Page 146 of Obsession

“Good-bye, sister,” he says. He pauses, then adds, in a more threatening tone, “Do not ever interfere with me or mine ever again.”

“Yes, brother.”

Though she is straight-faced, there is a smile to her voice. If it were anyone else and it was any other time, he would set them ablaze for such attitude, but we are both weary and ready for this to be over.

Aris just sighs, then asks,“What will you do with him?”

Sem digs the necklace out of her pocket, my attention zeroing in on the black stone in the middle. It gives off unnatural energy, reeking of malaise and rage. I try not to shiver.

“Rest assured,” she says. “He will not bother you again.”

Aris’ hold tightens, a physical manifestation of his doubt. He says, “I am trusting you to do something for the common good.”

“Of course,” she replies, but Aris does not relax.

Part of me shares in Aris’ hesitation. Sem is as tricksy as he is. There is no reassurance that she won’t let Jaegen go as soon as we step through the thick sludge of the portal. She helped us capture him—a point in her favor—but it’s hard to trust someone who represents goodness to be a stone-cold jailor.

Trapping her brother for an eternity is probably not something she feels too great about. Who’s to stay she’ll stick with the punishment?

“The common good,” Aris repeats, for my benefit.

It’s a reminder of the utilitarian concept. The trolley problem. The common good does not always mean “good”; all it means is that a greater harm is avoided by a lesser. There is still harm. In trapping Jaegen, Sem has committed harm, but setting him free would do more damage.

Sem is Order. She is bound to utilitarianism.

She watches our exchange wordlessly, mouth pinched. Yes, she is bound, but the trolley problem causes debate in every ethics class.

I incline my head, holding my hand out, and Aris steps out to take it.

Who knows if we can trust Sem? Who knows if Jaegen will stay stuck in a necklace? The answer to both is, probably not. Chances are, I’ll run into Jaegen again. We’ll have some choice words for one another at that point.

But that will be later.

I take a final look around the flat, well-maintained lawn, catching on the shaped topiaries and green hedges. There is a river in the distance reflecting a waxing moon, and the air is clean and cold.

Earth is a beautiful place, with inhabitants so interesting and silly that the attention of three gods was placed upon them. This will always be my home.

“I’ll look after it,” Sem reminds me quietly, and I nod.

Aris squeezes my hand; I squeeze back.

“Come with me,” he says, “and the universe will be yours.”

I am still looking at the reflection of the moon. I remember staring out of the car window as a child, thinking that the moon was following me. If I asked him to, Aris would lasso it and bring it with us. Then again, I think he’d do it for the world-ending impact over pleasing me.

“I would accept no less,” I say, meeting his gaze.

His eyes are as black as the night itself, his skin luminescent. He is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

“I will always hate you,” I tell him.

“Wonderful,” he replies immediately. He sounds thrilled; he is insane. “Love alone is not enough chaos.”

My lips quirk, flatten, and I take a deep breath. I’ll admit to being afraid. My only company will be Aris and his followers. But this also feels right, as if, no matter how many paths I had before me in life, they all led to the same place.

Here.

I look briefly at Sem. I forgive you.

---