Page 29 of Wild Ivy
I take a deep breath. This is the moment of truth. “Serve me well in this fight, and I won’t obliterate you all completely.”
“Obliterate?” the warrior snarls. “You don’t have that kind of power.”
“Don’t I?”
He blinks and shifts slightly. None of them really know what I can do. I don’t even know. But as long as theythinkI can do this stuff, then that’s all I need for now.
I note that the ex-Deaths are silent as the grave. It’s both annoying and a relief. I don’t need them wittering in my ear while I’m trying to be the big bad.
“In case you’ve forgotten, you’re all here because you earned your place in that void. I don’t care if you go back there, or I annihilate each and every one of you. The choice is yours.”
Torin and Tate move in closer to me, their magick crackling in warning as the spirits grow agitated. But I hold my ground.
“Besides,” I continue, “if Life wins this fight, there won’t be any more death. I’m guessing that means, no more of any of you.”
The spirits exchange looks. That got their attention. I can feel their growing understanding of what’s at stake now.
Lilith gives me a searching stare. “You speak of Life as an enemy. Yet isn’t she the natural opposite of Death? The balance?”
“She was,” I say grimly. “But now she wants to upset the natural order completely.”
“And you think you can stop her?” the warrior asks sceptically.
I lift my chin. “With your help? Yes.”
“Prove it,” Lilith challenges. “Prove you’re worthy to command us.”
I feel Tate and Torin tense next to me, ready for a fight. But this isn’t about physical combat.
“You want proof?” I ask softly. “Fine.”
I close my eyes and reach deep into the well of Death’s power. When I open them again, I know they’re completely black, void-dark. My skin becomes translucent, showing the darkness flowing through my veins.
“I am Death,” I say, my voice echoing with the power of all those who came before me. “I hold dominion over your souls. I can grant mercy or eternal torment. The choice is yours.”
The spirits recoil as Death’s essence shimmers all around me. The trees wither around us, moaning and weeping. Lilith takes a step back, her burning eyes widening as she takes in the scene around us.
The warrior drops to one knee, others following his lead. “We serve Death,” he growls. “But make no mistake - we serve for the promise of something better, not out of loyalty.”
“Fair enough,” I say, letting my appearance return to normal. The drain of channelling that much power makes my knees weak, but I refuse to show it. “Now, let’s see what you can actually do.”
A slow, wicked smile spreads across Lilith’s face. “With pleasure.”
She raises her spectral hands, and dark energy crackles between them. The air grows thick with malevolent power as other spirits begin demonstrating their abilities.
The warrior manifests ethereal weapons, his expertise with them evident in every movement. Others show skills ranging from ancient magick to more modern combat techniques.
“Impressive,” Tate murmurs. “But can they affect the physical world?”
As if in answer, Lilith flicks her fingers at him, and he goes flying backwards, hitting a tree and slumping to the ground.
“Does that answer your question?” she asks smugly.
“Do that again, and it’s annihilation time,” I growl. “We are not your enemy.”
A ripple of discontent moves through the spirits, but none challenge me directly.
“What would you have us do,commander?” Lilith asks, making the title sound like an insult.
