The Forsaken Hero-Chapter 1018: Unwelcome Guests

The blood drained from my face as I stumbled back, staring at Jessia. The back of my knees struck the bed, and I collapsed, sitting hard. My mouth gaped open and closed, but I couldn’t find my voice.

"Nice place you have here. Is this real gold?" she asked, stooping over the gold-leaf ornamentation on the table. As if nothing was wrong.

Luke slipped through the balcony doorway with a sigh, closing it behind him. "Good morning, Xiviyah."

My eyes flitted to him, my heart racing, before I suddenly clasped my necklace, gripping the Soul Binder ring tightly. I couldn’t feel him. Even though he was standing right in front of me, our bond was empty. Even his aura was restrained, wreathed by a strange, unfamiliar magic.

"What’s wrong with you?" Jessia asked, finally looking at me. A slow smile tugged at her lips. "Don’t tell me I finally caught you by surprise? You really didn’t see me coming? This just might be my greatest accomplishment yet! Sneaking up on the Oracle, herself."

"Shut up," Luke said, sitting heavily in a chair and rubbing his horn, scowling at her.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, finally finding my voice. I grabbed my tail, gripping it tightly in my lap with both hands.

Jessia grinned. "I just happened to be in the area and wanted to drop in on an old friend. Is that so wrong?"

"We’re not friends," I said, shivering at the thought.

Jessia recoiled, gasping dramatically. "You wound me, Xivie."

"Xiviyah. Please," I said.

She chuckled, dropping into the chair next to Luke. She kicked a leg over the armrest, lounging with infuriating ease. "I forget you’re rather sensitive about that. No pet names for me, eh? What about Luke? Does he get to call you anything?"

Luke flinched, and I quickly looked down, my knuckles whitening.

"He doesn’t?" Jessia’s eyes widened for real, but her surprise quickly vanished, replaced by a teasing grin directed at Luke. "And here I thought you were making progress with her. At this rate, you’re going to ascend before you work up the courage to claim her--"

"Jessia, that’s enough," he said sharply, rising from the chair. He paced the room, stopping at the balcony and gazing out over the waking gardens.

I looked at Jessia, but she ignored me, instead watching Luke with a knowing smirk. Her soul seemed at first glance incredibly frail and dim, barely reaching the first level. There was no sign of the characteristic wavering or instability that had always been present when she’d disguised herself before. Even with the Oracle of Eternity, every tell she’d had before was gone. If I hadn’t recognized her face, I would have assumed she was just another young woman, albeit with an eerie confidence. The thought caused me to shudder, gripping my tail tighter.

"Luke, what’s going on? Where have you been? Why did you come now?"

Luke closed his eyes, his tail twitching as he sensed the fear in my voice. Not unease, but fear.

"I have to leave," he said, opening his eyes again, but not returning my stunned gaze.

"Luke...?" My tail escaped my hands, tangling in the bedsheets. I clasped my hands tightly, the yawning emptiness in my chest expanding as if to swallow me.

"Meeting Rash’alon was a...a shock," he admitted, rubbing his horn. "I’m sorry for not being more present recently, but I’ve had to think. And I see now that he was right. " At last, he met my gaze. His hands squeezed into fists. "Xiviyah, I’ve forgotten myself. Or rather, my priorities have blurred. That’s why I lost the shard, why I let Rash’alon escape again. I can’t let the same happen again. I can’t continue to let myself be distracted."

"But Luke--"

He held up his hand, stopping me. I bit my tongue, looking down shamefaced as Jessia smirked. She must be loving this.

"I’m not leaving you. I’m leaving ahead of you. I need to refocus, to refind my role as Apostle of the Descent. The other apostles have been working hard, gathering the hordes from Demon Gates scattered across the land, and I--"

"Except Gayron. Where is that guy, anyway?" Jessia said, resting her chin on her hand. She looked up innocently as we both stared at her. "What? I can’t sense him anywhere nearby. Wait!" she gasped, lighting up. "Is he hiding in your realm? Are you letting people in there again? Can I go?"

"Emperors below, I knew agreeing to let you come was a bad idea. Jessia, shut the hell up. Let me talk to her."

She pouted, turning her head with a sniff. "I’m just asking, is all."

Luke turned back to me. "I’m sorry about that, just ignore her. But like I was saying before I was interrupted, it’s my duty to lead the horde against the world, and that time has come. The Infernal Council is demanding I take action personally and stop wasting time among the mortals."

"Is that what we’ve been doing? Wasting time? You don’t believe that, do you? I’m not just a distraction?"

His tail jerked. "Of course not! But from the demons’ perspective, everything that’s not slaughtering Divine Servants or assimilating power is wholly unnecessary. This is why I said I’m not leaving you. I’m just leaving a little ahead. We’ll be launching the invasion in several weeks, once I’ve mustered the other apostles and their hordes. I’ll return for you, and we can go together."

"Can’t I go with you now?" I asked, biting my lip.

"I...I want you to. I never want to be apart from you again. But it’s too dangerous. With Rash’alon on the loose and the church hunting you, you’re far safer here, with your armies around you. And, well, there is so much for me to do. There have been months of infernal politics and maneuvering I haven’t been able to supervise. I need to regain control of the horde, to earn their respect again. I won’t be able to protect you as I have here."

"It’s not so grim. I’m already current on everything, from the factions to the latest gate break," Jessia quipped.

"That only matters if you’re willing to share it," he said.

She shrugged. "I told you I would...if you pay the price, that is."

"If you’re not going to be helpful, then just leave already," he grumbled. "But Xiviyah, if I were to ask, are you ready to go? Have you put all your affairs in order?"

I wanted to nod, desperate for an excuse to stay at his side, but I couldn’t. My shoulders slumped, my tail went limp, and I lowered my head. "I’m sorry. I...I didn’t know."

"You didn’t do anything wrong." He took my hand and held it reassuringly. "I’ll only need a few weeks, no longer than a month. And then I’ll be back. You can last that long, can’t you?"

"She’d better be able to, given your plans for the future," Jessia said.

He shot her another glare, his face softening as he looked back at me. "Can you?"

"I’ll be okay." I forced a smile. "Don’t let me stop you from doing what you have to. I’ll survive. I promise."

He let out a pent-up breath, smiling. "I knew you would. You’re stronger than you think you are."

I nodded, holding back a sniffle. For once, he’d bought my lie. Or perhaps he just wanted it to be true. It hurt either way.

But I couldn’t speak out against him. Luke had made his decision clear, and pleading with him would only make it harder for both of us. Just as he respected my choices, I had to trust him with his.

Jessia stood, stretching her arms over her head with an exaggerated yawn. "Is that it? Can we head out now?"

"Jessia. Would it kill you to be a little more considerate?"

Rarely had I heard Luke snap like that. It startled me, causing my chest to tighten.

"I’m an apostle. I’m supposed to be inconsiderate," she said, snorting. "Remember? Or is that one of the things you’re going to try to ’rediscover?’"

He ignored her and gingerly pulled me to my feet. I collapsed in his arms, biting my lip so hard to keep from sobbing that I tasted blood. But it was futile, and I rested my forehead on his chest, tears seeping into his tunic. He patted my head, stroking my hair, his other hand resting on my back, holding me close.

"Please, don’t cry. I’ll just be gone for a little bit."

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to obey him, but failing again. "I’m sorry. I didn’t want to, but...I’m sorry."

He held me for a few moments longer before gently, but firmly, pulling away. A fresh wave of tears threatened, but I blinked them away, looking up into his eyes. He looked...lonely. Sad. But resolute.

He cupped my chin, caressing my cheek. For a moment, I feared he might try to kiss me. He must have sensed my hesitation, because he just looked at me for a long time before pulling away. I held back a whimper as his hands reluctantly left me, taking his warmth away.

I’ll be back," he promised one last time, before finally giving Jessia a nod.

"Finally." She flicked her hand, and her invisible aura flared, detectable for a split second. Shadows erupted from the ground, slicing through my aura like knives and coiling around the two of them. Luke opened his mouth, half-raising his hand toward me, but before he could utter a sound, the shadows closed in, and he was gone.

The silence was oppressive. Alone again, I collapsed onto my bed, curled up in a ball, and quietly sobbed until the sun rose. And when it did, so too did my tears stop.

I was more than this. Even if it hurt, I had prepared myself for a moment far more painful than this. It was only a month. I could do that much. I had to.

Because if I couldn’t, then how could I ever--no, there was no point finishing that thought. All that mattered was that I wasn’t going to cry anymore. I was going to be just fine.