Page 49 of Samhain Savior
“I only ask for the life that was owed to me. Release me from my immortality and allow me to live out the rest of my days naturally. However many that may be.”
“That’s an exceptionally narcissistic answer.”
“How?” she snapped, once again straining against the shadow ropes that bound her. “I only want what every other mortal on the planet has; a fucking life.” Looking at Nathaniel, she continued, “I never asked for this! I never wanted to become thisthing. Existing year after year. Never changing. Never growing. Trapped in a body that can’t ever do what it was meant to do.” Looking around the room, her eyes pleaded with the others to understand. “I wanted a family. I wanted to watch my children and grandchildren grow. To have a man who would love me, grow old together.” A single tear trailed down her cheek, all her false bravado gone as she bared her soul. “I just want tolive, Archer. Can’t you understand that?”
I could. Not that Persephone would ever know it, but our stories weren’t that different. We’d both been promised a life that had been ripped away from us without our consent. And while I was always meant to be immortal, I’d never quite imagined thatthiswould be how I’d spend my eternity.
But there was no changing it now.
Narrowing my eyes, I considered her request. It was not completely unreasonable, the problem was I didn’t have the power to grant it.
At least not yet.
Once we had assembled the pieces of the Fallen Key, I could undo the deal that had been made, but not before.
She didn’t need to know that, however.
“Alright, Persephone,” I finally relented, and the relief on her face was immediate. “I’ll agree to the deal. Your immortality for your uncle’s life. You’ll be free to live out your remaining years as you wish, aging like any other mortal until your time comes and you cross through the veil.”
“Balance,” Nathaniel murmured. “The final balance.”
“In return, I’ll spare your uncle’s life. He’ll come to no harm by my hand. His purpose will continue as the Dark Lord intended when they struck their original bargain.” I watched her turn my words over in her mind, looking for any loopholes and appearing satisfied. When she nodded, I held out my hand. “Do we have an accord?”
Releasing her right arm from the shadows, I waited, ignoring Nathaniel’s continued muttering. Finally, with much hesitation, Persephone extended her hand for me to shake.
The second I grabbed it, she screamed, the power of the ring searing through her arm as the deal was forged on her very soul.
“What’s happening?” Delilah shouted, pushing forward in an attempt to come to Persephone’s aid, but Vine stopped her, wrapping an arm around her waist to keep her back.
“Old magic,” he said, reverent. “As old as the Fall itself. You shouldn’t interfere, bestie. Just watch.”
“Persephone Emerson. By crossroad dirt and depths below, I bind you to me. By Hell’s holy fire I hold your mortal soul, freely given, to the covenant now struck.” Raising my other hand, I formed a blade out of shadow, the edge honed to perfection. When I pressed the blade to her arm, she tried to pull back, but I refused to let her go. “You asked for this, Percy, so shut up and take it.” Holding Persephone tightly, I drew the blade across her forearm, opening a cut and releasing a thin line of blood, snarling when she let out a whimper. I could feel my demon form rising, pressing through my human flesh, and Persephone’s eyes widened in horror when she looked at my face. “By your life’s blood do you swear to uphold this pact?” She stood before me, trembling in fear, her mouth moving but no sound came out. “Swear it!”
My roar startled her into action, and she stuttered out her agreement.
“Yes. Y-yes, Archer. I s-swear it.”
“Then by your agreement and my possession, the deal is made.”
With those words, the magic of the ring flared again. For a moment, all the light was sucked out of the room as the binding power of the contract was finalized. Persephone screamed again, her knees giving out as she collapsed to the floor, and this time, I let her go. Smoothing my jacket, I took a deep breath, the demon power within me receding once again as I licked my lips, savoring the long-forgotten taste of a deal completed.
“What—what did you do?” Percy sobbed, her hands clawing at the neckline of her shirt. She pulled it away, revealing the round image of my personal sigil, the same one on the ring, now burned into her flesh directly over her heart. She gaped at the mark, staring in horror at the puckered emblem bearing my name. One she’d wear for the rest of the life she’d bargained for. “Archer, what the fuck did you do?”
“I did what you asked,” I said dismissively. “You wanted a deal? You got one. And trust me, Persephone. You’ll getexactlywhat you bargained for.”
Turning away, I stepped up to Nathaniel, still hanging against the wall.
“Final,” he whispered between sobs. “So very final. You must find the balance, Archer. Before All Hallows Eve. The Veil must be unbroken by then, or all will be lost.” Glancing over my shoulder, Nathanial set his eyes on Delilah, and I had the insane urge to step in front of her. To shield her from his gaze, but I held fast. “She is the Key. The Key to it all. Don’t let your nature rule your heart.” He looked at me again, sadness and understanding in his eyes. “Find the balance, Archer. You must.”
“I will, my friend,” I said, unsure what I was agreeing to, but knowing he needed to hear it. “Thank you for everything.” Stepping closer, I lowered my voice so that only he could hear it. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, Nathaniel. But the laws must be upheld.”
Blowing out a breath, he only nodded. “I understand.” Casting another forlorn look at Percy where she still sobbed on the floor, her hand gently poking at the burned skin on her chest, Nathaniel added. “Thank you for freeing her. I had the best of intentions when I made my deal, but sometimes our best intentions can have the most dire consequences.”
Wasn’t that the fucking truth?
“Where is it, Nathaniel?” I asked. “If you told them we were here they won’t be long. Tell me where it is so that I can do what I must.”
Lower lip still trembling, Nathaniel closed his eyes. “The steeple. It’s in the steeple. Persephone has the key. She knows the way.” Opening his eyes, his gaze flicked past me, landing on Delilah where Vine still held her. “The blood lock will answer her call.”
