Page 157 of Finders Reapers

She was so small.

Jamal didn’t understand.

It appeared that Fletcher was the bravest of them all because he met the Gods gaze. “Can you bring her back?” He demanded.

The Balance looked from Valentina’s still form to the man in brightly colored clothes. She blinked slowly, unable to mimic human mannerisms, unable to hide herotherness. “No.” She said heavily.

“Can’t, or won’t?” Rome’s hand twitched; he was about to do something dangerous and reach for his knife.

“Can’t.” The god sighed.

This time, Charon spoke, surprising the Grim. “Why?” He rasped, turning to face the god. “Why can’t you help? And don’t give me some bullshit about balance, equality, and fairness. Okay?”

The child cocked her head to the side. She said nothing and just waited.

Rome was the first to move. Jamal reached to stop him, but it was too late. Jamal expected him to attack, but Rome surprised him, dropping to his knees in front of the child.

“Please.” Rome didn’t hide that he was crying. “??????????, ? ?????? ??? ?????? ???.”

The Child reached out and touched his head. “I’m sorry, Romeo.”

Rome dropped his head until it pressed onto the carpet. His silent tears turned to sobs.

Jamal felt his own eyes prickle with tears as he looked away.

“What happens now?” Maddox’s voice was thick as if he had a lump in his throat. “Does she get to go to heaven? Or is she just gone? She fucking saved the world. She can’t be gone.”

The Balance smiled sadly. “You are bonded.” She declared. The multilayered quality of her voice stole all attempts at softness. “You have her mark.”

Jamal reached up subconsciously and pressed his hand against the sigil burned into his flesh. “She marked us to save us.” He told the god. “We would have died, just like Oriax and those beasts, if she hadn’t marked us.”

“Yes. You would have.” The child agreed. “Valentina is no longer in that body or any body. I can’t even say for certain that she exists anymore.”

It felt like the god was twisting the knife, but Jamal did not have the strength to argue.

“That’s bullshit.” Maddox crossed his arms over his chest.

Fletcher murmured his agreement.

The god continued as if they hadn’t spoken. “Valentina may be in the ether. Broken into millions of pieces and ready to rejoin the universe in another way.” She held her hand out to Rome and urged him to stand. The mature and comforting movements unnerving due to her petite body. “I do not believe this is the case. Her soul bond has not faded; she may be out there. Somewhere. Too weak to return to a body. Too weak to even have thoughts or a form.”

“What are our options?” Maddox spat bitterly. “She’s either gone forever, or she’s still here, but not in any form that we would recognize asher?”

The child blinked and said nothing.

Jamal swallowed the lump in this throat before clearing it. “Why did you come?”

Charon’s head swung around. “I would like to know that as well.”

Until he had spoken, Jamal had forgotten that he was even there.

The child looked down at Valentina’s still form. “I came to relieve you all from your contracts. You may all journey to the Summerland if you wish.”

Instead of elation, her declaration was met with silence.

“No.” Fletcher was the first to speak, surprising everyone.

“I don’t think you understand—” the Balance started to say before Fletcher held up a hand, the other he placed over his heart.

---