Page 228 of Gift from the Source
I didn’t see darkness when I died, but the thought of traveling through the fabric of the realm right now has my heart trying to shatter my rib cage.
I inhale sharply when Cas shadows us to what’s left of the battlefield, but he doesn’t release us just yet. We look out over the destruction left and bile rises in my throat.
We’ve been through enough missions to know what’s going on. But this is by far the worst.
Our people who didn’t make it today are laid about, covered in cloths for now as they’re identified so we can notify families. Or so surviving Nexus members can find their fallen.
The enemies are in a pile, waiting to be burned.
Pride but also apprehension rises in me as my eyes scan our entire family and friends gathered.
They each look worse for wear, but they’re alive.
Gaster’s head quickly turns in our direction as Willow lets out a fretful sound. He didn’t hear her, but no doubt just sensed the strong change in the air.
She bursts through the cloud of darkness and sprints toward him.
And just like the first time he ever felt her, he runs to her.
The two of them collide and it’s maybe a millisecond later, Oakly’s screeching as she hauls ass to the two of them. Then before we know it, we can barely see her, she’s engulfed in so many arms.
“None of us would’ve ever been the same without the two of you, Core,” Cas murmurs quietly as we watch our family seem to build themselves back together. “For a moment, I experienced what you felt all those years. Feeling so close to saving the one you love, only to lose them. Asking yourself what you could have done differently in that second. It all flashed before my eyes.
“Telling you goodbye felt like a betrayal. Even though that’s what we knew we had to do, and you were telling us to, it was wrong, but we still did it. She didn’t. Our Primary did not choose that. She was going to destroy the beyond to reach you. She was dragging our souls with her cause she was determined to do anything for you. We failed you.”
“Don’t. Don’t you dare, Caspian Vito. You did not fail me. None of you did,” I warn, narrowing my eyes on him and the other two. “I alone made the choice to stretch my gift to its full extent. I made that decision. I’d make it again a thousand times if it meant you all were okay. You will not carry any guilt over what happened past this conversation. Do you understand me?”
Tillman and Draken both grunt and squeeze my shoulder, but he doesn’t answer. His eyes fade over into a look I haven’t seen in so long I want to slap him to bring him back.
“Caspian,” I warn.
“Fine. I understand. I don’t like it, though.”
“That’s nothing new, so I’m not that worried about it.”
The smallest of twitches crosses his lips as his gaze becomes his own again. He can’t hide it from me. I shoot him a wink to let him know that.
With a scoff, he moves us rapidly the twenty or so feet distance from everyone, then snatches his shadows away. Our sudden appearance has everyone turning around, then it’s a damn dogpile.
My mom nearly knocks everyone down in her stampede to get to me. Her arms wrap around me so tight she knocks the breath out of me. I stand here for a minute longer than I’d like as she has to pat me down and make sure I’m really okay.
My dads aren’t snickering or making googly eyes at her for once. They’re standing there seriously, observing everything she does to make sure I’m okay. The concern warms my heart and reminds me how lucky I am to have parents who love me so much.
Gaster’s the next to approach me and I welcome his hug.
“You nearly gave me a heart attack, my boy.”
“Not me. It’s all that running you’re doing in your old age.”
He tsks and glares at me. “Old. I can run circles around you kids.”
The two of us chuckle low, then turn our attention to Lyker as he lays into Willow. The second she starts arguing back, he smoothers her face into his chest and the rest of her brothers join them.
Around and around my family goes as we all reunite with one another. Together we decide to walk among our fallen and pay our respects.
It’s a shock and a very sad scene to see Pran, Dillon, and Maxima laid together.
Willow’s cries make my own throat hurt. She collects herself quickly, though, and kneels in front of them. We all try to give her a little privacy, but I bite my cheek to distract my emotions when she tells them she’s happy they’re finally free and that Joslin, Lucila, and her dad will be happy to have them home.
