nyone, but I couldn’t fight the memories of all the times Sariel had come to my rescue, or the many instances when he’d tried to pull me free from the brothels.
He never gave up on me.
And it made me wonder if he was still trying, from whatever plane he was on.
“You were created for more than this. But you must choose.” The boy squeezed my hand then released it. “Give? Or take?”
He disappeared into thin air. Had he ever really been there? Or just another figment of my imagination? Or Sariel reaching from above, and showing me the truth when I needed it the most?
The room continued its madness of screams. Hope’s cries were the only ones that reached my ears.
“I love you.”
I loved her more than myself.
Love.
All along I thought it was impossible — and yet, I had friends, I had Hope again. When I didn’t deserve her, Sariel had put her in a deep sleep until it was time. The truth of what he did was staggering, making my chest hurt with its honesty. Sariel had sent her away, not for her, but for me. Because I wasn’t ready. Because I couldn’t love her the way she deserved to be loved.
Sariel had sacrificed — for me.
And that was love, wasn’t it?
Self sacrifice. Putting others before yourself.
All those years he’d believed in me — when I didn’t believe in myself.
And all those years I’d had Sariel. A friend.
I exhaled.
Again… and again.
Righting the room, giving back what I’d taken. With each exhale, I felt more in control, more whole, while still trying to come to grips with the power that I had and the responsibility that came with it.
“Thank you.” The last brother who’d touched me shuddered and joined the rest of his family.
Cassius’s feathers went from purple to black, his normally gold armor changed to the same color.
What in the hell?
The brothers formed a semicircle around Bannik, parting when the final brother walked through.
“No.” Bannik shook his head. “If you send me to Hell, you know what happens.”
The man tilted his head. “I know you will stay there for an eternity, and I know that I will have to follow.”
The room felt free.
The man was dark, his demeanor continued to grow darker as he stared down Bannik.
Bannik glared at me. “You had so much potential.”
“Yes,” I snapped. “Thank you for allowing me to find it.” I wanted to kill him so bad my fingers itched.
Bannik’s nostrils flared. “We could rule this world! The people are weak! We could be their gods!”
“Oh, dear brother.” The man interrupted, shaking his head slowly. “We already did rule this world… and there is only one God.” With a jerk of his hand, he pulled his black sword from his waist and held it over Bannik’s head. “I curse you to Hell… may the One have mercy on your soul.”