Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Tarek

I feel fine, but I need her. I need to touch her.

Instead, all I see is her staring at me, and everyone surrounding us. I know that I was healed. I know I’m fine, but I’m exhausted. Danu is gone, but my person is still here, still on this Earth, my Earth. I need her.

I reach out with shaking hands.

“Shhh.” Mason, my brother, pulls me into his arms then dusts me off. “Man, you’re a mess. Just gotta be so dramatic about everything. The apple returned to its spot beneath the Earth, and so did Danu. And look at you.” He shakes his head. “Hot mess.”

Horus sighs and pulls his leather jacket tighter across his shoulders. “He really was dramatic, just lying on the ground.”

“All done.” Timber walks up and dusts off his hands. “She’s in the Underworld but not in the nice, safe place. More like the ‘oh, look, torture,’ up top.” He holds his hand up for a high five while all the angels remain standing around us in formation. “What? Too soon?”

I hit his hand because it’s almost embarrassing—he’s been holding it up for longer than a few seconds—then watch the Creator talk to Lilith.

They’re so many things.

A man. A woman. Of every descent. Every face. They encompass all things, and it’s incredible to watch it happen, like They want everyone in the universe to know.

I am.

I am all things.

I am you.

You are me.

You have a purpose.

And you are not alone.

Lilith falls to her knees and raises her hands, and we all watch with the angelic army as hundreds of stars shoot through the skies.

They lean down and kiss her cheek. Clothed in red robes covering both face and body, They walk away, join the army, and nod Their head.

The legion pulls out their swords, and before They leave, They look to Cassius and smile. “Well done.”

“Good,” Timber whispers. “And faithful.”

Horus finishes. “Servant.”

“Do you think,” Mason asks, “that they realize that phrase came from Gilgamesh, or should we not reveal that?”

“Ever,” Stephanie adds.

Cassius says, “No. That would confuse everyone way too much. All they need to know, all humanity needs to know, is that we aren’t going anywhere. And, apparently…the first female of this Earth is going to marry her werewolf, technically the oldest part human in existence.”

I crack a smile. “Is that why my knees hurt?”

Horus smacks me on the back while Timber laughs.

“Let’s go.” Cassius jerks his chin toward me, his black hair falling down to his waist. He looks terrifying, but that’s normal for him. His eyes match his hair, and purple feathers push out of his back, extending into a wingspan that’s at least twelve feet across, if not more. “I think you deserve a drink.”

“Thank you.” I lower my head. “For finding us. For saving us.”

“Saving?” Cassius questions. “We didn’t come here to save you; we came here to support you. As you said very eloquently, the world doesn’t always need a savior, they need a sacrifice. Someone willing to give their all to save just one.” He pats me on the back and walks away.