Every Last Kiss

Page 30

“I’m impressed.”

Lachesis appeared from thin air into the chair next to me.I startled for a moment and then sat up to face her.

“You’re impressed?”I purposely kept my voice quiet, so I wouldn’t wake Hasani.

“Of course.You balanced a thin line between life and death.And you came back from it.”

“I don’t know how I did it,”I admitted.

“Of course you don’t,”she agreed.“But the important thing was that you were able to do it.There is something special about you, Charmian. I’ve known that all along.”

“What does that mean?”

She shook her head gently.

“The rules haven’t changed, my dear.Things will be revealed to you only as necessary, not before.I just wanted you to know that you have pleased us.”

“Thank you,”I whispered.

“And now you know what you must do,”she prodded.

I nodded sadly.

“Life will continue on.And you will be returned to where you belong.But first, because you have pleased me, I will grant you one more day here.You may spend one more night with your love.You have earned it.”

She stared at me with glistening icy eyes, as old as the sun.

“Hasani and Cleopatra will have no memory of the incident in the cave.Our secret is safe from Hasani and Cleopatra will only be aware that you were able to retrieve your bloodstone.You are now back on track.Handle your Daedal.Finish your mission.”

“What about Annen?”I asked.

“He is gone.There is no need to concern yourself with him now.”

“And Pothinus?”

“Ahmose escorted him back to where he belonged… and he has died the death meant for him.”

A wicked sense of satisfaction grew in me at the thought of his head on a spike outside the city.That cur had almost killed Hasani.He deserved anything he got and then some. I hoped the blade had been dull.

Lachesis’ expression grew gentle.

“Sleep now,”she instructed, her hand brushing my hair back.“You need the rest, little Keeper.”

I closed my eyes and I knew she was gone.

***

“Tell me what Annen meant,”I demanded several hours later, squarely facing Ahmose.

The ancient Aegis stared at me stubbornly, his lips pressed tightly together.

“You know that I cannot,”he finally answered.

We stood alone in the quiet midst of what would become the renovated Temple of the Phoenix.The construction efforts had ceased for the day and the light from the moon cast oblong shadows along the stone walls of the empty temple.

“You can, though.We have broken out of the confines of ordinary, Ahmose, simply by being here. You haven’t been forthcoming with me, priest.And I want to know why.Is it possible to withdraw from the Order and live a normal life?”

“How do you define normal, Charmian?”he asked softly.“Each individual on the planet has a purpose.That you already know. Do you feel it would be normal to turn your back on your own?”

“I’m not sure.But I would love to find out what it felt like to live a life that didn’t always end in death and tragedy.”

“Ah, Charmian.Death comes to us all.But yours always means something great.Don’t you find comfort in that?”

I stared at him steadily.“I’m not sure anymore.I think … that I find it a little unfair.”

“Of course it is unfair.But there are many things in life that are unfair.Is it fair that Cleopatra must carry so much responsibility in each life?So much heartache?I think not.Is it fair that some are born as lowly servants in every life- condemned to struggle just to survive?I think not.But it is the way of the world.You can’t change it.”

“But I can,”I argued.“If I wanted.Annen knows a way.”

“But Annen is gone.And he cannot possibly know of the consequences.And quite frankly, neither do I.I’ve consulted with the Elders and no one has ever seen such a thing. I think, Charmian, that deep down, you know it is too dangerous.Otherwise, you would have asked Annen when you had the chance.”

He was right.I had been afraid that I might be tempted by Annen’s story- enough to risk catastrophe.I couldn’t be sure of what would happen to me.Was purgatory or hell real?If so, if I challenged the Fates and God and whatever was planned for me… perhaps I would wind up in eternal punishment.That would not be pleasant.There was too much unknown to act on it now.

“Charmian, in every life, you make an enormous difference on the world.Millions of people are dependent on your actions.Do not take that lightly. What you have been given- your role in life- is an honor.”

I nodded slowly as I listened.That much was true.It was an honor.And a burden.I sighed heavily.

“What did Annen mean when he said ‘the Keres wouldn’t stand for this’?Who are the Keres?”

Ahmose stared at me quietly with hislips pursed, then shook his head slowly.

“That is not something meant for you to know. Not right now.”