[Gia’s POV]My eyes fell onto the glass bed encasing hundreds of red roses - a bed of thorns fitting for someone who has been pricked by many thorns before in life.For once, I found myself laughing at this bed instead of being filled with fear at what it represented; it showed how far I've come in life, often full of fear, hopelessness, and locked in my mind. It was then that I knew I would never allow myself to enter into a state like that again - no matter what may come my way.I sat up on the bed and looked towards the metal beams of the ceiling; they were a stark reminder of where I was before and who had brought me here - but they also reminded me of all those who had helped me since then: Sam, Damen, Max, Jace, Jason, Trinity, amongst others. As long as they stayed by my side, nothing would ever be too daunting for me to face head-on again; we would always manage to come out victorious together.I thought back to the events that had unfolded after Kali’s departure. There had be
[Gia’s POV]Looking in the direction of Thanatos, or as I prefer to call him, "Death" and being careful to not make eye contact again, questions dove to the forefront of my mind. What is his purpose here? Why is he following the orders of a supposed lesser being, a demon? If he knew what Kali did to me in this room, why didn’t he stop him?“Are you truly that vile, to allow someone to be sexually assaulted on your watch,” I questioned him with an angered glare. He stopped removing the chains from my wrists, looked down at me, with a stare so cold it could freeze time itself, and replied, “You were not on my watch, and I told you that I do not have my full powers anymore, angel. I am in debt to Kali, so what he does or does not do is not for me to question, he said.“Nice of you to avoid taking any responsibility, Death. I know he is not the only powerful being in all the realms, dimensions, whatever is out there” I spat.He reached down with stealth-like speed, grabbed my chin with hi
[Gia's POV]Death then proceeded with setting up a small ritual around the altar and began chanting words that were foreign and unintelligible to me. As he chanted his voice began to grow louder and take on an ethereal quality.His body seemed illuminated by an unseen light source and his eyes were momentarily drawn into two bright golden orbs before shifting back again into the deep red that they were prior. The two reapers had begun chanting in unison with him without pause while standing motionless at either side of the altar—staring straight ahead with vacant expressions on their faces.Suddenly the three of them stopped chanting and Death turned towards me with a finality in his expression which felt so ominous that I could no longer keep my fear contained within me.He placed a hand on each of my shoulders and said softly yet firmly, “Now Angel, you must keep your mind calm and still if you wish for this ritual to be successful. Take some deep breaths and focus only on the prese
[Damen's POV] I was in the lead as we ran as quickly as possible to the fortress door. I saw the door in front of me firmly shut, the door was an unwelcoming slab of steel with a dark red fluid running through engraved crevices on it. The moment I went to reach out to grab the door and open it, the force of another ward threw me back. My nostrils flare as I inhale the smell of burning flesh, both mine and the ward. I could almost taste the scorched skin smell on my lips. “Damnit! Get Trinity, there is another ward we need to bring down,” I yelled to Max, Sam, and Jason. The ward left a scorch mark on my right hand and thankfully it is just my hand, which should heal soon. I gathered myself, stood up, and dusted my backside off. Taking a deep breath, I focused on the ward blocking the door. My mind was racing with ways to break into the fortress but none of them seemed viable. Max grew increasingly agitated as time passed, his growls of frustration echoing against the fortress walls
[Elder Braden's POV]“There are too many of them! Get Aeon and Romero in here fast,” I shouted to my guards. “How did they get in here, my love,” I asked Elder Amaria.“I don’t know Braden, but there is no way we can handle this many without Elder Aeon and Elder Romero’s armies. We need to leave. I cannot bear to lose you,” Amaria said to me with fear and urgency in her beautiful elven eyes.“We cannot leave the temple unprotected. We will find a way to be safe. Let’s get to the command center to see how they are getting in,” I pleaded with her, but she froze for a moment with a ponderous look before she finally gave in and followed me down the corridor.The hallway is black marble with gold accents, and it glittered as you walked on it. The walls were lined with large paintings of ancient supernatural ancestors and battles fought and won. The light bounced off the gold in the paintings and made the whole place glow with an aura of timelessness.I looked across the Temple to see demon
[Gia's POV]I followed Death into a large chamber, which was larger than it appeared from the outside. Sounds of a battle rang throughout the round and intricately detailed room like a gong. The room has a smell of fresh paint, metal, and a hint of blood in the air. Death motioned for me to take a seat in the only chair in the room. The chair is a high-back, wide-frame with a large seat cushion for comfort, shaped and padded to fit your body. Made of smooth crimson-red velvet, it radiates an intimidating yet eerily inviting feel and sits directly in the middle of the room. After doing as Death instructed, I looked around the room. The walls had a metallic appearance to them, whether they were made of metal, or a metallic paint was used, I do not know. The floor was mirrored, and had six concentric circles carved into the floor, with the mirrors perfectly placed to appear as a mirage. On closer examination, the six circles appear to be constructed as reservoirs of some kind, but wh
[Gia's POV]As Death pulled the lever, the sound of grinding mechanisms filled the air as several doors were unlocked and revealed hidden chambers scattered throughout the room. Each door was a different size and shape, some adorned with intricate carvings while others were plain and worn. The doors all led to dark, foreboding tunnels and halls, leading to unknown destinations. The chamber doors opened one by one, revealing dark, hooded figures emerging into the room. The reapers were cloaked in black, their faces hidden in shadow. The hooded figures moved with precision, their robes flowing behind them as they formed a perfect circle around the outer ring. Their faces obscured by darkness, they stood tall and imposing. Death stood motionless, a tall figure cloaked in black standing silently by the door. The two new figures that entered the room were also cloaked, their faces hidden in shadow. The atmosphere was tense, and their arrival only added to the suspense making this awkw
[Gia's POV]The darkness seemed to stretch on forever as I flew back, the walls of the tunnel closing in on me until I hit something solid. It was pitch black, but I could faintly make out the outlines of the walls and ceiling. The darkness was so thick that it seemed to swallow every trace of light, the only source coming from a faint glimmer bouncing off the walls. I could see a liquid pooling around my hands, a viscous black substance that seemed to pulsate and writhe in the dim light. Again, in this darkness, I thought as I stood up and wiped my hands on my dress. "It will not be long now, my child," I recognized Hecate's voice as I stood in the darkness. Her words echoed around me, bouncing off the walls and filling the void with her presence. "Hecate?" I called out, my voice trembling slightly. I couldn't see her, but I could feel her energy surrounding me. "Yes, my dear," she responded, her voice coming from all directions. "What is this place?" I asked, looking around in
[Gia's POV]The moment of impact of their magic upon my head produced tidal waves of energy into my being. It felt like a thousand hurricanes had collided with my skull, each with its unique fury and force, and they were all converging in an opus of chaos within my body. It was an experience beyond words, beyond comprehension, and yet, somehow, it was also beautiful in its terrifying way.The air around me seemed to ripple and distort. The world's colors blur and warp as if viewed through a broken lens. A bright light flashed before my eyes, momentarily blinding me before fading into a pulsating aura of energy that engulfed my entire body.I was thrust through an invisible portal in the sky and found myself falling feet first as the perception in the portal inverted. It is as if the two realms mirror each other's gravity, one where on one side you fly upwards, and the other you fall downwards.As my human vessel fell through the portal, a burst of energy filled my ears, drowning out a
[Gia’s POV]Staring up at the four goddesses, I began feeling even smaller in these vast phenomena of life, death, the after, and in-between. “Once again, I see your wheels turning in your mind, my child,” Visha said. “How do I become what you want me to be? My soul has not even progressed to the next stage of the divine being. I know I was on the “soul” path to leveling up, but I failed in this life,” I said in a melancholy tone. “We brought your body here with you. We need that vessel specifically, as we coded it for your transformation. You did not fail! You are still on your soul path, but with an extra boost in leveling up,” Hecate declared.The word transformation pressed forward in my mind. “Yes, you will go through a transformation, one that will change you from mortal to immortal,” Visha replied to the thought in my head. Of course, she can read my mind, I said with an internal giggle. “Wait, immortal! But I will outlive Max and my son,” I questioned in panic. “The blessings
[Gia’s POV]Time slowed as the towering goddess walked from behind the triple moon goddesses' thrones to me. My soul buzzed with electricity the closer she got. Like an Amazon woman in some cheesy 70's movie, her height was unbelievable, standing at least ten feet tall. Her skin shimmered as if every cell was made of diamonds. In contrast, her dress is the boldest color of sapphire. The dress was knee-length with triangular-fringed ends. A shawl covered one of her shoulders, and both garments were bound at her waist by a diamond-studded belt. My eyes followed the trail of her exquisite beauty to her dark black hair that disappeared behind her shoulders. Upon her head, she wore a triple-banded gold crown with fourteen dangling Lemurian stones placed approximately two inches apart. When my eyes locked on her sapphire-colored eyes, I felt mine roll back into my head. A warm and gentle breeze flew through me, and I could feel her large hand take hold of me. A feeling of warm sand unde
[Someone’s POV]“She sure does not disappoint, does she,” an unknown woman’s voice said in the distance. The voice was like a silk thread being pulled through a needle's eye, weaving through the air with a hint of mischief and curiosity.Feeling weightless in my once physical self, as if my body had been stripped away and all that was left was my consciousness, my eyes struggled to open to see which side of the karma coin my soul landed in this time. A loud metal-on-stone sound reverberated in my mind, as light seeped in through my sight. The sound pulsed through my mind, it felt like sharp vibrations were shooting through my entire body, causing my muscles to tense and my bones to ache.With a sudden burst of force, my soul slid back into a physical body. The feeling was jarring, like being thrown into the world without warning. As I gasped for air, the pressure of the cold floor on my face brought me back to my senses.Unsure if anyone could hear me, I managed to get the words, “Wh
[Max's POV]Still in awe of the magnificence of my mate’s ability to open the portal in front of us all, stunned my whole being. The portal shimmers and glows with an otherworldly light, illuminated by my mate's power. I stand mesmerized, unable to take my eyes off the scene unfolding before me.It wasn’t until Sam snapped at Damen and me through the mind link that I was fully drawn back to the present. “Is the spell wearing off for you both,” Sam asked. “I don’t feel any more effects from it, and the wolfsbane is almost out of my system as well,” I replied. “Great, I have already loosened the binds on my wrists and am working on my ankles now. Max, I know the silver is the worst for you, but can you and Dom manage enough strength to get free,” Sam inquired.My mind felt a jolt as Sam's message reached me through the mind link, causing a tingling sensation in my head. My fingers continued to fumble and struggle against the chains, causing them to dig into my skin.The silver chains ar
[Gia's POV]Staring into Kali’s eyes, I knew our fates were sealed. Kali's eyes were a deep, soulless black, like dark pits of coal. In them, I saw swirls of fiery red, reflecting the flames of destruction and death that burned within him. His grin was wicked and sadistic, revealing his true malicious intent.I did not falter or look away, as he marched straight towards me, with a grin that was twisted and malevolent, a clear sign of his sadistic joy.Our destinies seemed to align at this moment as if guided by the spark that had opened the portal between worlds. A mere mortal against a beast of all beasts, not quite the devil himself, but built by the devil with the sole purpose of the extreme demise of the beings of this globe. Every move he made exuded power and pure evil.Stopping roughly two feet away from me, Kali’s smile grew wider with a profound sense of inflated ego. “You have done well, my Queen. Your work is not only exquisite but spot-on and accurate. Bringing me directly
[Gia's POV]Staring at Kali’s eyes, black as night, glaring back at me with a demonic intensity. They seemed to pulse with dark energy, and I could see the twisted smile on his lips as he spoke. My mind quickly processed his words, “Open the portal, or watch as your mates lose their heads.” Fear gripped me, but I refused to let it show. My mates were counting on me, and I couldn't let them down. With a racing mind, I tried to come up with a plan. I knew I had to open the portal, but at the same time, I couldn't let Kali have what he desired. The triple moon goddesses' instructions were clear - the portal must be opened.Stop it, Gia, I scolded myself within my mind. I couldn't let fear control me or cloud my judgment. Taking a deep breath, I looked at Kali with determination, I can do this. The instructions from the triple moon goddesses flash before me, like a hologram projected onto the air. I can see the glowing images of Hecate and Selene, their expressions solemn and determi
[Gia's POV]We walked through a different door out of the ritual chamber and entered a long hallway. The air was heavy with incense and the sound of our footsteps echoed against the stone walls. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was being watched, that the very walls were observing me and whispering secrets to each other.As we ventured down the hall, the torches lining the hallway seemed to ignite on their own as we walked by. It was both impressive and unsettling, the way they lit up without any physical touch. What type of craft is this-magical motion detectors, I thought with an internal giggle as I followed death with the others in tow. When we reached the end of our path there were doors made of rich, dark mahogany, their polished surfaces glinting in the light of the torches. As Death pushed them open, blinding white light flooded through, temporarily blurring my vision.[Max's POV]Waking up from Cyrstalla’s spell, I felt my wrists and ankles burning from the silver
[Gia's POV]The darkness seemed to stretch on forever as I flew back, the walls of the tunnel closing in on me until I hit something solid. It was pitch black, but I could faintly make out the outlines of the walls and ceiling. The darkness was so thick that it seemed to swallow every trace of light, the only source coming from a faint glimmer bouncing off the walls. I could see a liquid pooling around my hands, a viscous black substance that seemed to pulsate and writhe in the dim light. Again, in this darkness, I thought as I stood up and wiped my hands on my dress. "It will not be long now, my child," I recognized Hecate's voice as I stood in the darkness. Her words echoed around me, bouncing off the walls and filling the void with her presence. "Hecate?" I called out, my voice trembling slightly. I couldn't see her, but I could feel her energy surrounding me. "Yes, my dear," she responded, her voice coming from all directions. "What is this place?" I asked, looking around in