Page 58 of Against All Odds

Raya kicked me under the table, bringing me back to reality. I turned to look at her and realized she didn’t find the conversation as amusing as I did.

“Very well.” Lytheria stood, her melodious voice echoing through the large walls and demanding all our attention. She was tall, with porcelain skin, unnerving lapis lazuli eyes, and blonde waves of hair that touched her waist. “Move over here, please.”

Wasting no words, I see. I bit my tongue, unsure whether my sarcasm was appreciated – better not to risk it.

Raya and I tightly held each other’s hands as we walked over to the scale. My eyes locked with Jurrian’s, the gleam in them almost a silent plea – but we all knew we had no choice.

Lytheria raised her hands at our chests and started pulling the threads from them. I clenched my teeth at the familiar suction. I’d been through this before, but that made it no less uncomfortable.

“What’s happening?” Raya’s voice hitched, revealing something close to fear for the first time since we came here.

“She’s… weighing our souls.” I squeezed her hand in an attempt at reassurance. “Don’t worry, this will be over soon.”

The entire room seemed to hold its breath as the gray threads merged – bright blue and purple sparks flickering between them – until no one could tell where Raya’s soul ended and mine started.

“I see you both have inflicted ample harm on others.” Lytheria hummed softly. She tilted her head, cascading waves of blonde hair dancing over her shoulders. “But you’ve also suffered a lot. Though it may not feel that way at the moment itself, this positively affects the amount of cleansing required.”

I swallowed thickly. I had questions, but didn’t dare ask them. She spoke softly, but this woman seemed to hold most of the power in the room.

The threads landed into the scale with a quiet rustling.

My heart dropped when the scale trembled, then tipped – the wrong way. I had expected it, but that made the realization no less terrifying.

Lytheria’s eyes flew open, sparkling with an unearthly glistening silver. “Down it is.”

Jurrian’s shoulders slumped, as if the decision hurt him more than either of us.

“Excellent.” Slapping his knees, Lexius got up – as if our damnation was nothing more than an administrative obstacle. “Now that this is settled, the Court will be on its way. Thank you all for your contribution.”

His words sounded an awful lot like ‘thank you for wasting our time’.

The other judges followed his example. I opened my mouth, but fear squeezed my throat shut, locking my protest in there. Raya’s eyes pointed into mine, but I couldn’t meet her gaze – afraid she might feel my fear and get scared, too.

Verena stood before us in the blink of an eye – I hadn’t seen her coming. Maybe I was too distraught, my fear of what was to come dragging me down faster than my actual damnation could.

Her magenta eyes softened with something that almost looked like regret, and she reached out to touch my forehead. My eyelids trembled as the contact sent a brief electrical shock through me, taking the edge off my fear, though no heavenly touch could eliminate it completely. My head lifted instinctively, seeking more of her touch, but she withdrew her hand as fast as it came.

“Fascinating,” she murmured, looking between Raya and me. “The Court will be keeping an eye on you both.” She paused, glancing over at Lexius, who was engaged in a heated discussion with Jurrian. “The others may not admit it, but this was… a nice change from the usual.”

I snorted, pressing my lips tightly together. “So we are entertainment, aren’t we?”

She lowered her head in a faint attempt to hide her smile. “I suppose that’s one way to put it.”

I studied her with a tilted head. Hard to gauge whether she despised me or liked me. I wondered how boring their heavenly lives must be if this was entertainment to them.

Raya’s glare turned scorching, her grip tightening as if trying to turn my hand to pulp. Verena only chuckled. “Take care of each other.”

Before I could respond, she had disappeared. I blinked, and noticed the rest of the Court had, too – except for Lexius. Without Verena’s gaze magnetizing me, I finally caught glimpses of their conversation.

“You can’t do this.” A shock went through me at the plea in Jurrian’s voice – I had never seen him so desperate. “Please, Lexius. I know you have empathy within you. These girls have been through so much already.”

“I do not make this judgment, Jurrian, I only lead the hearing. Karma has spoken.” Lexius sighed as if the universe’s weight rested on his shoulders – and maybe it did. “You of all people should know not to let your personal feelings cloud your judgement.”

My mentor lowered his head. I resisted the strange urge to punch the judge in the face for talking to Jurrian so condescendingly.

“You’re attracted to her, aren’t you?” Raya’s small voice turned my head back toward her.

I blinked. “Sorry, what?”