Iswallowed hard; the truth was like ash in my mouth. “Iloved you, yes,”Iconfessed.Thebright and beautiful image of him had been shattered by the darkness in him; each piece was a shard that cut deeply into my heart.
“You’rea fool,” he spat, struggling against the silken threads that bound him. “Youshould have shown me your power and ruled by my side.Wecould have been invincible.Westill could be.Mylove, free me.Freeme and let us take back this world together.”
Iflinched, not from fear, but from the pain of hearing my greatest desire and having it feel so hollow. “Youchose power over me long ago,Hadeon.”
Hesneered, his teeth flashing. “Andyou’ve chosen what, exactly,Pallas?Newmonarchs to serve, to bow to?Pathetic.Youwere always pathetic.Youcould never hurt me.Atleast go find me someone worthy.”
Maybeif he had felt remorse, maybe if he had even tried to apologize,Iwouldn’t have been able to do it.Iwould have left it to someone else.
“Ialways was a fool, wasn’tI,Hadeon?Theymolded you into their weapon, theirGreatHero.Then,Iexpected you tojust be able to come home and find thatIwas enough.AllIever wanted was to be your peace.”
Hethrashed against the web that held him like a rabid dog.Helooked just like the boyInursed so long ago.Aboy who was so sweet and reverent.Thatboy had been dead a long time.
Bluelight sharpened into claws, andIrammed them into this chest.Ifelt them penetrate his flesh.Thebone and flesh resisted before giving way.Hescreamed; his eyes were wide with fear asIripped the heart straight out of his chest.
“Goodbye,Hadeon.Itonly seems fairIget to keep this.”Bloodbubbled from between his lips, and he held my stare just a moment longer despite the gaping wound in his chest.Hetried to speak, butIdidn’t care to try to understand what he said.Ijust stood there and watched until the heart of the manIonce loved with all of my own stopped beating.
Whenthere was no doubt he was dead,Idropped his heart, turned, and climbed out of the basement.JunandToriwere waiting for me, arms outstretched.Icollapsed into them and knew nothing but tears.
Epilogue
Pallas
Mylegs swung over the edge of the balcony overlookingXyr.Themain bridge that separated the mist district from the lower city still wasn’t complete, and on any other day,Iwould have seen bodies swarming over the wood scaffolding still surrounding the half-completed structure.
Todayit was empty as every man, woman, and child inXyrhad taken to the streets to celebrate.Everylintel and balcony was decorated with flowers of various colors and types.Musicfloated up from every direction into some sort of a discordant chorus as it reached me at the castle.Revelersdanced hand-in-hand in the great plazas below; giant circles formed as they started a choreographed dance.Othersjust writhed in masses, letting the joy of the celebration overtake anything else.Wineflowed freely and leaked into the cracks between the cobblestones of the streets, and no one paid any mind.
“IthoughtImight find you up here.”Avlyn’smelodious voice sounded from behind me, andIturned to give them a smile.
“Iwas hoping you would,Commander.”
Theirdark cheeks colored a bit at that, but they played it all in stride. “Notinterested in joining the festivities?”
“Ican’t.Torihas me running around for her all day.”
Avlynlifted an eyebrow. “Youdon’t seem to be running much right now.”
Iraised my finger to my lips and chuckled, “Whatshe doesn’t know doesn’t hurt her.”Ipatted the stone railing beside me, and they easily leaped over to sit beside me.
Wesat silently as we watched the crowd below for a while, butInoticed thatAvlyn’seyes drifted to the sea beyond.
“MayIsee it,Avlyn?”
“Areyou sure you want to?” they asked.Inodded.Avlynlifted their right arm towards me.Ametal hand had been created for them, and it was cool against my fingers asIgripped it.Ipushed back the sleeve of the formal tunic to where it was attached to their arm.Iraised my eyes in question, andAvlyngave me a curt nod.Iunbuckled the leather straps that held it to them and placed it on the railing between us.
Myhand lingered on what remained of their arm. “I’msorry.”
“S’notyour fault,Pallas.”
“Ifyou hadn’t been there with me that night…”
“Thereare many thingsIregret in this life.Butspending that night with you is not one of them.”
Iheld their intense stare; they deserved that much.Theydeserved much more than that.
“Thankyou,Avlyn.”Igave them a gentle kiss on the cheek.
“Forwhat?”
