Page 29 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Seven

There is no war. There is no division. There is only sacrifice, followed by honor, love, joy.

Peace.

The world could be healed by someone like her. And now the first will be.

The star smiles and reaches for my hand. “Blood must always be spilled. A sacrifice must always be made.” She grabs Lilith’s hand and squeezes it. “It has been an honor to watch you.”

The blade Danu has goes directly into the star’s back.

As the first drop of blood descends, I grab it and press it to Lilith’s forehead.

My last deed.

My final sacrifice.

Everything goes dark as I hold the star’s hand.

Everything goes black as Lilith is finally filled with light.

Purpose.

Chapter Fourteen

Cassius

The Earth trembles.

The table beneath us suddenly breaks in half.

All of us jerk away from it.

“Something’s off.” Mason looks around. “Something is…” He looks down at his hands. They have blood mixed with a weird crystalline substance on them.

I know exactly what it is.

“He…” I can barely breathe as my wife grabs my hand. “He sacrificed.”

Timber collapses into his chair. “He called a star.”

“He’s gone.” Horus’s eyes blaze white. “He’s no longer of this Earth. He’s…” A tear runs down his cheek. “He fulfilled his purpose.”

“No.” Genesis, Ethan’s wife, walks into the kitchen and slams her hands down on the table. She’s been with her children and trying to make sure we remained fed. We attempt to keep everyone away from danger, but she’s always been one to run into it. Maybe that’s why she’s one of my best friends.

“No,” she repeats. “It’s me.”

“Huh?” Alex pipes up. “What’s you?”

“The beginning.” She starts to sob. “I was taking a nap with the kids and…” She starts shaking so hard I’m concerned I need to grab her or have Ethan pull her away from the situation. I stand. “Cassius, I swear, if you touch me or send me back upstairs, I will find a way to murder you.”

I hold up my hands.

Ethan backs away.

All of us are silent as we watch her regain some semblance of calm.

“Lilith is the beginning. Eva saved her—aka Eve. The minute I heard that sound, I had a vision.” She swallows and takes a deep breath as if regaining her composure. “It’s been predestined. We have to go back, all of us. Our entire families and the Council. We need to go back. We have one more task, and it won’t be pretty.” She jerks her head toward Alex and Horus. “Can you still move through time?”

Horus sighs. “I can’t. I used my one-way ticket.”

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