Page 84 of Touch of Death
“That is true, but … Hazel, I swear, your father lived,” I say carefully. “Our bargain ensured that he would survive what you came to me for, but it did not mean he would live forever. It is possible something happened to him the moment our deal was complete.”
The moment the words leave my mouth, I realize my error, and I curse myself for speaking. Have I learned nothing in my years of silence?
Her eyes widen with hurt and grief before narrowing with rage. In this moment, even I know anger is an easier emotion than accepting that death is a part of life. Easier than the grief of a sacrifice made in vain … or the betrayal of her stepmother, who I am certain is behind her father’s untimely death.
“You promised me he would survive,” she says, her voice breaking my heart as I watch Hazel’s anger morph into unrelenting grief. Unable to stop herself, she turns to look back at where her father stands.
He seems unaware of her attention, or truly anything, as he simply waits for the gates to open.
“Father,” Hazel says, stepping toward him. “Please, look at me.”
I narrow my eyes as I watch him standing there, unmoved by her pleas. His state makes it almost certain that his death is a final state, his body too far gone to be raised from the dead.
Still, as I watch them, I realize Hazel will not believe me until I can prove to her that I upheld my end of the bargain just as much as she did hers. Prove to her that I did not intentionally mean to hurt her.
I need to find out what happened to him and see how to right this horrendous wrong.
“I will find a way to fix this,” I tell her.
She just shakes her head at me, unshed tears brightening her eyes as she turns back to Eros.
My chest tightens at the way he looks at her, and for a beat, she says nothing as she stares up at him.
“Take me to the Judges, please,” she begs him quietly. “Let me face my own judgment and be done with this torment.”
“No,” Eros says, only hesitating for a moment.
I know he is eager to do anything she asks of him, but thankfully it appears he is not fool enough to do that. Bringing her before the Judges would only ensure that she was lost to us for eternity.
“Fine, then leave me here to await Cerberus’ return so that he can take me.”
“Perhaps we should take a moment before deciding anything,” Eros says carefully.
“I want to face them,” she argues.
Eros glances at me before saying, “There may still be hope for your father. After all, he has yet to pass through the gate.”
I open my mouth to argue but quickly close it.
There is too much that remains unknown, and I cannot promise her anything to do with her father’s soul yet. I still do not know exactly what killed him or even the state of his physical body. It is one thing to hope we will be able to return her but to hope the same for her father is … unlikely at best.
Yet as she turns, I see that Eros’ words have given her new hope, and I am unable to bring myself to quash it. It might be a fool’s errand, but if it buys us time before Hazel demands to be taken before the Judges, then perhaps Eros is smarter than I have given him credit for.
“For now, we must return to my palace so that we can figure out a new plan,” Eros says.
Hazel nods, allowing him to gently lead her several steps away from the gate before pulling free. Running over to the gate, she unties the red ribbon around the book and reaches through to grab her father’s hand. Pulling him closer, she ties the ribbon around his hand, securing him to the bars.
“To keep him away from the river,” she says in answer to Eros’ questioning look as they start toward the forest. I move to follow after them, but Hazel turns, stopping me in my tracks with a hard look.
“I want you nowhere near me. I have had enough lies to last me a lifetime. Two lifetimes.”
Eros flinches as he glances at me.
I feel my heart crack into a thousand pieces at the anger in her voice, the certainty in her gaze. She truly wants nothing to do with me, believing that I lied.
That Ideceivedher into giving up her soul.
I open my mouth but find there are no words to convince her otherwise.
