Gemini of the Shifter Realm

Chapter 21 The Seven Deadly Sins

Lorraine Tepes P.O.V.

The enormous, foreboding gates loomed in front of me, their presence heavy with an otherworldly aura. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I faced this unsettling new world.

"Where are we?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

"The Purgatory," came the detached response.

I looked around, bewildered. "Who exactly is he?"

"He's the guide for souls when their time has come, representing the inevitability of mortality," Oz explained, his tone somber. "He doesn't cause death; he merely guides souls to the afterlife."

I glanced back at Oz, my mind racing. "Aren't you going to—"

"He knows," Oz interrupted, cutting me off.

The scene behind me was one of stark contrast—a bustling town of people engaged in various forms of labor, their expressions etched with exhaustion and despair.

"It's almost as if they're divided into factions," I muttered, observing the chaos.

"They are," an ominous voice confirmed. I turned swiftly to face it.

Before me stood a skeletal figure brandishing a scythe, his form shifting into that of a seven-foot-tall man cloaked in a black hoodie. His pale skin was barely visible beneath the dark fabric.

"These are their punishments," he said, his gaze cold and detached.

The atmosphere around us was a dull grey, sapping the life from everything it touched.

"Punishments for what?" I asked, feeling a knot of unease in my stomach.

"The seven deadly sins," Oz answered, his voice heavy with meaning.

I took in the scene, noticing the divisions that aligned with the sins Reaper began to describe.

"Let's go for a tour, shall we?" Reaper said with a smirk. Smoke swirled around us, transporting us to different parts of the town.

"This is Pride," Reaper began. "Excessive belief in one's own abilities, often leading to contempt for others."

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall," Oz recited solemnly.

"Those who embody Pride face hideousness and poverty in their next life. Here, they remain to repent, living out their penance until they are judged. We call them the children of Oedipus," Reaper explained.

The smoke enveloped us once more, leading us to the next faction.

"Envy. Jealousy and resentment towards the possessions or qualities of others," Reaper continued.

"Children of Othello," he added. "Their negative energy causes missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential. They must overcome the whispers of unworthiness clouding their minds."

With each new faction, Reaper narrated the punishments associated with each sin—Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Lust, and Gluttony. Each description painted a vivid picture of suffering and consequence.

"Wrath, intense and uncontrolled anger, or vengeance. They would be alienated in their next life unless they emphasize forgiveness and understanding as a path to redemption."

"Sloth, laziness and a lack of motivation or care, leading to a sense of purposelessness in the next life and they have to work relentlessly to prove their value."

"Greed, excessive desire for material wealth or possessions. They will face financial ruin because of their insatiable desire for fortune."

"Lust, intense and inappropriate sexual desire. A spiritual transgression. A peculiar punishment of denied reward of love unless its soul ignites the light of loyalty."

"Finally," Reaper guided us to the last faction. "Gluttony. Overindulgence in food, drink, or wealth, leading to spiritual failing. Those who indulge in earthly pleasures at the expense of spiritual growth are reincarnated into beings they consume until they are judged otherwise."

"Now, let's get into business, shall we?" As the tour concluded, we arrived at Reaper's citadel. His throne loomed in the center of the courtroom, an imposing figure presiding over his domain.

"Welcome to my fortress of solitude," Reaper proclaimed, taking his seat with a dramatic flourish. "Now, why do I owe this pleasure?" His gaze shifted to Oz.

"I think you know why," Oz replied, gesturing towards me.

Reaper's expression turned cold. "I can't return her consciousness."

"Why not?" Oz's voice was sharp, edged with frustration.

"She wasn't supposed to remember. Souls entering the next life are forbidden to recall their past lives," Reaper explained.

"Why?" I asked, confusion and desperation in my voice.

"It complicates their journey," Reaper said. "When a soul is born anew, it's meant to start with a clean slate. Memories of past lives would only hinder their progress and drag them back. Why read your book backwards?"

"That is not for you to make a decision on." I argued, my voice rising.

Reaper's gaze was stern. "What you have learned in centuries." He pointed a finger towards me. "Is not even close to the knowledge I bear of the eternity."

Oz's expression hardened. "Then why tempt me with her consciousness?" What?

Reaper's eyes glinted with a hint of satisfaction. "You know what you did. I wanted you to come willingly, with the promise of spending eternity with the conscience you once loved."

"So that was your plan?" I turned to Oz, disbelief in my voice. "You wanted me to remember so you could have the old version of me?"

"It's more complicated than that," Oz said, his frustration evident. "She's already connected with her past. What harm could it do to allow her to remember?"

Reaper's gaze was unwavering. "You've already caused enough damage. She's tied to her past, which deters her from moving forward. She's formed feelings for you. It's only a matter of time before she learns the consequences of your actions during that little war with your mother."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, bewildered.

"We negotiate," Oz said, his tone resolute.

"I'm listening," Reaper said, intrigued.

"Give her back her past consciousness. Give me five years, and I will come willingly," Oz proposed.

"Why five years?" Reaper asked, his interest piqued.

"I have an imposed responsibility to take care of," Oz explained.

Lucinda Tepes P.O.V

"So that's it? You're just going to cut me off?" Cassius's voice followed me as I tried to walk away.

"There's nothing left to say," I answered coldly, my heart heavy with the weight of our fractured relationship.

"Not even about the fact that we had already consummated without anyone knowing?" His voice was pleading, and I could feel the frustration in his tone.

I turned to face him, my eyes flashing with anger. "You agreed to it."

Cassius's face hardened. "It was my duty!"

In a sudden burst of frustration, I transformed into my full vampire self, my wings stretching out behind me. I took to the sky, but Cassius was quick to follow. He grabbed me, and we tumbled down together, crashing to the ground. Our combined forms collided heavily, and he pinned my hands to the earth, trying to keep me still.

I struggled fiercely, my wings flapping behind me, trying to free myself from his grasp, but he held me firmly.

"Stop fighting," he commanded, his voice forceful.

"At least Lorraine had the integrity to refuse the engagement," I spat, my voice trembling with unresolved emotions.

"I'm here now!" Cassius bellowed, his frustration matching mine.

"You're here now because circumstances forced you into it," I said bitterly.