Page 79 of Eternal Sacrifice
I waited for Fox to decide that she wanted to try an alternative method, not that we had any in mind. But after only silence filled the hall, I took the first step inside. Jasper followed, carrying Fox inside. My father joined us, shutting the door behind him, and I felt an instant silence.
Jasper took Fox over to the bed, placing her in the middle before tucking her in.
She looked nervous, but I soon realized I couldn’t feel her emotions or anyone else’s in the room. My father busied himself, grabbing tools and magical items as he prepared his experiment, complete with a fresh notebook in which he had already begun making notes.
“It should feel like a dream,” my father said, leaning toward Fox briefly before shifting his gaze to me.
I would be staying with her. I reached into my pants, pulling out two vials. I hesitated before placing both into my father’s outstretched palm.
His face brightened, and he hurried to fill the two syringes.
I would be her anchor inside the dream, and my father would oversee keeping us under. Jasper would remain at the helm of Hell, checking in on occasion.
“Justice,” my father said, using a tone that only a father could.
It didn’t matter how many centuries I had lived. I felt like a small demon once more.
I felt vulnerable.
Despite my feelings, non-feelings, or wishes, I climbed on top of the bed and snuggled beneath the blankets with my fox. We both would have preferred a nest for our hopefully not-eternal slumber. It calmed some of my unease to hold her in my arms, knowing I would be by her side no matter what happened.
Even if it meant holding her while she died.
I felt a chilled touch on my neck, followed by a sharp pinch as my father pushed the swirling contents of my potion into my veins while Jasper did the same to Fox. My eyes felt heavy, and I closed them once.
They didn’t open again for a long time.
Jasper
Mor’seyeswereclosed,and a peaceful expression graced her face. It reminded me of the human tale of Snow White. Only this time, it was one of her own lovers that had poisoned her.
Justice lay beside her, a broad smile across his face like he was having the time of his life. He controlled the scenes in her mind and would stay with her until Ophelia came into her powers. While I had the responsibility of taking care of everything else while he got to bask in paradise with her.
“I’ll take good care of them. Both of them,” Mammon said, adjusting the orange pocket square of his twill coat.
It always made me feel uneasy when I was near him, and I refused his offered hand.
“See that you do, or I will make use of your power in another way.”
He nodded, affirming it was an expected answer. At this point, no soul was off limits.
I made the lonely trek from the containment cell through the palace hallways, keeping my mind busy with the heavy weight of responsibility that bore down on me. Within a few years, we would be caught up with rogue spirits, but we would still need fractures. A lot of fucking fractures at this rate.
Andemeron was off limit, for now, but the other realms held living souls that could be fractured for the cause.
That would attract the attention of the angels. I only had a few years to create an army capable of leveling the realms. The heavenly realm included.
I went to the throne room, taking a seat while my mind continued to work and plan for the ultimate war.
I settled in, looking out at the empty room serving as my new war room.
“All Princes of Hell must report to the throne room immediately,”I said to everyone inside the palace. I knew Harric wouldn’t show since he has been off-real since his appearance at the arena.
I had jobs for the rest of them. The very fate of our realm hung in the balance of whether we could live up to our potential as demons. We had grown terribly lazy in our complacency, and the most powerful of us were the ones in the greatest need of training. The spell weavers worked around the clock, creating new spells and runes powered by fractures.
The three remaining princes of Hell started to pour through the giant doors.
Riku, Prince of Envy, entered first. He had dark hair cut short. His skin was the color of mahogany, and his eyes rolled before he took a seat. His legs splayed out in front of him as he got comfortable.
