Page 117 of Infernium

I’d read about them in the grimoire before the pages had faded. “So, the Omni must be translated by them and no one else?” For Farryn’s sake, I hoped that wasn’t the case, because the events with the succubus the night before assured that things were getting worse with me.

“As I said, I attempted to translate the words, myself. I utilized rituals known to conjure. Nothing came of it. So, yes, I believe it is a language meant only for them.”

“Who are these Met’Lazan, exactly?”

“Healers. They are believed to have raised Jesus from his tomb. Powerful healers who have access to the vitaeilem that exists in Etheriusz.”

“I don’t understand. How does one gain access to Heaven?”

He leaned forward, and in spite of the uneasy gestures, him looking around once again, his gaze held a glint of excitement. It was a topic he seemed to be enthusiastic about. “The exact means is unclear to me, as well, but as I understand, when an angel or celestial being dies, its lifeblood must go somewhere, right? That somewhere is an atmosphere that surrounds the heavens, known as Etheriusz. It is a powerful glow, comprised of thousands upon thousands of angels who’ve perished.” He held up his hands, as if emphasizing his point. “And it is their lifeblood which provides the protection of the heavens. Should it be broken, it would render them vulnerable. In essence, the Met’Lazan serves as a conduit for this lifeblood.”

“You’re saying the Met’Lazan can tap into the accumulating lifeblood of dead angels?”

“Yes!” His hands balled into fists, and he shifted with fervor. “The Omni is a sigil designed to tap into that energy. Whether for good, or evil, it depends on the Met’Lazan. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about them, as every text I’ve read turned illegible before my very eyes.”

Which likely meant some unseen force was protecting their identity. “The Met’Lazan is an individual.”

“A human. Ancient gods decided that neither Heaven, nor Hell, should hold such power. So, they granted it to a neutral source.” Like it was a nervous tic of his, he leaned forward again, searching the sky overhead. “Unfortunately, most Met’Lazan don’t even know they possess the power of the Omni. It isn’t apparent to them until they are summoned to speak.”

“So, you do not know how to translate it. You don’t know how to access its power.”

“No. I am essentially useless. But that doesn’t stop the evil from seeking me out.”

Fuck. Despite already having considered the possibility that he might not know, his admission still struck a crushing blow to what little hope I’d harbored. “How do you remember all of this? Many in Nightshade lose their memories.”

“A rather generous creature, a fallen angel, was willing to reverse time and send me back to the mortal realm. There, I was able to retrieve what I could from my journal. He brought me back to Nightshade, and I have been hiding here ever since.”

“Cassiel?”

“Yes, that was his name.”

I leaned against the tree beside me and crossed my arms as I pieced everything together. “And when you came to me. How did you know of mine and Farryn’s history?”

“There was nothing in the mortal realm, admittedly. I found a woman in the bookstore who offered an illuminating text when I inquired about Praecepsia.”

“Catriona.”

“Yes. Quite beautiful. And through her, I learned of your fate through a story I read. I thought it absurd at first, until I began to notice a few subtle similarities between Lustina and my Farryn, most notably the eyes. And then there was the image tucked inside of it. A painting with a girl who looked undeniably like my Farryn.” He paused, nostalgia swirling in his gaze as he stared off with a smile. “The woman at the bookstore offered to pass the book along to Farryn, should she inquire.”

“The woman you spoke to was Lustina’s mother. A wraith, from what I understand.” I glanced around the interior of his cave again, noticing the few makeshift tools he must’ve used for hunting, and the erratic scribbles of languages and symbols–signs of loneliness and madness of being out in the woods on his own for too long. “Come back with me. Farryn is quite anxious to see you.”

He winced and lowered his gaze. “Countless days have passed thinking about her. Every moment. But something hunts me here. Something evil.”

“I can offer you protection.”

“You can’t. It is a debt which must be paid. I have delayed the inevitable, but perhaps it is time.”

“She has waited years to reunite with you. Was it not her mother who compelledyouto seek out Nightshade? Surely you can understand her desperation.”

Gaze still lowered, he offered a solemn smile. “It’s true. Her mother fueled my obsessions in the beginning. However, I’ve since come to learn, fate is cruel to those who love with unflinching devotion.”

In the time that I watched over Farryn, I’d had my suspicions that his wife had been unfaithful. Unfortunately, I hadn’t cared enough to investigate, as my attention remained solely on his daughter and nothing else. “Still, my home is secure. It is protected by hellhounds. You would be safe there.”

Shaking his head, he reached into his pocket and I stepped forward to accept the object, the shape of it recognizable as a ward. “Give this to her. Tell her I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything, but I owe Netherium.” One of the larger kingdoms in the Infernal Lands. The same place where Vaszhago’s father lorded as duke. “It doesn’t matter where I am. They will come to collect. I’d prefer Farryn not bear witness to that. So you tell her whatever you need to tell her. And don’t come back here. Don’t ever come back here.”

“Augustus–”

“Please!” His body shook with frustration and what I gathered to be a bit of pain.

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