. We will let you go, if that’s what you want.”
See, you’re capable of change. And maybe that means you can do more with what you have. Perhaps you can find entertainment in things other than pain.
“This is how the faithful wish to please us. It is not our choice, nor is it the only way to receive the gift.”
Yet, you’ve been bored of it for centuries. That’s why you all chose me—why you chose to gift me such immense magic when I didn’t deserve it in the eyes of many. You knew the way forward had to change. Only all of you can divert the path.
They said nothing, though I suddenly felt lighter. My bones no longer ached. My head no longer throbbed. My skin no longer burned. As if they’d freed me of my pain.
