My Soul Immortal (33 page)

“But why?” Kemisi asks. Her stunned stare reconnects with Artagan’s.

“I’m working on that,” Artagan says tenderly.

“The reason matters little in this case,” a male voice says.

My focus is still on Kemisi, so I’ve missed who spoke. I turn in the voice’s direction, toward the far end of the table. The bullish man’s eyes—black as pitch and as empty as a bottomless well—drill into me. His vacant glare cuts straight through me. Artagan doesn’t have to tell me who he is. He’s an immortal with no soul. One glimpse into his eyes tells me he’s capable of anything. The black emptiness ushers in a sense of desolation and fear I’ve never known. My breath is sucked away into the two black pits. I look away from him, not letting the soulless beast play with my resolve.

I take a deep mouthful of air then clear my throat. “I do have one request, if I may?”

Mosi’s heavy brows lift over his chocolate eyes. “You’re asking us for a favor? What right do you have to demand anything from us?”

“Let the boy speak,” Thanatos says.

“Not a demand, sir, but my last gift to Leah. I’m sure my request will be trivial to you. All I ask for is a long life. That Leah is allowed to die of old age in the same way as the people of Achnasheen.” I love her too much to bear the thought of one of these monsters coming for her after I’m gone. This act is a selfish one, I know. I console myself with the thought that my death won’t be the same for Leah as Lydia’s loss was for me. Leah is stronger than I ever was. Besides, I’m leaving her with the hope of our future reunion—my final lie.

Thanatos pauses. His brow puckers over his deep-set eyes, and he stares. “We will see. Jack, I must ask you to leave.” He raises his voice over the growing hiss of whispers and says, “It’s time for the vote.”

I push the chair away from the table. Its legs grate along the level rock floor. I rise, and Kemisi steps to my side then walks me into the dim hallway. Before closing the heavy wooden door, she gives me a faint smile. Maybe Kemisi will give me vote number four. The door shuts with a deep, booming thud, and I’m alone.

A groan escapes my lips. I lean against the damp craggy wall and thrust my hands into my pockets for warmth. Each moment seems like hours. If the votes fall my way, where am I heading? Heaven or hell? I count my sins, not liking my chances. The consequences that my decision will have on me make no difference. I would never retreat, no matter the price, because my decision is the right choice for Leah. I close my eyes, and emerald ones look back. I lose myself in them, allowing the memories to flood in and practically begging for them. In the midst of their haze, I hear a voice—her voice.

Jack!

I’m so sorry, love.

What are you doing? Don’t. Please don’t go
, Leah begs.

I never meant to cause you harm. I’m so sorry. However, I’m going to keep my promise. For you, this will be for the best—a clean slate. Maybe you’ll even fall in love with…
I can’t finish the thought. This is all in my head, yet her voice sounds so real. Her presence is just an illusion to get me by, and it probably means my sanity has finally given in to the madness.

Artagan clears his throat. My eyes snap open to find him scrutinizing my face, a perplexed expression etching his face.

“We’re ready for you,” he says. Nothing in his manner gives even the slightest hint about what Leah’s and my fate will be. He ushers me in and returns to his seat. I take a short step forward and plant myself at his side.

Thanatos’s deep voice fills the cavern. “Jack Hammond, immortal scion of Brennus, your request is hereby granted in full.”

A concoction of emotions—triumph, relief, fear, and sadness—twists in my gut and washes over me like an incoming tide. Some of my body’s responses, like the unease and fear, surprise me. Maybe the feelings are caused by facing the unknown—or by the finality. I find I’m having a hard time letting Leah go. My knees buckle. Artagan stands and offers me support. I refuse.

“The hemlock tea needs to be made. To brew the potion correctly, it will take a bit of time,” Thanatos says.

“Tea?” I ask.

“What? Did you think we’d just shove a sprig of hemlock down your throat and chase it with salt?” Domitilla laughs. “A bit barbaric, don’t you think?”

I stare.

“We found if we boil the hemlock, the poison is quicker and far less painful.” Thanatos speaks pleasantly as if we’re discussing the weather.

“Allow me to make the tea,” says Vita. “Unless you’d like the honor, Artagan? Seems he’s one of yours.”

“No, I wouldn’t,” he spits through clenched teeth. “I might have voted yes, but not because I wish his death. But because I wish him peace.”

Vita smiles and prances from the room.

Thanatos stands. “We’ll reconvene for Jack’s departure in one hour.”

“Just enough time,” says Mosi. “Anyone up for a quick game?”

Otmar glances at me with a touch of chagrin then stands. Stepping to Mosi’s side, he grins down at him in a pose that perfectly depicts the battle of David versus the Philistine. “You’re on, little man,” he says.

The others file out after them, laughing and joking, except for Kemisi. She stops, turns, and surveys the scene before leaving Artagan alone with me. He stares at the empty space after she disappears, and I slump into a chair.

“I can leave if you’d like,” Artagan offers. “But may I have a minute to explain what happened with Lydia in my own words?”

“All right, but first, you must promise to do me a favor.”

“Whatever you need.”

“This is Leah’s,” I say, setting my grandmother’s ring on the rough stone table. “See that she gets this.”

“Done.” He slips the ring into the breast pocket of his blazer then gives his chest two quick taps.

I nod, studying my fists on the table.

“It’s Akio who received the assignment of William’s death. I discussed the possibility of holding off on its completion. ‘What difference would a matter of a month make?’ I asked. I could see the consequences of what the death of Lydia’s brother would be. Akio’s response was that I’d become too attached to what happened in your life, and he believed the experience would be good for me.”

“Why did time difference matter?” I ask.

He looks at me with a glint in his eye. “Because if I’d gotten Akio to wait, Lydia wouldn’t have died, and you would have been married. Instead, Lydia’s gathering orders came the very night of William’s death. And, of course, the job came to me. I was handpicked by Death himself as a lesson never to interfere again.” He grits his teeth. “I planned to take Lydia in a different way, but I suppose that matters little now. When she ran out into the storm to find you, I had to act quickly. I feared if she’d gotten to you, the sight of her passing would have caused more pain.”

I snort. “More pain?”

“If I’d let you witness her death or if you’d found her, wouldn’t that have been more difficult? Am I wrong? You found your father. Wasn’t that painful? Finding Olluna in the way I did haunts me to this day. She returns to my dreams often, begging for my help.” He waits.

“If you were concerned about my pain, why did you allow me to see Leah smashed by a car?” I cringe at the memory. “Maybe you’re as coldhearted as Vita now.”

“Maybe.” He purses his lips.

First Lydia, now Leah.
Artagan had a hand in taking all I love from me. “Who took my father? Was that you, too?”

“No. That was Mosi. You were only seven. I’d never have used you like that. It wasn’t necessary.”

I square my shoulders. “Used?”

“The music box your father was buying for your mother. Mosi set the gift idea in your mind. He needed to have your father on that road at that moment.”

“It wasn’t my fault,” I whisper.

He shakes his head and then exhales slowly as the wooden door groans open.

“Go away, Vita,” Artagan says.

“I was just letting you know the tea is almost done. I’m letting the potion simmer a bit longer to make sure of its potency. We want to make sure it does the job. Don’t we?”

I find no reason to restrain my words now. My lot has been decided. My gaze locks with her fierce eyes. “Yes, make sure the poison does its job. Because if there’s the slightest chance I live, I’ll make your death my life’s ambition before leaving earth myself.”
Because if I’m still alive, I’ll have nothing left to lose.

Artagan chuckles.

“He’s been trying to kill me off for centuries,” Vita says, pointing to Artagan. “You can see how successful his attempts have been. He finally gave up. No staying power, from what I’ve heard.”

Artagan glares but offers no counter.

Thanatos steps into the room, making Vita jump. “Is the tea ready yet?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s get this done,” Thanatos says flatly.

Vita nods and withdraws from the room.

Thanatos glances at me. “The others will be here momentarily.”

Emptiness swells in the pit of my stomach. I rub my hands along my jeans and stare Thanatos straight in eye. “I’m sure my actions make no sense to any of you. You look at my decision as me giving up immortality. This choice is my only reprieve from an eternity without her. It’s quite selfish, really.”

“I suppose it is,” Thanatos says. “You’re forcing her to live through the same pain you lived through. Some might call it revenge.”

I sneer, tilting my head away. “They’d be wrong. I wish I’d found another way. I regret her pain. The thought of causing her grief gnaws at me like a cancer, but the bottom line is—Leah has to live. I made a promise to protect her, and I won’t break my word.”

“Not even for an Ignorant,” says Thanatos, his eyes narrowed into slits.

“I told you—her title doesn’t matter.”

Thanatos nods. “You did. I’d like to meet this woman that causes such devotion.”

“You won’t. That’s our deal.”

“Yes, you’re correct. I’ll never meet her. None of us will. You have my word.” Thanatos takes his seat at the head of the table. He leans back, staring at the uneven ceiling, his hands folded over his chest while his index fingers tap together.

Vita returns, carrying an iron kettle. Steam bellows from the spout. Domitilla follows her, bearing a golden chalice in her hands.
How very ceremonial
.

The others file in after them, each taking their seats. Otmar and Mosi are the last to arrive, with crimson smeared across both their faces. Otmar has multiple slashes down his right sleeve, but the blood that seeped from the wounds has already dried and begun to crack. Mosi’s lips carry a smug grin.

“Tiger one, Otmar zero,” Mosi whispers to Akio loudly enough for me to hear.

Thanatos shoots Mosi a meaningful glare and puts his finger to his lips. Domitilla places the gold cup on the table in front of me then sits. The gold glitters in the torchlight. A relief carving of skeletons encircles the cup’s mouth.

Vita’s lips form a coy smile, and she pours the tea into the chalice, causing steam to swirl into the air. She leans to my ear. “I’ve never seen an immortal die before. Brennus took the tea, but he drank it in private. It’s all so exciting,” she purrs, giving me a wink.

Thanatos gestures to the cup. “Drink, please.”

I lift the chalice first with one, then both hands. The ornamental cup is heavier than I expected. My lips touch the cool metal, and I can’t help but smile. The initial taste is metallic, but then a warm, salty sweetness washes away the tinny flavor. I’m surprised. I imagined the hemlock would be bitter. I gulp the liquid, disregarding the heat that scorches my throat.

I set the cup on the table and wait, but as the seconds tick by, I feel no difference, other than the fresh bloom of anxiety. I’m just about to complain that the poison isn’t working when my vision blurs. I attempt to rub at my eyes with my palms, but my hands begin to quake uncontrollably.

“Vita, what have you done?” Kemisi demands.

Then I’m falling. The left side of my face slams against the rough stone floor, and I roll to my back. My body convulses. A frothy liquid dribbles from my mouth, running in warm paths down my face. I fight through my disorganized thoughts to spend my last moments with Leah, or at least my memory of her. I search for her face in the fog, but I only find her eyes, full of sorrow and worry.

Don’t be mad, love.

But, Jack, I said no
, she pleads.

“I love you,” I whisper.

A screech echoes in my ears, causing my eyes to snap open. Shadowy vapor hovers over me. The mass grows—doubling, then tripling, in size—taking a humanoid form. My heart races, nearly exploding. I attempt to crawl backward, but I’m frozen in place. I stifle a scream, gulping down breaths to stay quiet.

A pair of vermilion eyes materializes in front of me. No pupils. No irises. All red. They glower down at me. I’m held fast by an invisible specter. Burning pain slashes through my head while the beast rummages through my mind. Emotional torment accompanies every flip of a memory. Even my eyes can’t escape the silent interrogation; the creature imprisons my gaze with an unbreakable stare.

Vita’s laugh plays along the walls… or is it Artagan’s? The swelling beat of my heart in my ears swallows every sound, covering voices and muffling sounds like a heavy wool blanket. As quickly as the pain comes, the sensation leaves. The eyes release me and turn to the council. The shadow lets out a primal howl—high pitched and deafening as if the gates of hell have opened to devour us all. I attempt to rise to my knees, but the room spins and sends me crashing to the floor. My limbs have gone numb.

Through the haze, I watch the shadow sail through the air and slam Vita to the ground. She sits, stunned, before retreating, crawling backward toward the door. Her eyes dart from side to side, desperately looking for an escape. The shadow beast faces her again. Vita screams—a name? Through the cotton in my ears, I concentrate on her muffled yells. “Serevo. I name Serevo,” she says over and over. I can feel my lungs closing in, and my breaths become shallow and rapid. I’m losing my grasp on reality. It would be so easy to let myself fade into darkness, but I keep my eyes open, transfixed on Vita’s horror-stricken face.