Chapter 16We had been walking for what seemed like ages when we finally reached a cliff. Looking down off the edge I could see the waves of the ocean crashing into the jagged rocks below. Over to the right there was a small space where you could walk down on some makeshift steps. They took you around the side of the cliff, but I couldn't see where they ended up. There was no railing and the steps were rickety. I wasn't worried about myself, but Katrina wouldn't survive a fall from this high. I kept my eye on her the entire way, but it seemed as if she had done this a time or two. Something about the way she maneuvered between the steps, missing the ones that seemed to be in the worst condition gave me that clue. My nerves calmed as we made our way down the cliff and I could see an opening towards the bottom. It looked like it opened into a cave system, however at high tide it looked like the cave would be flooded. This could be a disaster waiting to happen. Once we got down inside
Chapter 17Just the feeling of magic and awe created by the Box was enough to make a sane man go insane. It was like a magnetic pull, forcing you to reach for it. I, however, knew better than to touch something I didn’t understand. This was not my Box to touch, so my hands were tied. Thayne, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky. He reached out for it, and the second he touched it, his whole body became engulfed in a blue flame. My eyes widened as I watched the Box drain him of his very life force. I could hear him shrieking in agony and watched, as what looked like his soul, be sucked from his body. It looked insanely painful and sounded even worse. Then when the Box was done, it threw his depleted body straight down into the fissure. I instantly panicked and locked eyes with Katrina. She just smiled at me as tears started to run down her face. “No, no, no!” I shouted and I had only taken one step before she grabbed the box and slammed it straight down onto the rock below her. The bla
Chapter 18I grumbled to myself, noting that my tears were still fucking falling as I wrapped the Box in a small black cloth that was at my feet, before shoving it into the bag. I swung the bag over my shoulder, and just as I did the ground started to shake and rumble again. I scooped Katrina's body from the floor. The water had washed some of the blood out of her hair and it was now dripping down the front of me. I didn’t even care. I held her close as the cave groaned and the rocks moved underneath me. I noticed the fissure started to close. After a few moments, the tectonic activity ceased, and the fissure had closed completely. It looked as if it had never been there, and I couldn't help but notice the only thing left was a small scar looking blemish in the rocks. So lightly engraved that a naked eye wouldn’t even see it. The tears had stopped at this point and I was angry. So fucking angry. Angry at myself for letting her do this. Angry at her for doing this. Angry at Thayne fo
Chapter 19It was then that my head finally cleared enough to be able to hear what was going on around me. I could hear Jade crying softly from the couch. I forgot what a good relationship they had. They were friends. I could see the anguish on Ambrosia’s face. She knew what Katrina meant to me, and she knew I was hurting. I turned back to Ramses who was just sitting there, in the same spot he had been this whole time. I saw him looking down at Katrina's body on the floor. The look on his face was that of pure agony and distress. I put my hand on his shoulder. “Let’s take her to the mortuary. We need to let her sisters know.” I said. He just nodded and started to stand, picking her up with him. Then he materialized away. I stood as well, and looked solemnly around the room. I picked up Pandora's Box from the floor where Ramses had set it, and walked it over to Ambrosia. She stood and wrapped me in a bear hug. “I’m so sorry for your loss… I’m so sorry.” She said. I just wrapped my ar
Chapter 20We stayed in the cave for a while, mostly in silence. I knew my brother needed this, and maybe I did too. The strange thing was the feeling of magic in that cave. I swear I saw some sort of shimmery substance by one of the rocks going further down into the cave, but in my grief stricken mind I’m sure I imagined it. As my brother and I headed out of the cave system we walked in silence. Grief was a strange thing, and I have always thought this. “Look, I’m going to need some time to process this. I will be ok, but please just let me have the time I need. Next week on Saturday we are going to celebrate Katrina’s life, in New Orleans. It will be a party to top anything that has ever been done before... But until then, I need to grieve. I’m going to go back to your house, and get Jade. She needs to grieve too, and we can do it together. I will reach out when we are ready.” He said. I nodded to him and materialized home with him by my side. It had been hours since we left, and e
Chapter 21(Ramses)Once I got Jade we materialized, and I have no idea how or why, but we ended up in the Sea Caves. I mean, I guess I understand why, my mind is there. But I was actually trying to get us home. I guess I just needed to be here instead. “Where are we?” Jade asked, taking a step out of my arms. I stayed silent for a moment, and then looked down at the slight fissure in the rock. We were literally standing on top of the fissure, the place that took Katrina’s life. I swallowed hard trying to push back the emotion from Titan that was threatening to push through. He hated it here, and I also hated it here… Why did I keep coming back here? Oh yea, GRIEF, that is why. Fuck this place. My thoughts were a barrage of bullshit and I was barely keeping them contained. “This is where she died… Right here, under our feet.” I said softly, and Jade just started crying. Her and Katrina had gotten close since I brought her home and I knew this was a big hit for her too. I pulled Jade
Chapter 22I poured another drink and threw it all back at once trying to help calm myself. What the fuck was I thinking? This has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever thought… But how else could I get her back? It was the only way. "What if I'm not even over there?" Katrina's angelic voice rang out from behind me. I turned around to see her standing by my bedroom door with her arms crossed. I was so happy just seeing her again, even if it was just dream her. "You have to be over there, darlin. Because if you aren't then I don't even want to think about the damage I would be causing... I can't think like that. Everything that happens after will be worth it as long as you are back in this realm with us." I said. "You shouldn't risk it." She said. "I know, but I have to try to save you. I can't accept you being gone. I just can't." I said. She just nodded to me. I knew I was just arguing with myself. It wasn't worth it. I stood from the bar, and turned, walking towards Katrina. I p
Chapter 23I about shit my pants when I saw how many people were already here. It looked like he used magic to change his entire property to accommodate thousands of people. The bronze gate entrance to his home was open and welcoming. There was a red carpet a little ways inside the gate, and it was completely lined down both sides with cameras and paparazzi. Multiple reporters and news crews were there as well. This was so over the top it reminded me of the Blood Ball, but even more extravagant if that were even possible. We stepped onto the red carpet and got completely bombarded. I couldn't tell you how many pictures were taken, or how many cameras were recording. Reporters were trying to ask us questions. Lots of questions about the underworld, questions about my pet, questions about Katrina and how we knew her. I couldn't help but smile because this was so Ramses. He was the flashiest person I knew, and this was exactly his style. We ignored all the questions, of course, and I t