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My hackles rise. “I’m telling you now, if you mess with my loved ones, I will unleash hell on this council.”
Veda gasps, but Circe merely smiles. “And who are your loved ones? Just so I know who to steer clear of.”
“You know damn well who I’m talking about. Finley, Carrick, Amell, and Nyssa.”
“All else is fair game?” Circe simpers.
“And Maddox,” I snap, although he clearly doesn’t feel the same. I just know I can’t bear for him to be dead.
None of them reply, and I’m not sure that’s an agreement to leave my family alone. There’s no doubt they are doing that intentionally to take back some control as I know this newfound confidence, and the ways in which I’m willing to wield it, is disconcerting.
“I did learn something else from Ariman,” I say quietly.
“What’s that?” Cato asks. The other three stare at me intently.
“He said you all forgot your purpose.” They exchange glances of confusion. “He said you were so old and so set in your ways that it made you weak. I’m thinking he might have been right.”
Circe’s eyes flash with indignation, Onyx growls, and I hear thunder rolling in the distance. Only Veda remains placid, as is her normal bearing.
“Just so I understand the rules,” I continue, “I am prohibited from reincarnating Lucien.”
“That is correct,” Onyx says with a grave nod.
“As long as I follow your wishes on that, you’ll leave my loved ones alone.”
Circe points at me, a true smart-ass. “Bingo.”
“So be it,” I say in defeat. “I won’t reincarnate Lucien. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
I don’t finish my sentence or wait for them to hold me for more conversation. I bend distance and leave them behind.
Right back to Micah’s realm where I stand on the beach where Carrick described the fight that took place between Micah and Lucien.
I might not be able to reincarnate him, but I’m not prohibited from doing anything else. At least that’s the way I interpreted what the gods said.
I can’t reincarnate Lucien, but perhaps I can do something to prevent his destruction.
Watching the flow of the molten river, I consider what I know about it. The truly depraved sinners end here. Their souls reside in an infinite inferno of torture. It’s a violent twisting of your spirit, endless pain and eternal insanity.
Suffering without end as punishment for evil misdeeds.
Veda might have had a great point… Lucien could be so deranged a reincarnation might end badly. It’s a risk I’m still willing to take though, because I believe I can restore his soul.
However, that’s all moot since I promised I wouldn’t.
But what if Lucien were protected somehow before he went into the river? That idea has been rattling around in my brain ever since I learned how the Blood Stone was stolen, plus there’s no way of knowing if the Book of Shadows will ever be found. If it is, there’s still no telling if it contains the solutions we need.
I’ve got a fix and I can implement it right now.
Ariman figured out how to go back in time, to hover between dimensions unseen to all. He moved effortlessly between past and present, and he was very careful not to change events, which I would assume could have catastrophic results for the future.
A quick in-and-out so none would be the wiser.
Why can’t I do that? He had the Blood Stone and imagination.
I have more power than the Blood Stone ever did, and I’m not afraid to build on Ariman’s idea. I might not be able to bring Lucien back for fear of reprisal but I can damn sure give him some protection before he goes into that river.
I can help ensure he has a fighting chance to get out on his own. I simply have to go back in time to that moment before Lucien went in.
