Chapter 94
- Evan -
Kaysi stepped closer to me, ready to protect, sword drawn. "And what use do you have for Josh?"
Father turned to her, a slight smile on his lips. "Evan's DNA can call her soul... Although it takes more to anchor her. Resurrection is an act of defiance against death. And only one person here holds that power."
He looked at Josh, a madman, sinister in every way.
"The phoenix. A creature born with the power to resurrect. Josh's DNA is the key to restoring her body and soul. His flame... his sacrifice... would breathe life into her."
Josh flinched in disbelief.
"Mom is gone," I snapped. "Let her go, let her rest." I may not remember her, but my respect for her remains the same.
"She was never meant to rest," Father replied. "She died for you to live, Evan. Why shouldn't you wish to bring her back?"
My hands trembled around the grip of my sword. "Because that's not what she would've wanted."
"She made a pact with a demon for you to live, Boy!" he shouted suddenly, his mask cracking. "She gave everything for you. And you would deny her even the chance to wake?!"
Kaysi stepped between us, her blade glowing faintly. "You're not saving her. You're using her as another one of your sick experiments."
A tremor shook the ground and all around. From the shadows of the walls emerged a massive creature—its limbs formed of shifting stone and void, its body pulsing with the energy of the domain itself.
"Ah," Father said, unbothered. "The sentinel. A bit early, but no matter."
The beast roared and lunged.
Josh pushed me back. "Get away, you can't fight this!"
The sentinel lunged. Josh raised his hand to summon his phoenix flame, but it was too late.
The creature struck hard and fast. He cried out as he was hurled across the room, crashing into metal debris.
"Josh!" I rushed to his side.
Kaysi was already there, pressing her hands over the bleeding wound. "He's fading—his pulse is weak, we need to leave before we are all dead."
Josh groaned, coughing blood. "The sentinel... it wasn't supposed to target me. Something is wrong. This isn't what Father said would happen, and he promised not to hurt you."
I looked toward our father, who stood unmoved, arms crossed. Cold. Uncaring.
I blinked but for a second, and he was in front of me, his hand lifting me into the air, crushing my throat.
"There's only one piece left for my puzzle," he whispered. "And I'll have it-no matter the cost."
Blood sprayed from my mouth. I couldn't breathe. Even if I'd been at full strength, I don't think I could have stopped him.
He pulled a knife—one with a strange chamber built into the hilt—and stabbed it into my stomach. Blood dipped and filled the chamber.
Then he let me fall to the ground.
He laughed. "It's done. I have all that I need."
Kaysi's sword lit up with a brilliant violet flame. She launched toward him in a flash of light, faster than I could follow—but he vanished before she could land the strike.
She stumbled as she caught Josh and helped me to my feet.
"We have to move. Now," she said, panting. "Can you walk?"
"Barely," I wheezed, clutching my bleeding side.
Josh groaned, swaying back and forth, pale as death. "Just... hold me up. We have to get out of here."
Josh pulled a glowing key from his pocket. With trembling hands, he opened a portal.
Father's voice boomed. "You weren't supposed to have that, boy. Sentinel! Kill them all!"
"No!" Josh shouted. "Why are you doing this?!"
He lunged again, but the sentinel was faster. A brutal slash tore through him, and his scream echoed across the chamber. His arm hit the ground with a sickening thud, with the key still in his hand.
Josh collapsed, screaming. "Aaaagh—!"
I grabbed him before he hit the ground, blood pouring from the stump. "No—no, Josh!"
I dropped beside him. "Why the hell would you go for a second attack? You were already badly wounded."
"This... wasn't his plan. Not like this," Josh choked out, barely conscious.
I looked up at Father, pain burning in my chest, stunned. He wasn't even hiding his apathy.
Then he said something that chilled me more than then the cool of my blood loss:
"All I needed was your blood. And your brother's arm? That will do fine."
I was too dizzy to respond. Too broken and weak to fight. I just watched as Kaysi helped lift Josh.
The portal roared behind us.
"We have to go!" Kaysi shouted. "Josh is dying!"
My legs felt like lead, but I forced them to move. Josh collapsed just as we reached the portal.
Father stood motionless, watching us go. His final words followed us into the vortex:
"Kaysi—once you leave, your memories will fade again."
She didn't answer But I could see in her eyes full of sorrow. She knew her sacrifice for my brother. But the woman she was nothing would not stop her.
Kaysi pulled me and Josh into the portal. The vortex screamed close behind us.