Page 47 of Left Hand of the Divine
“I can read it. I just need a minute.” Infernal Tongue wasn’t spoken anymore apart from the gatekeeper demons in Tartarus.The language used to be spoken by all people in the Underworld, but as the world evolved and supernaturals started to mix with humans, we adopted their language, and now the Infernal Tongue is a dying language. It hadn’t really been spoken for millennia.
The patterns and shapes shifted as I watched them, deciphering into something readable. Reapers were equipped with the ability to speak any language because we went all over the world collecting souls. How awkward would it be if you had to try and play charades with someone to tell them they were dead?
A whisper on the breeze came through my window saying the key to killing the All Powerful was a drop of night blood, an essence of life, a wisp of death and…
“And what?” I looked up at Rory to find his green eyes watching me like a hawk.
He shrugged his shoulders carelessly. “We don’t know. There is no other remaining part of the text. The mortal’s house was destroyed by one of Zeus’ thunderbolts, and this is all that remains.”
Was it me, or was that too much of a coincidence? “Seems fishy.”
“It’s all we have,” Jefferson said, folding his arms and leaning back.
I huffed a breath. “I’m just saying that it seems a bit convenient that this was theonlyscrap left after Zeus destroyed her house. Was there anything else left?”
“Roux is right,” Rafe said as he reached over to tangle his fingers around mine, his touch instantly soothing. “This makes it seem like someone is goading you.”
“Maybe it’s the Fates?” Avery added cheerfully. “Maybe they placed it there for us to find because they knew we would need it at this very moment.”
The Fates’ brand on my arm prickled with heat as if they were listening in to our conversation. Maybe the perky shifter was right. Perhaps this was the Fates steering us in a particular direction.
I was starting to understand why Hades disliked the Fates so much. They weren’t supposed to interfere, merely observe, but had they planned this moment from all the way back then?
For fuck’s sake, I was going to be spouting conspiracy theories next. “Whether it is Fate or not, we should probably look at it with a pinch of salt.”
“Agreed,” Rayne growled, his fingers tapping away on his thigh.
“Well, what do you suggest?” Lazarra asked with a wave of her hand.
“Me and the guys have been tasked with retrieving the creatures we freed from the Vault. We will just conveniently start looking in the places where people have gone missing or where the vampires were found drained.” I cast a glance at the men by my side, and they all nodded in agreement.
Jefferson quirked an eyebrow. “And what makes you think you’ll find answers when we haven’t?”
I scoffed and stood up from my chair. “With all due respect, your investigators aren’t us.”
Lazarra stood up, buttoning her sharp tailored jacket. “Fine, but I will ask one of the Guild Council to act as a Liaison.” She cocked her head and pursed her lips. “You can have Daire. He needs more diplomatic experience.”
The incubus’ eyebrows shot to his hairline. “Do I?”
Lazarra hit him with a flat look. “Do I need to remind you of the disaster that occurred the last time you were topside?”
A blush bloomed across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. “No, Lazarra. You do not.”
Colour me intrigued. I wonder what that story was all about. “Fine, we will get him settled in the mansion with us. Do you need time to pack?”
Daire shook his head. “I have a go bag with me at all times.”
“We all do,” Avery piped up. “Never know where we might be heading next. It’s one of the things I love about this job.”
“Of course you do,” Jefferson grumbled, but Avery just continued to smile. I wish I had that kind of sunshine rolling around in my soul. That happy-go-lucky vibe that made people around you instantly feel better because they were soaking up the goodness that you just radiated. I was someone with only memories from the past ten years, and before that I could have been anyone. Maybe I had been someone with a sunny disposition. Or maybe I’d been a loner, or just average. Not too good, but not too bad either. Would I ever know who I’d been, or would I always be Roux the Reaper and nothing more?
“Well, this has been fun and all, but we have some places to investigate,” I drawled as I pushed my chair back under the table.
Everyone else followed suit, packing up and starting to clear up.
“Don’t forget about all the creatures we need to find,” Rafe added as he wrapped an arm around my waist and gave me a squeeze.
Rayne came to stand at my other side, his hand circling around the back of my neck. “Or the Games we have to prepare for.”
