Page 70 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“Universes.”

“What?”

“Multiple universes.”

“Oh.” I fold my arms across my chest, never feeling so small in my entire life. “And he doesn’t watch over us anymore?” I ask.

Ty scowls. “There is no evidence of his presence on this plane for centuries. You murder, rape, thieve, worship false gods, and yet nothing! No plagues, natural disasters of a worldwide magnitude, no smiting! Humans have been left to run around like toddlers and destroy the beautiful planet gifted to you, with greed and power.”

Wow, way to lay the crimes of man at my feet, like I’m responsible. Then again, I opened the damn Jar, I ate the damn apple, so maybe I am. Still doesn’t mean it’s my decision to destroy life as we know it. It’s the equivalent of making a mistake and sweeping it under the rug by putting it in the bin. It needs fixing, not obliterating. “What the world needs is mercy, not a crazy assed god behaving like a petulant child whose parent is ignoring him.”

A growl of warning rips through the air, showing a flash of the true beast, not the civilized version he’s parading around to get under my skin. “Willing or forced, you will aid me. You will stand at my side during and after my true family is released.”

Jason and the Argonauts flashes through my mind; beasts, zombies, mythical creatures which would make the King of Hell shiver. “Why do you need me?” He blinks. “If you are so strong and powerful, why do you need me?”

“Haven’t you figured out your purpose?” he asks.

“I was meant to keep anybody from opening the Jar.”

He shakes his head. “That came after… you are the embodiment of hope.”

“For mankind, yes, but how does this help you?”

“You are the embodiment of hope for whoever you choose, whether that be man, demon, beast or gods.” I blink, letting the new knowledge reorganize some of what I believed. “You feel connected to mankind because that’s all you’ve known. But I can show you a world beyond that, one with no fear, no ruination of the very earth they walk upon. We can return to the days of Eden and play in a garden designed by us, for us.”

It’s official, he’s nuts. “So what would I need to do in order to help you?”

He smirks and glances down my body. Yup, not happening. But please tell me your evil plans like a good little villain. “Nothing, and everything. You would need to shift your allegiance to my family. You would need to want them to succeed.”

“So remove hope from humans?”

“And switch it to the residents of Tartarus.”

“Destroying hope on Earth?” I check again.

He nods. “You destroy their hope, and you destroy their reason to fight. Man will be overcome within a matter of weeks.”

“Weeks?” I almost squeak, giving away my inner freak out.

He sighs. “Yes, well, procreation is exponential. Who’d have thought the plague on the Earth would reach seven and a half billion people?” The ground rumbles under my feet, making me stumble into the bars of the cell. Ty moves to stand in front of me as a force of power comes hurtling down the dark corridor. The shadows part as if fearing the newcomer. I peek around Ty just as Ant appears in a flourish of a three-piece suit and anger. Of course he’s behind this. How stupid of me to consider trusting a demon… I blink, not realizing I trusted him at all. Maybe it’s because I’m running out of allies? I step around Ty to face Ant. He scans me from head to toe, his features tight.

“Are you okay?” he asks. I glance around to check if he’s speaking to me. “Natia, are you okay?” he repeats.

This is a confusing way of lording my stupidity over me. I shake my head and glance at Gran. He follows my gaze. “That’s not your grandmother, Natia.” He snaps his fingers and Gran’s features melt away, exposing a female demon, her fangs extended over her bottom lip. Vampire.

Ty shoves his hands in pockets and smirks. “Are you here to save the little temptress? She’s got quite the little following of gods scrambling for her attention. Is it her beauty or her power which seduces you, pater?”

Ant rolls his eyes. “It’s neither. She is pure of heart, whilst you are pure evil, she will be your demise. But you always liked to play with deadly things, Typhon.”

“Try not to point that out whilst I’m trapped in here with him?” I mutter.

Ant snaps his fingers again and I’m sucked through ribbons of color to emerge next to him on the right side of the bars. Ty rolls his eyes and tugs open the cell door. Wait, it wasn’t locked?

“Is it frustrating to not be able to slaughter me yourself? These pesky laws laid down by The Creator hinder our progress as a race.”

I frown. Why wouldn’t he be able to kill Ty? Other than not being strong enough? “The human saying goes, ‘where there is a will, there is a way,’ and trust me, my will is fucking invested in ensuring your demise. So take in your freedom for it will be short-lived.”

Metal echoes from the length of the corridor and shouts of protest come barreling towards us. I tug on Ant’s arm. “We need to go.”

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