Page 66 of Living Legend

“It is and it isn’t. I luckily found Isabel early on and it’s been blissful ever since. She’s the one who told me to play nice.”

“Thank the realms for Isabel, then.” I looked at the stream, at how the water lapped over itself with no means of stopping. I asked my next question while staring directly into the stream. “Have you ever been to the Divine Library?”

She widened her eyes at my question. “Once, about a few months after my mother’s death. Why do you ask?”

“Did you know there’s a secret tunnel to get there from The Skies? That there’s a book with your people’s history inside the wall?”

“Wait, slow down. A secret tunnel? Inside the wall?”

I took a breath and shot up from my place on the rock, nodding. “It's underground, and there’s a book, one on your people that explains everything.” Natalia remained on the rock, her eyes following me as I paced.“We read there’s a way to overpower your magic, but it takes a lot of power. It seems a hefty number of Enchanters gave their magic to one single Enchanter to disarm Keegan’s key.”

“Like a catalyst,” Natalia said under her breath. She caught my stare and blinked. “Trying to remove my magic is difficult; it must be done a certain way. It would have to be simultaneous, in perfect formation. It would take skill I’m sure most in Purgatory don’t have. Giving their powers to one Enchanter would make it easier. It’s a perfect plan.” She paused for a moment, almost hesitant. “Can I ask you something?” Natalia placed her hands delicately on her lap.

I raised my eyebrows, waiting.

“I know you have evidence, but have you thought aboutwhyJonah would do this?”

“What do you mean?”

“No one does something like this without a motive. This is a thorough plan with a lot of factors involved. If Jonah has something to do with this, there must be a reason. With everything he’s been through with Lilith, it would have to be a really good one. Why would hewantdemons in Heaven's Gate?” Natalia explained, mimicking my earlier thoughts.

I placed my hands on my hips, shifting my weight from side to side. “I guess I’m not used to looking at things from all sides.”

She shifted off the rock and walked towards me. She was maybe a few inches taller than me, but not so much that she towered over me like Nicholas. “I don’t see how someone like you could possibly be a demon.”

I smirked, shrugging my shoulders. “Anyone can be anything, if we’re being honest. I mean look at Reese. I can’t believe that shit is an angel, but I don’t make the rules.”

Natalia cracked a smile, but it quickly disappeared. “I guess what I mean is that yes you have a demonic soul, but that doesn’t make you deserving of it.”

I let my lips part, kind of in shock.

“Do you remember anything about your life, before Lilith found you?”

I thought back to when I first woke up in Purgatory. It was a cell with solid stone walls, a door with a small opening to peek out of. I was there for days or weeks, I couldn’t remember.

“I don’t. None of the demons do.” I’d never thought about my life beforehand, had never wanted to. It seemed silly to ponder something that wouldn’t benefit my future.

Natalia chewed on her bottom lip. “I have never been this curious in all my life, Soul Seether. You are quite the conundrum.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

She smirked. “I admit, I may have judged you harshly at our first meeting. I was flustered and I wasn’t expecting you of all people. All I saw when I looked at you was Lilith. The way people spoke about you, you may as well have been her. Quite the conundrum.” She said this quietly, loud enough for just me to hear. A few Enchanters were making their way down towards us, likely to spend time laughing by the stream. It was such a relaxing place to be, I had almost forgotten where I was.

Natalia seemed to have the same revelation as me. “We should probably get back up there. I need to show my face a bit more.” She turned away, letting me catch a glimpse of her shoulder tattoo again.

“Did your mother have the same one?” I asked, nodding towards the crown.

She peeked over her shoulder and smiled at it fondly. “She did. It’s magicked onto the skin. It never fades, never gets old. Every High Priestess has had it.”

“It suits you, being the wise leader and all that,” I said, hoping I sounded sincere.

“That means a lot coming from the demon who tried to kill me.” She turned on her heels and took a few steps from me, then turned back. She was closer to me now, her voice hushed. “Jonah may be your answer, but I would look closely at everyone. Jonah may be the head of them all, but I wouldn't count anyone out.” She squinted her eyes, grabbing my hand and squeezing.

I wanted to blurt out that I thought I saw another demon on the grounds of the Divine Library. I wanted to say I felt a dark presence was so familiar, I knew down to my core that something was off, but I was stopped by a high-pitched voice.

“I was wondering when I’d find you.” A woman looked Natalia over with striking blue eyes. “Who’s this?” She didn’t sound jealous or alarmed, just curious.

Natalia looked over and raised her eyebrows, silently communicating. The female raised her eyebrows in return, laying a hand on Natalia’s shoulder. Her golden hair swished back and forth around her chin.

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