Iridescence

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

EMILY

Jenna and Ares were right to be concerned. As we started to focus on finding our way through the pocket realm inside of the church, we encountered an army of spirits. I don't mean a few spirits. This was the largest group of spirits we'd encountered so far, each with a red cord wrapped around them.

"He's close," Hades said. "Even I can't manifest and control this many spirits at once from a significant distance. He must be in this pocket realm with us, and he can probably see everything we're doing."

"Can you help us free them?" I asked.

"Unfortunately, no. Altheos has thought to block me specifically from breaking his hold on these souls. It will take me far more time than we have to undo that spell and assist you." He looked into my eyes, placed his hands on my shoulders, and said, "This is your fight, Emily. Those of us who are not part of Iridescence can only interfere so much. This is not our destiny, but yours. I will protect you as much as I can and lend you strength, but that's all I can do."

I nodded. "I'll take what I can get," I replied. I looked at Jake and added, "Let's do this."

"Emily, what can we do?" Jenna asked me.

"Stay together and try not to get killed," I replied. "Try to get past this room and find Eliza, Faith, and Artemis. We'll catch up."

Most of the others started making their way through the room of spirits. Hades and Hecate stayed with me and Jake. To my surprise, so did Morpheus.

"You will not fight them alone," he said stoically. "You're my daughter and I am staying with you."

I smiled at him. "Thanks," I replied, "but Vanessa and Lucky need you more."

"My instincts tell me I am meant to remain here, Emily. Your siblings will be alright. The next room is presently safe."

I couldn't argue as the spirits swarmed around us. Besides, it was kind of nice to suddenly have a father who actually cared enough to stand and fight with me. As Emily, I hadn't had that since my mother died. My dad hadn't always been as distant as he was now, but her death had changed him. I may not know what to do with a father, but Anastasia welcomed Morpheus's presence at my side. I had to admit that it comforted me, too.

I freed as many souls as I could, but more kept coming, attacking with a ferocity I hadn't expected. I felt Jake press his back against mine. We covered each other, slashing cords and sending the freed souls toward Hades and Hecate so they could guide them to the Underworld.

Our allies escaped from the room without an issue. The spirits couldn't go after them. I realized Altheos had specifically commanded them to stay in that room. That was actually a relief because it meant our friends were safe for the moment.

We were doing pretty well despite the massive number of souls present until one in particular came toward us. Jake froze as the spirit attacked him. I felt that happen and turned around to see what was wrong.

A woman who shared several of Jake's features was viciously attacking him, and he wasn't fighting back. She was stronger than some of the other souls, and as she wrapped her hands around Jake's throat, he visibly panicked but did nothing to defend himself. Hades was busy with crossing the freed souls over, and I knew I'd have to handle this myself. I had a feeling I knew exactly who this woman was.

I grabbed her and pulled her off of Jake. He sank to his knees as he tried to catch his breath as tears streamed down his cheeks. "I know who you are," I said harshly, "And I know what you did to him."

I slashed the red cord binding her to Altheos. It was thicker than the others, but the rage I was feeling gave me the burst of strength I needed to destroy it.

She became even more furious once she was free. "He deserved it!" She shouted. "That worthless brat ruined my life!"

"He didn't ask to be born," I replied. "You know, you could have given him up for adoption if you were so set against having a kid. You made choices. You gave birth to him, you kept him, and you were supposed to take care of him. Instead, you became his monster. And for that, you deserve to rot."

"Mothers really are the worst," Leo said from behind me. "Susan here reminds me of mine."

I didn't fall for the distraction. I refused to take my eyes off of Jake's mother. That was a good call, since Susan tried to attack me.

I grabbed her hand as it came toward me and latched onto her soul with everything I possessed. As I connected to her, I saw everything she had put Jake through before she killed him. I was horrified because, as I'd suspected, it was even worse than he'd told me. I was full of rage as I looked into her cold eyes. "You tortured your son," I said. "You murdered an innocent teenager who never hurt you. You are the worst sort of evil."

"No! He deserved it! He deserved to be punished!" Susan insisted.

"Jake didn't deserve to be punished," I said firmly, "but you do."

I thought about destroying her soul. With all of the power flowing through me, I knew I could do it. Instead, I put her into a deep sleep.

"Now, every moment of your existence will be a nightmare, just like you made your son's," I said harshly. "You will face what you put him through. You will relive his pain as if it's your own. You will learn and evolve and change, and until you do, you will spend every second of your existence stuck in the darkest corner of the dream realm."

Her spirit faded from sight. I was still radiating with power. Morpheus smiled at me from nearby. "You handled her exactly as she deserved," he told me as he came closer. "I am extremely proud of you, Emily."

It was strange how hearing those words affected me. I wasn't used to my father acknowledging me, let alone praising me. Now, my soul's father was doing what my incarnated one should have done all along. It made me smile, which was something I rarely did anymore.

"I could have destroyed her, but destruction is too good for someone like that," I replied. "This way, she'll be forced to face what she's done and either learn from it or spend eternity living in the hell Jake spent his childhood in."

"You are wise, my daughter," he said with a smile. "Now, I must ask for your help." He motioned toward one of the spirits. "Kindly free my old friend from Altheos's control."

The spirit was familiar to me. He had dark tan skin and his features were Native American. His long curly black hair flowed behind him as if it were floating. His bright blue eyes were sad, and that felt wrong to me, like they should have been full of joy. Anastasia knew him, but I was struggling to place him.

I cut the cord. It didn't take much effort, and I understood that this spirit had wanted to be freed. He smiled at me, but his eyes were still sad. It didn't matter. I recognized him then.

"Nero?" I asked. The jovial Water God had always been more playful than sad, but I would still know him anywhere. After all, as Photeus's older brother, he was Anastasia's brother-in-law. He'd obviously reincarnated like the rest of us, but I was positive it was him.

"Hello, Ana," Nero replied. "It's good to see you again." He paused before adding, "My brother is trying to play the hero as usual. We should probably help him."

I was confused, but realized he was right when I heard swords clanking against each other. I realized Jake was back in action as his sword met Leo's again. "Jake!" I cried in warning, knowing that no matter how good he was with a sword, Altheos was better. Incarnated or not, Leo could probably take nearly anyone down in a sword fight.

"I'll hold him off," Jake said stubbornly. "Go find the others!"

"You're an idiot if you think I'm leaving you," I replied.

"Em, you saved me from her... No one ever did that when I was alive the first time. You protected me. Let me protect you, too."

"We'll protect each other," I replied.

As Jake and Leo dueled, I handled as many of the remaining spirits as I could. I stopped when Leo tried to use a cheap shot to shove his sword through Jake's chest.

A powerful spell burst from within me, attacking Leo with enough force to knock him into the wall before he could hurt Jake. This stunned Leo for a moment. I noticed his head was bleeding.

Good, I thought with satisfaction.

"Emily..." Morpheus said as I was about to take the opportunity to rip Altheos's soul right out of Leo's body. Morpheus looked more worried than I'd ever seen him, which made me pause and listen to him. "Your siblings need us."

His face told me everything I needed to know. "Jake," I called.

"Go," he said as he started to follow me. "I'm right behind you."

Nero followed Jake, staying behind him to make sure Leo was still out of commission and didn't follow us.

"Nero?" Jake asked in surprise.

"Hello, Photeus," Nero replied.

"It's Jake now."

"Then call me Adrian. That was my most recent name."

"Great. Now that we're all caught up, let's go save Theadora and Ly."

We raced into the next room. I didn't know what we'd find, but seeing the concerned look on Morpheus's face, I knew it couldn't be good.