Dark Passions at Death's Door

27 - Balancer, Reaper

Silence met her for a few moments. That chill went up her spine. Then the reaper's voice cut in.

"Phenїx, you're not the only one who helps to try and keep the cosmic balance in check. Or at least, you weren't meant to be."

While she believed that to be true, she already had so many pieces in play. And she needed to put more into place. She had to. Gaia wouldn't survive the onslaught otherwise.

But the comprehension that this male was the one that could target her? Assassinate her? It didn't sound as if he wanted to, but there was resignation in his tone.

As if the decision had already been made. That simplified her own decision.

The wyrms can wait... so can Limina Mortis. Get free of here, get my powers back, get the next couple pieces in play, find out what the hells is going on in the pantheon, then come back to this male.

Phenїx scanned her surroundings. There were three entrances to the cave. That one to her left would be the best to get clear in a dead run.

Byron's voice lifted, "There are fears among some, Nїx, that you would trigger an apocalypse. And the goddesses of the pantheon you aspire to join know it."

She tumbled the idea over in her mind. "But I planned it all out already!"

It's perfect! It will get better! And why would you have to... to reap me? You mean kill me?

"I have no doubt that you have plans, but there's plenty of other goddesses," Byron answered. "And Ever-Knowing, they're very tired of you."

Of course, they were. Most of them just hated that she was such a bitch to them. She had caused a major upset with her continual petitions.

On top of that, her actions had eliminated a couple of evil gods without their assistance, when they had been meant to take care of the problem. That left them in a bad bargaining position.

Even the good goddesses hated getting shown up by a noob. But the less-friendly ones were the types that would definitely get a kick out of her having her ass whipped.

She snarled, "Well, too bad for them!"

"That's the Valkyrie I've come to recognize, always striving."

He was smiling. That alone reassured her. Then she heard his voice grow resigned, "But if you committed an act that wiped out a chunk of the mortal realm, I'd be given the mission to reap you."

Nїx swallowed. Could that even be real? She licked her lips and whispered, "I can find a way out."

Something warm came close to her. She passed her hand over, feeling nothing. Was he transitioned? She flickered her hands around, but there were only a few goosebumps on her. If what he said was true, that meant he wasn't as close.

Then Byron's breath felt like it was almost on her neck, moving side to side, as if shaking his head against her hair.

"No. Not this time, Nїx. This time, it's not about finding a way out. The game is for keeps. All the marbles, the whole pot. Do you have a royal flush in that hand, right now?"

Nїx measured it in her mind. Something alien flared to life in her brain that she didn't want to believe... helplessness. Her mouth went dry. Then she clamped down on it furiously. No, she could win!

"There's just so much more to do, Byron, but I'm not going evil!" she asserted.

Another soft sigh came from him. Her skin pebbled at the touch. "Phenїx, they would not care. Even if it were an accident, the event would be heinous enough, even the good ones would have to call for you to be reaped."