Everlife

“How?” I ask. And, wow. Wow, wow, wow. Being one of only two Conduits capable of cleansing Penumbra had come with tremendous responsibility and pressure.

Without pressure, there would be no diamonds.

Now there is another, and there will be more.

The ferocity of Eron’s gaze intensifies, nearly drilling me to my knees. “Do you know what apocalypse means?”

I nod, even as my stomach churns. “The destruction of the world.”

“That is one meaning, yes. But the other? A revealing. The end of the war nears, and with it, change comes.” He motions to the horse branded on my wrist. “Change rides his—or her—warhorse. You are the first of many. There will be others, on both sides.”

My mouth goes dry. Killian bears a horse on his wrist, as well. Is he on our side—or Myriad’s?

“How do I make Conduits?” I’ve touched others. Killian. Clay. Luciana, even. Only Raanan has made the transition.

“When you find a candidate who is ready,” he says, “your Light will know, and do the work for you.”

That...makes sense. But I’ll have to ponder the pros and cons later. I’m not sure how long I’ll have Eron’s undivided attention. “I still don’t understand why you gave me the vote.”

“Don’t you?” He offers me an indulgent smile. “I value life. All life. Like you, I crave peace.”

Nice to know I’m on the same page with someone like Eron. He is a good king and a great man. I can’t—no, I won’t—let him down. And not just him, but everyone; even those who do not fully comprehend. My baby brother has to live in the world we create. I can fight to give him something better, or let him wade through whatever crapstorm we allow to rage.

“What if people are disappointed with my choice? Or infuriated?” I ask. “Will you stand with me?”

The look he gives me can be described only as indulgent. “I’m always with you, even during the most trying times. Especially during the most trying times. Just because you can’t see me, doesn’t mean I’m not there. Just because things go badly one day, doesn’t mean I’m not working to make them better the next.”

That’s fair.

“You’ve read the Book of the Law,” he says. “My mission statement has never changed, never will. Trust that we are working together for the good of all. While I am the head, you—the people—are my body. Trust that I want what is best for everyone, no matter their allegiance. I believe my actions have proven this, again and again, even if some of my people have strayed.”

The clouds vanish as quickly as they appeared, the rest of the world coming back into view. We’re back on the dais, the crowd overflowing the Garden of Exchange.

“Have you decided who will rejoin our fight?” Eron’s voice booms for one and all.

Here it is, the moment of truth. What am I going to do? Is the right choice for Troika the right choice for Killian? What about the right choice for facilitating the end of the war?

Half of the crowd begins to chant. “Orion. Orion. Orion.”

The other half chants, “Levi. Levi. Levi.”

Well. The masses want a General, no doubt about it.

But I cannot forget—these people are stuck in negative flow. A rushing river pulls us one way, and too many are content to be swept along. I’m fighting my way upstream, even though I’m tired, unsure and plagued by darkness. I can’t stop. The second I do, the very second, I’ll drift down the river alongside everyone else—and I’ll suffer the same end.

Gotta get them in a different body of water.

My gaze meets Hazel’s, then Steven’s. This time, they silently plead with me. Vote for Meredith, the woman who gave her life to save yours.

My heart squeezes in my chest. I love Meredith. I want her back. I really do.

“Tell us, Ten.” The Secondking waves in my direction. “Speak the name, and I will do the rest.”

Shadows writhe with more force. People chant. Animals call out. The Generals stare daggers into my back. My nerves fry. Inside me, pressure builds.

“I...” Deep breath in, out.

I had already tentatively removed Elizabeth from the equation, but I do so with surety now. She’s with her boyfriend, Claus, and she’ll have no desire to leave him. That leaves Orion, Levi, Meredith and Archer. Who’s it going to be?

Loyalty, passion, liberty.

Sow, reap.

There’s a name in my heart. The person I’ve wanted to pick from the beginning. The person I believe will most help this realm. Someone I would have picked already, if my mind hadn’t gotten in the way, obsessing about the consequences of a wrong choice.

Heart and mind might not agree, but I’m done worrying. I’m going to take emotion out of the equation, and let my heart lead the way—the true Troika way.

For better or worse, I announce, “I vote for...Archer Prince.”

chapter six (#u7856cc18-ae4b-5347-95b0-46827ab3d420)

“The only advice you should heed is your own.”

—Myriad

Ten

Behind me, the Generals give a collective gasp of shock and disappointment. Except for Luciana. With a scream of rage and horror, she falls to her knees. Beyond us, the crowd goes wild, a handful of people cheering, most others booing.

My decision remains unwavering. With Archer at my side, peace between the realms isn’t just a possibility but a probability.

Approval glows in Eron’s eyes, and I’m certain I made the right decision. Relief nearly buckles my knees. But mixed with relief is a tingle of dread. I’m still going to be punished by my haters, aren’t I?

Eron speaks into my mind as clearly as if he’s addressing the entire realm. —Doing what’s right isn’t always supported by those around you. Even the most well-meaning people can stumble into darkness. Show your adversaries the Light, Architect. Show them you are willing to fight for what you believe. Show them you will not back down. You will not cower. That is how you win.—

The reminder jolts me: I’m an Architect. What does that mean, exactly? —Help me.—

A soft laugh. —Not a day goes by that I don’t.—

“The choice has been made. So she has said, so it shall be done.” This time, the Secondking’s words resound throughout the entire city, drowning out every other decibel of noise. “Behold. The Resurrection of Archer Prince.”

A bright Light shines, blinding me. My world goes dark, but only for a second.

As the Light fades, the world comes back into focus. The Secondking is gone. At least, gone according to my eyes. Eyes do not always tell the full story.

Across the dais, a doorway forms from air, as if one layer has been peeled away from another, revealing a whole new world. Through that doorway, I see the fantastical land of the Rest, where a rainbow-colored sky glitters with thousands of stars, dinosaurs roam and peace isn’t a hope but a way of life.

Is this really happening? Will Archer, a boy I’ve missed with every fiber of my being, walk through that doorway and join the living? Will he receive a second chance at Secondlife?