Thankfully, he showed far more restraint than most of his chosen brothers. Though, I expected nothing less. I taught him that, taught him the true meaning of kindness and how much this world needed it.
How could he betray me like this? How could he stand there, holdingmychild, and go through with Ryuk’s plan?
He doesn’t have a choice,I tried to convince myself. I knew Ryuk, or at least I thought I had. I knew the lengths he would go to get what he wanted, and I knew that he would have killed Dez if he even tried to refuse. But that didn’t soothe the ache I felt in my heart when Minerva came to me and told me of what Ryuk had ordered them to do.
She was the only true friend I had left, and when the stars gifted her the vision of my fate, I was willing to accept mine with open arms. But I would kill every fucking person here before allowing the stars to takemy baby, too.
As if he could sense my presence, Dez stilled suddenly and twisted around in my direction. Slowly, like I was approaching a rabid animal, I stepped onto the bridge and into the light of the fire blazing around us.
“Rosina,” Dez whispered, his voice trembling as fiercely as his arms were.
“Give me my child, Dez. Don’t make me hurt you.”
The light shining in my eyes grew brighter, illuminating his body and the child in his arms. When I saw the little black lines that covered the side of my baby’s face, my breath fell shakily from my lips.What has he done to you, my love?
“I’m s-sorry, Rosina… I… He told me I had to. If I didn’t?—”
“I know,” I told him, extending my arms out cautiously, trying to keep my gaze locked with his. “Give me my child.”
A tear slipped down Dez’s cheek, and I noticed one of his hands grab something from his hip before raising an obsidian blade. It took every ounce of restraint to keep my breathing even.
“Ryuk thought that you would try to compel me. He got into my head, Rosina… I don’t—If I don’t do this?—”
“I can help you, Dez. Okay?” I stepped closer and was relieved when Dez remained in his position. “Let me help. Don’t make me kill you, Dez. You’re like a son to me. Iloveyou.”
More tears fell from his eyes as he looked down at the child in his arms and back up at me. “What do I do?”
“Take him out of the blanket, and hand him to me.”
Dez froze, but his chest rose and fell in heavy pants. He was scared—as he should be. But he feared the wrong god. My rage burned far brighter than Ryuk’s.
“Hand me my child, Dez.”
He removed him from the blanket, passing him to me with shaking hands, and the second I held my son, my heart could finally beat again. Even the fire around us seemed to rise, cracking and spitting embers that surrounded the three of us.
My baby… I’m here baby,I wanted to tell him.I’m going to keep you safe. Mommy will fix this.
“Kaiden is looking for you. He’s going to be here soon, and?—”
“This won’t take long, Dez,” I interrupted him, then placed my hand on the bundled blanket still in his arms.
As the light in my eyes shone again, I glamoured the blanket to appear as if it still held my baby, wrapped up and still as death. Dez gasped in horror when he looked down at the facade, and the reality of what he was ordered to do poured from his face in agony.
“Oh, gods… Rosina… I was… I was going to…”
“Shhh.” I pulled Dez toward me and pressed my forehead against his.
Dez…I thought we could build a world that was different from the last one. I thought we could do it right this time, and Dez showed me thepotential that it had to begreat.They’re going to snuff that light from you, Dez. That’s what they do here. I’m so sorry…
“He’s safe. I’m going to keep him safe. But you have to do as I say.”
Dez looked at me, lips trembling as he regained control of his emotions. “Okay.”
“Kaiden is near. I’ll only be gone a few seconds, and I need you to convince him that you did your part. Can you do that?”
Dez sniffed, but nodded his head. “Y-Yes.”
“Good.” I stole a glance at the baby in my arms, feeling small cracks forming in my heart. “There is someone I need to find. And when I return?—”
