AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Even while pain exploded behind my eyes, I yanked up, not letting my mind process the awful sensation.
But the pole gave way.
“I’m going to get you,” I repeated. A glance down confirmed my palms were covered in blisters, though they didn’t begin to compare to Cole’s tortured body. I made myself wait for them to heal, which took agonizing minutes. If I was too rash, I could very well burn my hands beyond use. All the while I whispered reassurances, promises, even taunts, anything I could do to try and rouse him. Cole, who had never been anything less than powerful, now brought this low.
And it was all my fault.
Allof it. I knew that now that my memories had returned.
The next pole was no less painful to remove. His legs slumped forward, lower half free. I set to work on his hands, his body falling on mine for support. I held him as best I could. The final spear was the most difficult to remove. I cried out when I removed it, then grabbed Cole and moved him from under the melting boulders. I drew him to a relatively safe part, where he rested on the ground.
I wanted to sigh in relief, but we were so far from okay. So, so far.
“Cole? Do you… do you know who I am?”
His eyes twitched, as if trying to rise to meet mine. I gently liftedhis head in my palms.
“Red… you’re not real.”
“I’m real,” I promised. “I’m real, Cole. I came.”
He didn’t need to speak to convey his disbelief.
No matter. Once I got him out of here, he’d snap out of it. I’d allow nothing less.
Getting out wouldn’t be easy. My memories were still filtering in.
The only way to get out of the under-realm was to convince the realm to let you. To make a deal.
I had said no. A million times I had said no to the deal that was offered. The price was too grave to pay, even to save my own damned soul.
But there was no price I wouldn’t pay for his.
“I want to make a deal.” The words were little more than a whisper as I cradled Cole against me.
Silence.
“I want to make a deal!” I shouted. “Answer me!”
“So quick to make demands.”
The voice filtered in my mind. Like the mantle, but not. I wasn’t able to stop from flinching. The voice was malevolence personified. Worse, it was familiar, a starring sound in my worst memories, though they hadn’t done it justice.
“Didn’t I say you would be back?”
“I want to make a deal. Release Cole’s soul and let me bring it back to the underworld.”
“You know the price of this, life-giver. If you set him free from below, you will unshackle the one above as well.”
The poisoned offer. The one I had sworn never to accept for myself.
“I—”
“No.”
I glanced down. Cole’s eyes were still shut, his body starting to heal, painstakingly slow for a shifter.
“Not this,” he murmured, voice growing weak from just a few words. “Get out. Leave me.”
