The Last Hope

43 - Truth

SONG FOR THIS CHAPTER - Start a War, Klergy, Valerie Brussard. Linked Above!

This is the one I have been waiting for. You know what? I'm not even sorry.

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A dead girl was smiling at her, with genuine warmth.

A girl she'd watched die only moments previously through Sebastian's memory.

There was no hint of madness in Leslie's clear eyes as she smiled at them, no indication that she was unstable at all. In fact, her complexion seemed to glow from the inside, her cheeks rosy and her dark hair cascaded down her back in thick waves. She looked beautiful, not one iota of the girl from the forest left behind.

She turned to Sebastian, and said to him quietly, "I am sorry, for what I put you through that night. It was selfish of me, but I wasn't thinking straight. Thank you for your prayers, Sebastian Alexi. They got me here safely."

He looked taken aback, "aren't you... angry with me?"

"Why would I be angry with you?"

Sebastian seemed at a loss for words, so Mercy stepped forward and asked, "Leslie, I'm sorry. But we don't have much time. Why aren't we allowed the book?"

Leslie's answer was interrupted by a shout from behind them, and Mercy whirled again to see the source. "Mer!" There was another set of stairs across from them, which had seemingly appeared from thin air, and the Sentinels approached. They were all unharmed, thankfully, Mercy realised as she scanned each of their faces. Lincoln refused to meet her gaze. Ariah looked pissed off, as usual. Keenan smiled widely at her as he reached them, refusing to acknowledge Sebastian. The only one who did give him some recognition was Lincoln, who glared at the side of his head like he was trying to melt a hole through it. Sebastian caught the glare and gave him a quizzical look.

Their faces changed as they noticed Leslie, and the book she was holding.

"That's..." Ariah began, trailing off. She seemed just as disturbed by Leslie's smiling face as the rest of them.

"You have the Book of Souls," Keenan observed carefully, as if testing the waters.

Leslie nodded eagerly, "yes."

"We really need that book," Lincoln told her, adopting the same careful tone as Keenan.

Leslie nodded again, this time looking guilty, "the Matron doesn't want to just hand it over."

"Of course, she doesn't." Ariah rolled her eyes, looking pissed.

Sebastian pursed his lips, "let me guess, she requires a trade?"

Leslie shook her head, "the Matron has no need for meaningless possessions. She is the Queen of the Underworld and the Soul Realm. Anything you could offer her would be second to that, and inconsequential by comparison."

"Someone should tell Colossus that, he'd laugh himself silly." Mercy smiled despite herself at Sebastian's jibe.

"So, what does she want?" Keenan asked curiously, and Mercy caught herself leaning in, in anticipation for the answer. Serenely, Leslie cleared her throat, and recited, "above all, the Matron values honesty. Honour is the only thing you have when you are dead. The Matron sees that none of you are honest and is therefore unwilling to give you the Book of Souls. She believes you will abuse its power."

Ariah scoffed, "how can she call us dishonest? Does she know what we do for a living? It's basically charity work." She quipped darkly, and Mercy shoved her offence on the back burner. She'd rehash the argument later - when they all got out alive.