Page 39 of Bound to Death

The soul pool glowed behind him, and I was a little surprised when Mysra walked out of it without another word from Hades.

“Just a small thing, Brother, then she’s yours.”

I was instantly on guard. It was too easy. But the thought that I could save my little raven so quickly made me ask, “What is it?”

Hades was in front of me again, beckoning Mysra to his side. She came but was silent, her translucent blue-white body barely able to take form. His captive souls couldn’t speak unless he gave them permission, and I could see how the years of service had plagued her expression. He’d made her suffer a great many things, no doubt. Hades despised angels the most. He likelymade her tend to the souls of the young—the worst position an angel with a compassionate countenance could be given.

“Just tell me…do you love her? Are you willing to abandon your duty as one of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse to save this human?” Hades came close enough that there was hardly any space between us. I might’ve been tall to humans, but Hades was massive. So, despite how it hurt my pride, I cranked my neck just to look at the bastard.

“It might not make sense to you, but yes. I love her. I have already abandoned my duty to be here. And I would do it again if I had to. Whatever it takes.”

I hadn’t meant to tell anyone other than Asha that I loved her, that I would wreck my soulless existence to be with her, but there were two things that made Hades impossible to deal with.

First, no matter who a person was—Horseman, angel, demon, or even the ruler of Hell itself—they couldn’t lie to him. He’d know straight away. Speaking in truths was the only way to gain favor with him.

Lastly, if someone struck a bargain with the ruler of the Underworld, they were his servant until they’d honored their part. It was impossible to escape promises made with Hades, but it was the reason that I had to be clever to not agree to terms I couldn’t deliver on. Better to stay quiet and leave him to revise, but this ask was easy enough.

I did love her.

I would give up everything to be with my little raven.

To my surprise, the blue-haired nuisance smiled to himself and led Mysra straight over to me. He guided her hand to mine, a devious grin splitting his face. He didn’t ask for anything else. The moment her hand touched mine, I owned her soul.

My shadows wrapped around her wrist, keeping her my captive, but she didn’t seem happy to be leaving like I expected. I thought for sure she'd pine for Michael the same way God’sfavorite yearned for her. But still, she didn’t speak. If anything, the punished soul was forlorn and devastated to be returning.

I stared at Hades in confusion. “What do you stand to gain from this?”

“More than you could ever know, little brother. But I won’t bore you with the details. That’d ruin all the fun.” Hades crossed bulky arms over his tattooed chest, his smirk containing nothing but secrets. “Oh, and consider this little tip a gift. You’re more capable than you think. I mean, you and I were created to be similar. Two peas in a pod as the humans say. There are ways to bind her to you. The same way I bind souls to me. Just something to think about when you meet with Michael.”

His words were an omen, but one I wouldn’t understand until it came to pass. He’d probably sought the advisement of the Fates to carry out whatever agenda he had for the end of the world, but I’d be stupid to think he’d share any of it with me.

Mysra’s eyes wandered over to me, and it was the first time I’d seen her do anything but look at the ground. I wondered if she knew whatever Hades stood to gain, but then again, it didn’t matter to me as long as I got to keep my little raven. If Hades was about to start a war, then I’d leave him to it. Nothing mattered but saving Asha.

I didn’t say another word.

Mysra wobbled and turned into white smoke before her soul was a little ball in my open palm. The white ball disappeared into my skin, mine to deliver. And I would deliver her. Before I could seek out Michael, a raven came flying through the sky, fluttering anxiously. Messages couldn’t be delivered across the realms, so whatever brought it over was already bad enough to put me on edge.

Hades chuckled as it cawed loudly, the sound carrying like a vicious echo in the endless space. I stiffened, the burn I’d felt in human form materializing in the body never meant to have it.

Asha was slipping into a coma.

I didn’t have time to waste.

“Looks like you’re needed elsewhere, Dead. I look forward to you going against God to save her.”

I didn’t wait for him to ramble on self-importantly. My shadows were already forming a vortex to take me to Asha so I could bring her to Michael to remove the mark. Whatever it fucking took, I’d make the angel do what she promised.

I stood with the unconscious woman in my arms and back in the same room we’d made the deal.

Michael was surprised to see us by the way she stood frozen in confusion. “That was…did you acquire Mysra’s soul, or are you here to beg for your little human’s life without honoring our bargain?”

She didn’t seem to believe I could work as quickly as I had, but I didn’t have time to argue about the details.

“I have her soul. Once you’ve removed the mark, I’ll give it to you.”

Michael’s eyes dropped to Asha’s lax form in my arms. “Mysra first—”

My voice boomed through the room with dangerous clarity. “Do it now, Michael, or I’ll send Mysra to Morning Star myself. He’s been eager to steal her away, and I have nothing left to lose if you refuse to help.”

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