Last Shadow || Deception Book III

Chapter 9

A/N: AHHHH I'm so sorry for the late update! I literally just finished my internship this morning and then went to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum before doing the post-intern forms and feedback forms so I totally forgot about this. At least this update's still on Saturday and not like Monday or something like last week. Anyways, sorry about that!

- Aeryndyl

***

Luke

All I could think about as I followed Ri through the tunnels were the anguish in her eyes and how her tears had glimmered in the firelight. I could still feel how she trembled in my arms after witnessing the severity of the situation that my choices had landed us in. The shift in her eyes as she'd wiped away her tears and tried to put on a brave face for my sake. I'd started all this, set the wheel in motion for the final play, just so that those I loved would never experience pain and heartache ever again. And yet, in the end, I thought, laughing at myself, I'd only brought it upon the last person I'd ever wish it upon.

This is all your fault, the voice in my head said. Your fault. Why couldn't you stay away from her? You never should have dragged her into this mess. And now both of you are suffering because of it.

Bullshit, I thought. Do you think she joined Him for me? She joined for the same reason I did; to get vengeance against the gods.

But is that what she wants now? the first voice countered. Because you can deny it all you want, but it's not what you want. Keep on ignoring it, it said as I tried to shove it down. Perhaps you'll really manage to convince yourself that you're willing to give yourself up to Kronos. To just throw your life away, for he will toss you aside the moment he gains enough power to create his form. And all you've fought for will be worth nothing in the end. All that you've bled for will be naught but dust.

"Shut up!" I snarled.

"Luke?"

Ri's voice broke through the mess of thoughts in my mind like a spear, aimed straight and true, and I shook my head, dislodging the whispers of doubt and regret. "I'm fine."

She narrowed her eyes at me skeptically. "Someone once said to me that 'I'm fine' never means 'I'm fine.'"

"I'm fine," I insisted, offering her a small smile. "Seriously."

Ri sighed but nodded and continued down the path. "If you ever decide to tell me, I'll be here."

Luke, what the hell did you do to find someone like her? I asked myself and smiled as I hurried after Rianna. You've probably spent all your luck in this life and the next. Just what exactly did you do in your previous life?

The brief flash of amusement vanished as quickly as it had come. What would await me after this life? When I stood before the three judges, would they send me to the Fields of Punishment?

Not if you succeed, I reminded myself. Kronos said he'd make you immortal. He said you and Ri will be able to spend eternity together after he makes this world into a new age. He-

Pfffft, keep on telling yourself that, voice one cackled. You'll see when he burns your body away and throws you into Tartarus. And then I won't even be able to say I told you so!

He promised, I growled at myself. He'll keep it.

Voice one simply snickered and vanished into whatever hidey-hole it slept in within my head and I sighed, trying to ignore how hollow my thoughts sounded to me. Would Kronos really keep his promise? Or was I doing this for nothing? Because . . . I glanced up and my eyes skimmed over Ri's figure before fixing on her golden hair which swished with every step she took. I don't want to ever leave her alone in this world, I thought.