Page 97 of In Between Death and the Devil

My stomach sank. He was right. I knew I couldn’t put off starting the trials forever, but I’d hoped to be more confident I could take on Death and win. The last two weeks had proven that to be a false hope. I’d made such little progress when it came to the one thing I needed to do—attack with my powers—it was laughable. I could have practiced for months, and it might not have made a difference.

Maybe being forced to start the trials would be a good thing. No more dithering. Maybe I needed to be faced with a real situation to get past my block. There was only one way to find out. Besides, I was sick of having this hanging over my head.

“I need to initiate the challenge.” There was no surprise from the others at my words.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” Fen asked.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. It’s time to see what I can do.” I sounded far more certain than I felt.

The others looked both hopeful and stricken. They’d been waiting for this moment for almost a century and now they were about to find out if the wait had been worth it.

“Take me to the Guardian,” I said.

* * *

Fen took me to his office while the others cleaned up. His silence was unnerving. Our bond had gone quiet as soon as I’d said I wanted to initiate the challenge, like he’d withdrawn. I suspected he meant to give me privacy and space, but not knowing how he felt about it made me feel more uncertain than ever.

“Where does the Guardian live?” I asked. It turned out they were as real as Death and the Devil, and in addition to being the god of Fate they were the arbiter of the challenge and the trials.

“I’m not sure how to describe it. It’s in the In Between, but in a place that’s not connected to the castles. You’ll see when we get there.” He came to stand next to me. “The location is one that only Deaths, Devils, and their Successors can access. Once you’ve been there, you’ll be able to go there yourself. Though I’d prefer if you let me accompany you in the future.” His tone was mild, but he seemed uneasy.

“Is the Guardian dangerous?”

“Yes. Most people in the In Between can’t handle being in their presence because they are too powerful, powerful enough to shred a regular soul apart.”

My lips parted.

“Those who channel power—myself, Death, you—we’re able to handle it, but they’re powerful enough to rip either of us apart if they have a mind to.”

I felt the blood draining from my face at his words. “Will they? The In Between can’t function without a Death and Devil.”

“I don’t know. I’ve never felt… secure in their presence.” His jaw worked, and he looked like he’d rather do almost anything but this.

I swallowed. Fen was the most powerful being I’d ever met. If he was afraid of this Guardian…

“Ready?”

To go see a being that might rip me apart rather than talk to me? No. But there wasn’t another option, so I nodded.

Instead of leading me to the door, Fen put his arm around my waist. “Hold on. Don’t let go.”

“What do⁠—”

Shadows swirled from one of his hands into the space in front of us, forming a soft cloud. I didn’t have time to blink as Fen stepped into it, dragging me with him.

There was a moment of compression, and then we were stepping into a cave.

At least it looked like a cave. The walls were made of the dark void that surrounded the In Between. Only the floor was solid, black rock that had been worn smooth. Floating balls of light made everything glitter and shimmer, including the platform in the center which held a statue lying on its back—a tall figure in a robe.

The transition from the familiar solidity of Fen’s office to otherworldly darkness was disorienting. It felt like I was standing on the edge of nothing, like one wrong step might send me tumbling off into the void. I had to clench my hands and force myself to breathe, reminding myself that the floor was solid under my feet.

Fen squeezed my waist gently.

I placed my hand over his, clinging to his grounding presence. “How do you do that? Create a shadow portal to travel through?”

“It’s called shadow-stepping. I can create a portal to any place in the In Between.”

“Is that how you got into my room the night you blackmailed me into making a deal with you?” I asked.