Page 39 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“I’m hoping the key,” he says, arching an eyebrow.

Zee pauses with his hand on the door. Emi slips under his arm and follows Jed as he swaggers inside. “What’s wrong?” Zee asks me.

I shake my head and will my feet to move. Fear grips hold of me and my heart picks up double time. Zee frowns and rubs his chest. “There are either really bad things in there-” I state.

“Or?” he asks as I follow Emi’s lead under his arm.

“Or they’re doing really bad things.” The door clicks shut. In a rare display of affection, Zee grasps my hand and gives it a squeeze. The ice around my soul cracks, allowing me to breathe again.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

His cheeks flush and he drops my hand. “Sure.” Jed and Emi are far ahead of us in the hallway, the lights flashing on as they walk. The timer must be short as we are in darkness. An icy breath skims my nape. I swing around, fire balls erupting in my hands. Sterile white tiles coat the floor and wall glowing in the stark fluorescent light. No shadows, no monsters. Ty’s appearance must have spooked me. I shake my hands, releasing the power and rush to catch up with the others. The hairs on the back of my neck and arms stand tall. I’m being hunted. I send my thoughts towards Jed.

“Something is in here with us.”

He doesn’t break his stride.“There are lots of beasties in here with us, Natia. Don’t worry.”

“It’s breathing down my goddamn neck.”

He spins, squinting at a spot behind me. His eyes widen in surprise. “Down!” he shouts. Zee and I hit the floor. Emi stops twisting her hair into the crown still perched on her head. Jed shoves her to the side, her back smacks the wall. “Rude,” she hisses.

A stream of pure white power erupts from Jed’s palm over the top of me and Zee. My hands slam over my ears as a screech hurtles up the corridor. It sucks away all happiness - abject misery saturates the air. Tears leak from my eyes unbidden, I twist my head. Zee’s expression is one of utter desolation. His eyes are swimming. He blinks and the dam breaks, his sorrow races across his cheeks and hits the floor in tiny splashes of surrender.

Someone shakes my shoulder. Zee doesn’t break eye contact, our pain uniting us. “Natia, get up. We need to move,” Jed says. A friend. I don’t deserve them. I’ve already failed to protect mankind, I’m nothing. Worthless. The world tilts and Zee’s face disappears, the room jolts as I’m dumped on something hard. That’s okay, comfort is reserved for good people.

“Natia?” Emi’s face comes into focus above me. Her goodness shines from her aura, bathing her in silver like the goddess she is. My hand reaches out as if I could steal some of her light. Anguish erupts, snatching my soul into a bottomless pit. I yank my hand away and squeeze my eyes closed. A sob of horror escapes my throat, I can’t take Emi with me. She holds my face between her hands. “Look at me, Natia. It’s making you believe you aren’t worth living. It’s a lie, fight through it, remember who you are.” My eyes blink open, she smiles. “You are Natia Waterford, defender of humankind, amazing friend, devoted daughter and an all-round brilliant badass. Stop sulking, sit your ass up and let’s get what we came for.”

What we came for? A key? So I can, what? Kill Archan for the sake of all others? Great life choices. I’m better in the abyss, someone else can make those mistakes. I can’t take it. I tug my face away, but the goddess of justice is scary strong for such a tiny person.

“Jed, hurry with Zee so you can pump some happy hormones over here stat. We’re going to lose her.”

It’s not seductive darkness which slithers in my soul, it’s a stark nothingness whispering it’s where I belong. The world would be a better place without me. Metal clangs, someone growls and a scuffle of various feet draw attention to my left. Zee’s face replaces Emi’s. “It’s a lie, Natia. Pull your shit together. I got mine together before you, another thing I’ve beat you in.” I blink at him. He’s right about himself, he’s a deserving protector. Someone worthy of the light, someone I almost got killed.

He cups my cheeks. “That’s right. You wanna prove how much more badass you are than me? It’s not like you’re even unique with your powers now that I have mine. You’re a tiny, insignificant woman with a brain the size of a peanut. It’s no wonder Archan broke you so effortlessly, and he would rather be possessed by a monster than face a clingy Natia.”

Arrogant, egoistical, asshole. Emi tries to shove Zee away. “Zee, I don’t think-”

My hand lashes around his neck.

“Say that again.” My throat bobs, trying to lubricate the passage. It hurts like I’ve been screaming for hours.

A wicked grin spreads across his face and with it a wave of happiness to chase away the dread clinging to my soul. “Clever,” Jed mutters, coming to stand on my other side.

Emi punches Jed in the arm. He winces and rubs it. “Why the hell do you have Minotaur roaming the basement of Reinheart and Hunter?” she demands.

He tenses as the pressure in the room shifts and squeezes. With a pop, Zac and Nathan stand behind Emi. Oh shit.

Chapter Thirteen

Natia

A Taurus is serious about promises; do not promise something you cannot keep.

“The Minotaur helps guard the basement from people who shouldn’t be here,” Zac says as I sit and shake away the last vestiges of horror.

“Aren’t Minotaur’s cute and shit?” Zee asks, folding his arms with zero remorse for breaking into Reinheart and Hunter. He might have pulled it off if we weren’t covered in multicolored paint.

Nathan’s ice blonde curls shift as he shakes his head. “Minotaurs are monsters who suck the happiness from your life. They render you unable to carry on because you feel as if the task is impossible and you are unworthy.”

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