Page 43 of Living Legend

“What about them?” She sounded curious.

“If Jonah gave keys to certain people, would their keys automatically return to Jonah if something happened, or would they disintegrate? How does the magic you’ve developed work?”

Natalia ran her hand along her arm, as if inspecting something I knew wasn’t there. “The keys aren’t made to remove themselves from existence. Executives are, for a lack of better words, almost like the master keys to the keys themselves. I created the book to better help Jonah keep track, almost like a master logbook. If they noticed something happened and the key isn’t back, they retrieve it. They can’t change the magic I’ve already put in place, but they can change minor things about it, like permission to a certain place or for a certain amount of time. Keegan’s key could be stolen, but it would only give them the access he was allowed at the time.”

“Doesn’t seem like we need to be worried then. I highly doubt Keegan had access to much,” Reese noted, stretching his arms above his head.

“That still doesn’t explain why he would go to Purgatory in the first place. Usually, the messengers who go there have been doing their job for years. That would be something Jonah would do himself,” Nicholas expounded, sliding his hand through his hair.

“My thoughts exactly. It isn’t a coincidence when someone doesn’t make it back from Purgatory. They didn't come back because someone or something there didn’t want them to go.” Elise commented, swiping her bangs out of her eyes before letting them fall back into place.

I continued with her thought. “Keegan either found out something he shouldn’t, or he was sent there for a reason. Maybe it’s both. Either way, the key must still be with him.”

Nicholas rubbed his temples. “Could you locate it?”

Natalia stuck out her tongue and licked her lower lip. “Perhaps. If it happens to still be in Purgatory, do you plan to seek out this angel? I fear you may end up just like him if you do.”

“I don’t know what we’ll do, but we at least have to try.”

She let out a long and draining breath. “I’ll seek out the key, but I would unfortunately assume your friend is long gone by now.”

I got up from where I sat. “I hate to say it, but she’s probably right.”

Natalia looked up at me, fascination in her eyes. The moment was gone when she spoke again. “For me to locate it, there are a few things I need, but I will let you know tomorrow.”

“I thought you guys just did some simple one, two, three point and shoot type magic,” Reese said, pointing out his fingers in multiple directions, mimicking his words.

“Not everything is that simple. Locating something like that takes a bit more effort on my part.” Natalia gave him a soft smile before getting up from the pew. The two Enchanters opened the doors, revealing a group. Natalia wiggled her fingers in a small wave.

“I have some other matters I must attend to before then,” she stated, making her way to the open doors.

I grabbed her elbow before she retreated. The Enchanters immediately flanked her, blue and lilac hues surfacing from their hands. She made no move towards me, but simply turned around and gave a small shake of her head towards her guards. They extinguished their magic, but never moved from their position.

“Do you expect us to just hope you find an answer?” I asked, letting go of her arm.

She placed her hand on my arm. “I’ll seek you out. I’ve been meaning to go back to Heaven’s Gate anyway. I did tell you we would meet again, Soul Seether, and here we are.”

“Last time, you asked why I was here. You said it like you knew something we didn’t,” I pressed. She spoke like she was hiding something, and I didn’t trust that.

“I honestly have no idea why you were pulled from your dark home, but I like to think everything has a purpose. I suppose that doesn’t always have to mean the purpose is for the better or the worse.” She cocked her head to the side, pressing her glossed lips together. “What I meant is why would they want someone beloved for untethering souls from the dead? Someone like that must be meant for something bigger if you’re wanted here.”

She had a way of saying things and letting them linger in the air, as if it had no place to go but right in front of me. I had to accept them, figure out what to do with them. She made no sense, but then made perfect sense in the next minute. She had a satisfied look on her beautiful face that made me want to ask more questions, but that would have to wait. Frankly, I didn’t even know what my questions were.

Natalia swiftly turned on her heels and sauntered out the door. The Enchanters followed her while the rest of her people watched. They seemed in utter awe of her, but they weren’t afraid. I noticed as we walked out behind her that they looked on with adoration and pride. She lifted her hand and moved her wrist in a large circle. The space in front of her made a concave motion and turned hollow and purple. She had created a portal for us.

“You seemed to have an interesting time getting here. I thought I’d make it easier.” She let out a soft laugh to herself.

“Oh, fuck yeah.” Reese pushed past us to get closer.Elise shrugged, following him, but remained close enough to lean out and trip him. He almost landed face first in the dirt before catching himself. I shook my head and looked over at Nicholas, who was sluggishly following behind. He stopped next to Natalia, looking as if he was mustering up the courage to speak.

Natalia spoke first. “I know the last time we spoke I mentioned your mother. If that was a sore subject, I apologize.”

He blinked a few times but waved her off. “No need. I completely forgot about it. I’d rathersomeonehave a good opinion of her.”

I cleared my throat, needing to know one more thing before we left. “There’s something I wanted to ask before we leave.”

She dipped her head down, waiting.

“Your mother had to do three hard things in her life. You mentioned one, but was another glamorizing your land?”

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