Chapter 24: Chapter 24
The burning sensation Ru had felt in her stomach when she was in the woods looking for the portal returned. “What do you mean?” she asked, one hand pressing down on her abdomen. “They won’t hurt her.”
He scoffed. “What do you mean they won’t hurt her? Rune, you know what she did. They have to punish her for that. They will punish her for that. Be certain.”
She was shaking her head wildly. “No, they won’t. No one is angry at my mother. It wasn’t her fault. She was a… a child. They’ve assured me she’ll come back home to Los Angeles, to her mother.” She realized she may have said too much, that perhaps she shouldn’t have given away their plan, but she was fairly certain the Reapers couldn’t do anything to the citizens of the village, and he would probably assume that her mother would return there anyway.
“It’s very sad that you believe that, Rune. I would’ve thought you’d be more skeptical than that. Just because that’s what Cutter has been told, that doesn’t mean it’s the truth. Besides, are you sure you can even trust him? Has he even told you what he did?”
Ru’s forehead crinkled again. She had no idea what he was talking about. The smile on his face widened and he shook his head, dropping his eyes to the ground. “What do you mean?”
“Funny. I thought the two of you were friends and he hasn’t even told you how he got his brother killed.”
The acid in her stomach almost erupted at his words. “That can’t be true,” she choked out, but something about the way he’d made the statement assured her that it was. Why hadn’t Cutter told her what had happened to Leaf? Was it because it was his fault? She remembered the solemn way Rider’s tone had changed on the plane. He knew, too, obviously, and no one had bothered to tell her what had happened to the man whose bed she was currently sleeping in.
“Rune, all I’m saying is, don’t trust them. And please, consider what I’m saying to you. You know I can’t let you use your powers against us. It’s my sworn duty to collect you, Rune, not in death, but in life.” His words were intense and forced, as if he thought he might be running out of time. Instinctively, Ru looked around her, expecting Cutter or someone else to walk out of the shadows at any moment. “Beyond all that, Rune, you know how I feel about you. You know we are meant to be together.” He reached out then, his hand stopping short of her shoulder, hovering there, only an inch or so away from her bare skin. She looked down at it, watching the tremble in his fingers as he slowly pulled back. Part of her wanted to feel him again, to remember the sensation, the warmth, of his flesh on hers, even if he wasn’t the person she’d thought he was. The rest of her was revolted.
“You should go.” She looked him sternly in the eyes and realized she could force him out if she wanted to. This was her world, after all, wasn’t it?
Thanatos nodded. “I will. But this won’t be the last time we will meet, Rune Ronobes. Please, consider my warning. I don’t want to have to do something that you will regret.”
The pain in her stomach intensified, causing her to nearly double over. Was he doing that to her? She was having trouble focusing on his words and he began to walk backward, as if he was attempting to retreat from her. “What does that mean?” she called after him. “What will I regret?”
His expression looked remorseful. “Rune, it was difficult figuring out how to access the ones you love since there are so few who’ve been willing to form that bond with you. But I am wise beyond my years, my love. Please, don’t force my hand.”
The pain was so intense now, Ru nearly dropped to her knees. “What? Who are you talking about?” She peered up at his form through squinted eyes. “Thanatos! Nat!” But without another word, he backed through a portal opening, leaving her standing in the garden by herself.
The second he faded away, the pain stopped. Ru fell to the ground, relief washing over her. She lay down on the soft blanket of flower petals, one hand draped over her stomach, the other clutching her head. Who had Thanatos decided was someone she loved enough to threaten her with? Her mind drifted from one family member to another, but she knew he was aware that she wasn’t close to any of them. While she’d hate to see anything happen to Liddy or her two adopted sisters, Melissa and Danielle, she thought his message, though cryptic, was clear enough that he wasn’t referring to any of them. He couldn’t mean any of the Keepers. Could he be alluding to one of her friends? Her teaching partner and best friend, Candice? While she definitely loved her more than any other living soul, other than her cat, Piper, somehow, Ru didn’t think that was it. Who could he be speaking of?
“You okay?”
The voice cut through the darkness, causing her to jump up. Turning her head and sitting up at the same time, Ru was startled to see Lyric strolling toward her. “Damn,” she muttered. “You’d think I’d get used to you people showing up out of nowhere.”
The other woman let out a small laugh as she slowly approached. “Sorry. I thought you might hear my footsteps but I guess flowers don’t quite crunch like leaves.”
Climbing to her feet and straightening her dress, brushing off a few wayward petals as she did so, Ru asked, “How long have you been here?”
“Not long,” Lyric admitted. “I was chasing Nat’s essence, and it led me here. Was he here?”
Ru was confused, not exactly sure what she meant by his essence, but she nodded. “He just left.”
Lyric nodded. “No luck then?”
Raising an eyebrow, Ru puzzled over her words, finally realizing she meant Ru hadn’t had any luck taking him out. She hated to admit she hadn’t even tried. “No,” she replied, as that was the truth, though there was no way of knowing what might’ve happened if she’d tried. She thought it best not to mention the fact that it hadn’t even occurred to her to attempt it.
“Well, we’ll get him eventually.”
Ru nodded. What kind of a Keeper came face to face with her archenemy and didn’t even think about trying to destroy him? “He, uh, he wanted information though. But I’m pretty sure I didn’t give him any.” She remembered what Cutter had said about not letting him in her head, and she was fairly certain he hadn’t accessed any of her thoughts. The fact that she hadn’t even been thinking about where her mother was located the entire length of their conversation had to be helpful in that regard, she supposed.
“That’s good. How long was he here?”
“Not long.” She was fairly sure that was true.
Lyric nodded and looked around. “Beautiful place you’ve got here.”
“Thanks,” Ru muttered, not sure if she should take credit for it. She knew they were in her head, but she had no idea how this place had been constructed. Had Thanatos contributed to it somehow?
“Well, I’m going to keep up the chase. You should probably wake up for a bit, get your bearings, and then see if you can get some rest. I’m sure you’ll be tired in the morning if you keep hanging out here. This place is very… real.”
“Right.” Once again, Ru wasn’t exactly sure what all of that meant, though she definitely felt different in this place than she did during a typical dream, one where no one she knew suddenly appeared in a way that both of them would remember the next morning. “Good luck.” Even as she said the words, she wasn’t sure what she meant by them. She knew she didn’t want Lyric to catch up to Thanatos; not only did she fear for her friend’s safety should that happen, she knew in her heart she didn’t want him to be captured, though she had no idea why. Perhaps it had something to do with her mixed feelings, the ones over Kyle, lingering and melding their way into her interpretation of Thanatos, or maybe it was the thought of her own father captive somewhere, constantly tormented in the bowels of Hell that she wanted Thanatos to avoid. Either way, she knew her words were hollow the moment they left her mouth.
Lyric patted her on the arm and took off in the same direction Thanatos had gone only a few moments ago. Ru was fairly certain it was long enough for him to have made it to wherever he was going, and she didn’t think his destination tonight was one she should be too concerned about. After all, he wouldn’t have warned her that he might do something to someone she cared about if he didn’t plan on giving her time to heed his word. If only there was someone she cared so deeply about their face immediately leapt to her mind whenever he’d mentioned a loved one. Sadly, no one had hung enough stars to illuminate the face he was referring to, so she was left in the dark.
With a deep sigh, Ru closed her eyes and willed herself back to her body. Even though she’d never technically left it, it was the surest way she knew of to wake herself. Her eyes opened to another familiar pair of green ones, these shaped differently but just as capable of seeing through the darkness. Ru stroked Piper’s back and thought it was sad the only one she could think of that she cared so deeply about she couldn’t imagine life without them was a cat.