Page 63 of Chaos Demons

He stayed with me, doing everything he could to lessen the destruction around me.

I’d just about given up any hope when a divine voice pierced through my cloud of chaos and spoke directly into my soul.

Ramsey, can you hear me?Ana’s voice. I’d know it anywhere.

Ana? Yes, I can hear you. Where are you? How are you reaching me?

All good questions, which don’t really need to be answered right now. I just need to know how to stop your chaos. How can I help you, Ramsey?

With everything that had happened, I broke down, for just a moment. My love had found me and wished to help. I didn’t know how she could, but the simple fact of her reaching me gave me hope.

I… I don’t know, Ana. I need… peace.

How about love?she said softly, and I felt the oddest sensation.

A great presence, like a comforting blanket, settled over me, warm and reassuring, full of devotion and connection. And, as it came to rest on me, it seemed to lift the heaviness of my sorrow and pain and strife.

My chaos weakened and began to break apart. Now Grey’s void was taking more than I was generating and I regained a sliver of control.

Yes, Ana, more of that. It’s working!I called out to her.

Of course, my love,she whispered into my soul and another layer of affection and joy soothed me.

My conflict weakened, then faded completely, and I collapsed to the ground.

Strong arms hefted me to my feet from behind. Before me were Ana and Grey. That meant the arms around me must have been… Fen? I had to look back over my shoulder to confirm this, and there he was.

“How…?” I breathed.

“Ana, how else?” Fen answered with a grin, although I did see pain behind that smile.

I turned back to Ana. “You stopped Fen’s wolf and my chaos?”

She beamed, and it was only then that I truly noticed her, radiating a warm light, covered in spectral armor, silver hair flying like a flag behind her: the image of the triumphant hero.

“She’s a goddess now,” Grey said simply. He smiled at her, and I could see not only his dedication and devotion but also his respect and admiration.

A goddess? And then I felt it, her new aspects, billowing within her. One was clear: war. Another was blossoming: love, and there were still others.

“Hell yeah, she is,” I breathed.

She stepped in and threw her arms around me, tilting her head back as I lowered my lips to hers for a searing kiss. “It seems you needed love, more than pain,” she whispered. “Sorry.”

“Never apologize,” I breathed. “The pain helped and I had no clue there was any real way to stop my chaos once it was fully unleashed like that. So… you’re a miracle any way I see it.”

“A miracle who still needs to stop the rest of the madness claiming our city,” she said, as she backed away from me and squared her shoulders in determination. “You in?”

I smiled. I was weak, but I’d always agree to fight beside this woman, no matter what. “I’m in.”

“Then let’s kick some corpse ass!” Ana spun and began striding away.

“I like her like this,” I whispered to Fen.

“You would,” he scoffed. “But yeah… so do I.”

“I’d follow her anywhere, to Tartarus and back,” Grey added.

And that was the moment I knew: we three men were utterly and completely lost to this wonderful woman. No matter what, we’d stay by her side, bound by our love for her and her overflowing love for us.

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