Page 161 of Immortal Sun

What happens next isn’t just death. It’s pure torture, every breath causes the rope to tighten as it steals every inch of air from your body until your eyes beg for it to end. She’s wearing the bell, her bracelet that has the amulet which offers as much protection as we can, for both the pain and guidance into the underworld.

I blame Apep.

Had he not created an army of his own bloodline I would never have been in this position, but then I wouldn’t have her, I would have never had her precious moments. So do I blame him or do I thank him?

To let her live would be failure, and Chaos would continue to do what Chaos has been doing. I shouldn’t be selfish and think of my own heart, I should think about a final peace in the world.

I think I hate her in this moment the most, because the love is so strong, the need so powerful, that the hate can’t help but rise up.

The final circle of rope is tied around her; the edges drop and touch the earth digging into it to join the roots of the tree.

There is no escape for her now. She will become part of the underworld unless I use my spear to cut the rope down.

Tears well in my eyes, I lower my head and scream in her face, I’ve never done this before, I have no explanation, no reason.

I have nothing but pain.

Hers.

Mine.

The world’s.

“WHY!” I roar.

She doesn’t yell back. I wish she would. Instead, she smiles as one small tear falls from her face. It sparkles with my essence, with the stars I painted on her the day before, then crashes to the ground where her blood will soon join.

“Don’t be sad.” She holds her head high. “Bury me like a queen…Immortal Sun. Lord of the Sky, Ra.”

Enki, Tyrell, Inti, Apep, Daggon, and finally Kratos all watch. Apep knows he can do nothing; he has no power during the eclipse and stopping me before would be impossible since he chose to stay with humanity, this is his final moment, this is mine, this is hers.

It’s up to the heavens now to accept the final name and her down to the Nile.

A loud rumbling sounds around us as the rope of Hestia tightens around her body, the rope of truth, testing her blood, her mind. It’s impossible to break once it’s on. Even if I wanted to take it off it would take all the power I had. It must finish the trial; the rope has tested every single one. I only hope now that the last thing she sees is the love in my eyes mixed with pain while she does what she was born to do.

Die.

I will not come back from this.

I can’t save her. I can’t save anyone.

What good am I as an immortal if I can do nothing.

A voice sounds next to me as Cassius and Anubis appear. Cassius in his full archangel form, his feathers are purple and dripping with silver blood like he just got out of battle, hair black, eyes white, he watches. “You always have a choice.”

“You come when it’s too late.” I rasp.

“There is always a choice, immortal.” Anubis says from his spot next to him. “The Creator can break the rope, they watch even now, make your choice, do you save her? Or yourself?”

“And Chaos?” I rasp. “What of Chaos?”

“You will be punished to battle it for the rest of your nights, so you may rise during the day, you will never be free of it, you will toil, you will burn—but you will have her.” Cassius finishes. “You don’t have much time.”

Her breaths are shorter, more panicked.

Cleo’s eyes don’t leave mine. She is no longer lost to my fire—she gives me a slight nod.

She doesn’t want me to choose her. I can feel it in her gaze. She wants me to choose everyone else. She doesn’t want me to choose myself either.

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