Page 99 of Hell's Secret Omega

Cyrus sinks back into the temporary raft.

“Look,” he murmurs, pointing to the sky.

High above, a rok flies. And on the near horizon Mezor sees land.

He kicks them toward the distant land as Ekko drifts closer. The rok circles forward and back, seeming to urge them on. Soon Mezor can make out sun-bleached cliffs and a faint, hazy green. Then a broad, sandy shore. Finally, he sees pale grasses sweeping across the tops of the dunes. When they’re within reach, Cyrus cuts himself free of the rope and dives into the water.

The clouds part. Earth’s sky is blue, brighter than the brightest flower in Hell. He squints against the light, watching Cyrus disappear and reappear as he dives and surfaces. Eventually he stops, his chest rising out of the water.

“It’s shallow,” he says in wonder. He reaches into the water and brings up a handful of coarse sand. “There are things in this sand. Little creatures.”

The delight on his face is addictive. Mezor wants to see it forever. He snaps the rope tying him to the wreck and dives under, surfacing in water that barely comes to his chest. He strides toward Cyrus and picks him up, tossing him over his shoulder. Cyrus yelps and laughs.

“Where are we?”

“I don’t care.” Mezor carries him out of the water and up the shore. “I don’t care at all. We’re together, so we’re home.”

The story isn’t over.

“I don’t know how you’re doing it,” he growls in Nur’s ear. “But I want you. And I’m sick of letting you be in charge of this agreement.”

Nur shudders. He peels Arsene’s hand away from his mouth. “So you think you should be in charge?”

“I am in charge.”

Nur bares his teeth. “Prove it.”

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