Page 162 of An Unexpected Ascension
Slowly, I take it and rub my thumb along its waxy skin.
“I’ll think on it,” I finally tell her, pocketing it in the space between worlds.
She nods, smiling sadly, but accepting my answer and then smashes her lips to mine. With her entire soul, she kisses me. Her arms wrap around my neck to tug me to her as her mouth consumes mine. With each breath she breathes, she forces small, shattered pieces of life into my lungs, and I take them as the promises they are.
“You kissed me,” I murmur against her.
“And I liked it.”
I chuckle. At a time like this, I fucking chuckle.
When I pull away, I find tears welling in her precious eyes and wipe them away as they fall.
“Well, this could be the last chance I ever get.”
“In that case, I lo—” Her hand snaps to my mouth, snuffing my next words.
“No. Tell me after the war.” She smirks.
I nod solemnly as I wonder if she’s right, but I grant her that hope anyway.
“Are you ready?” I wait for her to gather herself before continuing. “Follow the palace wall. I want to sneak behind our army, if we can avoid the fighting, that leaves more room to sneak our way over to the Gods.”
“How are we going to take four of them at once? Have you found Lucifer?” she asks.
Pinching my lips, I shake my head.
“He’ll come. We go for Achaz. The others don’t look too invested in any of this right now, but should they be threatened, I can see them fighting back.”
“I’ll distract them,” she blurts, knowing full well that I’ll hate the idea.
“Briar. I nearly lost it when you tried that with his sons. I don’t think I can handle it again. Silas and Aurelius didn’t see us coming, but these Gods are expecting us. I’ll confront them and you sneak around behind the temple. There’s a fair amount of foliage to hide behind. You’ll just have to be careful. We’ll make it to that column there.” I point to the white stone column closest to the battle. “Hide behind the drapes and don’t move until I have their attention. Do you understand?”
Her mouth parts to argue, but we both know there’s no time for that, so she gives a reluctant nod.
“Good. I’ll tap the ground twice with my blade. That will be your signal to sneak up behind Achaz and call to the Mortifier. Can you handle that?”
“Yes,” she whispers.
“See you on the other side of this war, then.” I wink, gracing her with one last kiss.
Chapter 58
The Angel
With our backs pressed against the side of the palace, we inch closer to the chaos. Just beyond the corner lies the tail of our army – the last line of defense. I can see their backs shaking and trembling with the very real fear of being torn open and left to bleed into the soil. Trapped, lingering in a body that will only know pain for the next eon, if they’re lucky enough to keep existing in their body at all.
Sweat bubbles along my hairline and I come to realize that I’m actually sweating, that my palms are clammy, and my stomach is tied in knots. Primordialis was never meant to allow discomfort or pain, but here on this battlefield, those little luxuries were lifted.
These Gods intend for us to feel every bit of agony their army brings upon us. They want us to suffer. They want it so much that they’re willing to let their own worshipers fall to the same affliction.
Just as we sneak behind the tail of our army, a man of middle age throws a look over his shoulder and our eyes meet. There’s something so familiar about him. The wrinkles, the thinning hair, the pale blue eyes...
Marty.
Marty, my neighbor from Heaven.
He offers me a small tip of his chin in acknowledgement, then returns his focus back to the violence.
