Page 2 of Bones

Where death lurked and evil resided.

I shuddered, that darkness entwining in the spot where half a soul resided. My steps resumed with the need to reach my brother’s home.

To be with my siblings after far too many years apart.

No longer caring if my rapid steps drew attention, gossip, or fear, I increased my strides as I followed the connection that pulled at my very being. I paused outside of Thanatos’ door long enough to give a quick knock before entering to find I was the last to arrive.

Thanatos.

Juno.

Lenuson.

Death.

War.

Pestilence.

And me.

Famine.

A feeling of fullness settled in my chest, but it was not whole. It never was. It never would be.

Not until my soul wasfinallycomplete.

Not until it found its other half.

My mate.

Myone.

“Brother,” Thanatos greeted, pulling me into an embrace. I felt the matching emptiness in him become a little less vast in my presence. “Just in time.”

“Took you long enough,” Juno interjected, tucking her red hair behind her ear.

My brows lowered. “We were just summoned.”

“And I’ve been here for five whole minutes.” She oddly glanced at her bare wrist. “Almost six minutes. And in thesescratchy AF clothes, that’s basically an eternity. Haven’t they heard of the joys of fabric softener? I’d settle for a polyester blend.”

My gaze moved over her head to my other brother. Lenuson eyed Juno with the same confusion, clearly also wondering if she was unwell.

Perchance she has picked up an ailment from the islands she patrols. A brain-eating amoeba of some sort.

Lenuson looked as though he wanted to examine her, but she spoke before he could suggest so.

Adjusting her skirt with a scowl, she said, “Explain to me again why we’re here.”

Utilizing his copious and thorough notes, Thanatos started at the beginning. He spoke of the surge of dark magicks. The growing mistrust and suspicion. The fearmongering that had begun to turn violent.

He shared that Absolve was there in Salem.

Soul stealers hiding amongst the church.

Hypocrisy within the righteous.

His discoveries echoed what my instincts had already shown.

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