Page 16 of Ever Dark Academy, Vol. 7

“Yes, but we did that once already in Lasting. I don’t think these new slices will be in Solace,” Charlie guessed, “as we know the old ones are definitely there. The old Artemis likely is. The more complete one.”

“If only we could have you jam him into a soul gem,” Fiona muttered.

Charlie let out a laugh. “Yes, yes, well, I have a feeling I only got away with that because he was a slice of a slice. I wouldn’t want to go up against one of the more complete slices.”

“So we’d have to sneak down to Seeyr then? She’s in the basement dungeon of the Spire. That’s bound to be heavily guarded. The most heavily guarded,” Fiona objected. She raked her lips over her lower lip again, before saying, “But more than that, we’d have to leave her behind even if we were to get to her.”

“Yes,” Charlie nodded. “We would. Her fate is to remain there.”

Fiona’s hands came together in front of her body and she wrapped her fingers together. “But we know what’s going to happen to her–”

“And so does she,” Charlie said solemnly.

“You are all very eager to see those of us still here pass away or face our fates,” Eyros grumbled.

“No, Eyros. None of us want this,” Fiona told him.

“So why do the two of you think that going to Solace–talking to Seeyr of all people–would be the best solution rather than just working it out? Like you did when you turned back time to help Ashyr?” Eyros asked.

“Even if there was no such danger in going to Skye, the truth is that we could be here for a long time while she figures out what to do,” Charlie pointed out. “And I don’t know if we have time for that.”

“On the contrary, all you have is time,” Eyros said. “Ages of it. Eons of it. Oceans of it. From what I can tell from your minds anyways. The future is a long way off.”

“You shouldn’t be looking into our minds and seeing the future, Eyros!” Fiona had spun to face him and put his hands on his hips.

“Why not?” Eyros lifted an eyebrow at her.

“Because!” she sputtered. “Because it’s the future! Your future! And you could mess it up!”

“Could I?” The eyebrow lifted higher. “You mean I don’t have to die and have Elgar cradle my head for millennia? I don’t have to become human and be turned by a Kaly slice? I don’t have to be tortured by him for ages? I don’t have to be exiled? You mean those things I could mess up? I could change them?”

Fiona’s hands fisted. “Eyros, the future is good.”

“But there’s a lot of the getting there that is bad,” Eyros pointed out. “And a lot of us have to pay for this future goodness.”

Fiona pinched the top of her nose. “Yes, as there is always risk in life.”

“Perhaps we can get to that good part without me suffering, without Elgar suffering,” Eyros said.

“There isn’t. You know there isn’t!” Fiona’s arms flew up and back down.

“I don’t actually know that at all. All I know is what you know. But you’ve traveled back in time. And I am able to read your minds. So maybe it can be changed. I can anticipate what’s going to come and avoid it.” Eyros’ silver eyes narrowed speculatively. “Maybe I can survive–”

“You do! You’re reborn!” Fiona cried.

“But I’m not me.” Eyros touched his chest. “This person I see in your mind is not me. Cats? Friends with Kaly? Afraid of–”

“You?” Charlie said quietly.

“Yes, supposedly afraid of myself! What sort of person have I become that I am afraid of myself? It’s absurd!” Eyros scoffed. “Such a being does not deserve to exist. I deserve to exist. I should exist in this paradise you speak of. I should–”

“No! Eyros, no!” Fiona frantically shook her head. “The future is good! It needs to be protected!”

“The future will be! In fact, it will be better protected if Roan doesn’t get to form a House that he tortures,” Eyros said. “Better for me to be there in the future to keep Julian Harrow and Christian Thorn safe rather than this bungling version of me that you seem so fond of. I absolutely would do it better–”

“No! No, you wouldn’t!” Fiona hissed.

Fiona and Eyros’ faces were now six inches apart. Fangs were bared. Silver eyes sparking.