Page 72 of Eternal Sacrifice
“Everyone,” she breathed, and her hand ran through my hair.
“But I don’t know what to do,” I said, backing off to look at her. “Jax’s soul is in the veil. We think.”
I watched her reaction and felt for her emotions to look for anything that could help. She was a blank slate, but I felt her curiosity for more.
“There is a young elf mage in Andemeron. When she comes into her power, there is a chance we can use her to get Jax and Jace back.”
Confusion rolled off Liberty.
“Jace is Jax’s soul twin thing. Jace is in the veil, searching for Jax,” I explained, which helped clear the air. “I need time, and my fox doesn’t have the time I need.”
“Oh, my sweet boy,” she breathed. “Have you been keeping up with your studies?”
She looked down at the book beside her quickly.
“Is the answer in a book?”
“I’m not worried. You have always loved toread,sweet boy.” Her tone was still soft and airy, but she stressed the only important part of the sentence.
“Can I help you?” I said, looking into the calming green depths of her eyes, begging for her to give me a hint of an answer. One breath, and I would whisk her away.
“I do so love it when you visit.”
“I can protect you. You don’t have to stay with him.”
“I’m sorry, sweet boy.” Her hand came up to cup my cheek, and I felt a strong sense of urgency that I needed to leave. “I’m afraid it is time for my nap.”
I pushed off the floor, getting to my feet to loom over her. “I’m going to be back.”
She nodded her head and smiled before giving me a wink. The room filled with love, streaming from her and directly into me. I headed toward the door, not understanding why she wouldn’t come with me, but understanding it was time for me to leave.
I closed Liberty’s door behind me, stepping into the hallway. Jasper waited directly next to the door, his skin blending in with the shade of the walls. He glanced my way, raising a single eyebrow, and I shrugged in response.
My father turned away from his whispered conversation with Beelzebub, his face lighting the moment he saw me. “I do hope today was one of her good days.”
“She sounded like Mom,” I said passively.
“Well, while you were chatting, Beelzebub and I were thinking. I might have something to help.” He extended his hand, and a book appeared in his grasp.
I avoided touching him as I grabbed the book from him, expecting him to lunge toward me, but he didn’t. He let the book slide from his grasp before tucking his hands into the pockets of his pants. “Let me know if there is any other way for me to help. I live in service.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, “In service of yourself, Father.”
I turned, deciding I had spent more than enough time with my family for the day. Jasper followed me without a parting word to the sins. Once we got free from my father’s wing, I looked at the book my father had given me. It didn’t have a title, and I stopped walking to flip to the first page.
Experiments
I realized this wasn’t a book. It was my father’s personal log.
“Think that might help?” Jasper asked, peering over my shoulder as I flipped through the pages.
“I don’t know.” It looked like a detailed account of everything my father injected demons with and the effects.
The studies were longitudinal, and I felt drawn to read more. My eyes scanned the pages, slowing down to note the ingredients as I weighed the information on the pages against things I already knew to be true. It didn’t look like a trick, but I would need to cross-reference everything before I was willing to put my fox through any of thesetreatments.
“Fuck! Fox is still in the dungeon.”
Morrigan
