Page 71 of Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones

“Keep going, Raevyn. You can do it,” Rook said. I loved that they were cheering me on, even if it was mildly terrifying that I had no clue what I was doing, it made me feel that nothing bad could happen.

“It’s instinctual, Raevyn,” the voice from my dreams said. “Just don’t think about it.”

“Okay,” I muttered. I could do this.

“Stay back,” the advorsus hissed. The man’s eyes were bloodshot and his lips were chapped. There were spots were the skin had necrotised and I knew, as soon as the advorsus left the man’s body, the host would die.

I stood still and held my hands out, trying to show I wasn’t going to move closer. “What’s your name?”

“What does that matter?” he croaked. “There’s no one left to say it.”

“I’m here. I’d like to say it.” Another wave of his guilt pulsed in my chest.

He blinked a few times, his head cocked to one side. “Why?”

“Because I just want to help. We all deserve that, don’t we?”

He barked a laugh. “Not this guy. Do you know what he did?”

I shook my head. “No, why don’t you tell me?”

The advorsus stepped closer and I felt the guys tense behind me. I flicked a look at them over my shoulder and held my hand out, asking them to wait. They didn’t look happy about it but they stayed put. It was encouraging that they trusted me to take care of this and it gave me a little boost of self confidence, something I don’t think I’d ever really felt.

“He was drunk. He knew he was drunk and he still got behind the wheel,” the advorsus spat. Ah, shit. I think I knew where this story was headed. “He killed her. He killed my wife and got nothing more than a slap on the wrist because his parents are some powerful people. How’s that fair? How’s that right?”

“It’s not,” I said softly. “But that doesn’t mean you can kill him too. Would she want that?”

I felt more regret seeping from him and I knew I had it right.

“I’ll make sure his soul gets passed for judgment,” I promised. “But this isn’t where you’re meant to be.”

I held out my hand to him and waited. I could see the turmoil in his eyes as he fought against his need for revenge and his desire to move on. I could understand that, I had wanted to make my mother suffer for what she’d done, only to find after her death she was trying to protect me and I was struggling to let go of that hate and rage.

He eyed me warily. “You’ll make sure he suffers?”

“I can’t guarantee that,” I said with a shake of my head. “But I will personally deliver him to the ferryman.”

That seemed to satisfy him because he stepped closer and took my hand. I swallowed the retch that clawed up my throat. His hand was wet and mushy and the smell was so bad.

“Timothy,” he said. "My name is Timothy."

“Hi Timothy. It’s nice to meet you.”

He smiled, well at least I thought it was a smile. Seemed to look more like a grimace. “No one has spoken my name in a long time.”

“You need to let him go, Timothy. I’ll keep you safe until we reach the Underworld.” I didn’t know how I knew that, but I knew he’d be safe travelling with me.

“Okay. Thank you.” He took a deep breath and gave a single nod. “I’m ready.”

My power swirled in response to his words and I felt it pull his soul from the host. A swirling ribbon of gold and silver emerged from the body and it was beautiful. I thought it would be a mix of shards and jagged edges but it was like sprinkles of glitter shimmering like stars. I held out my hand and drew the soul towards me. My magic entwined with the soul and wrapped it around my wrist like a bracelet. It solidified against my skin and became a bracelet of silver and gold with his name stamped into the surface.

TIMOTHY JAMES GRANT

“Aww, we didn’t get to use my circle,” Nox complained with a pout.

“I’m sorry,” I replied.

“Don’t be,” Casimir said. “Capturing an advorsus is usually much more violent when we do it. Nox is just disappointed he won’t get to maim anything.”

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