Chapter 27: Chapter 27

IRIS

Bael had had enough. Before I could even blink, I felt his hands—one on my forehead, the other on Devas’s head.

A touch, faster than a lightning bolt. And then he was already stepping away.

But in that fleeting moment... the world shattered.

Suddenly, I was in Devas’s memories.

“She’s so ugly,” he said wickedly.

Devas held me up like a sullen boy holding an annoying puppy, his grip tightening on the fabric of my dress. I dangled helplessly, a tiny bundle of gurgling noises and kicking little legs.

“Don’t talk about your sister like that,” Father reprimanded with amusement, without turning away from the window.

But I sensed it—the poison in Devas’s gaze. The nagging doubt.

The bitter jealousy.

“She’s not even a full demon,” he spat scornfully.

Father finally turned. Slowly. Deliberately.

He took me from Devas’s hands, but my little fingers clutched at his sleeve. I laughed. A bright, carefree giggle floated through the room.

“Be nice to her,” Father said gently. “She loves you.”

And then—something cracked.

An invisible wall. Centuries-old ice armor.

Devas’s eyes widened as he looked at me... really looked at me.

“Sister...,” he repeated softly.

At that moment, I understood.

He had never been my father’s friend. He was like a son.

The memories flooded over me.

Devas, sweeping furniture aside with clenched teeth as I attempted my first shaky steps. Devas, who kept watch at my door night after night, tucking me in when I twitched in my sleep.

And Father, who watched us with that special smile, full of silent joy and gratitude.

I felt it all now. The initial rejection. The painful resistance.

The moment when his heart opened to this new, strange affection.

And then, love.

Not the dutiful love of a servant. Not the obsessive devotion of a lover.

The pure, unconditional love of a brother.

He was worried about me. That was why he didn’t want to go to that island.

His gaze dropped from my face to the table without a word.

Bael had shown me what was in his memories. He had shown me what Devas had tried so hard to hide.

It was not shame that I saw in Devas’s face, just doubt of my reaction.

Avery took a deep breath; my thoughts and feelings were clear to him. Everything I had seen, he had seen too.

Everything that I felt now, he felt too.

A brother... Devas had been like a brother ever since I was born.

“Devas... I’ll get my amicus. With you or without you. But with you... we would have better chances... Brother, please,” I said to him.

My words seemed like a blow to him. He looked up to meet my eyes.

Our gazes met, and his serious look melted into one full of emotion when he heard my words.

His mask shattered.

Suddenly, there was none of the mocking arrogance that usually surrounded him. No amused smiles, no sharp jokes, no teasing twinkle in his eyes.

Just honesty.

Only fear.

Just this unbearable, tender worry that shook me to my core.

“Please...” I whispered.

My voice was barely more than a breath, as delicate as the first leaf in spring, fragile as ice in the sun. Yet it was enough.

“I’ve sworn to protect and teach you, daughter of Baldur. If you want to go to Hell Island... then I’ll go with you... Sister,” he replied.

Devas’s voice was heavy as hammered steel, but there was something fragile in the last words, as if he was only now daring to say them.

I took a step forward until our breath mingled and put my hand on his heart.

“No,” I replied.

My smile was gentle, but relentless.

“You will not only accompany us...” I continued.

My fingers curled lightly into his robe, as if I were holding him on this threshold between past and future.

“...you will lead us,” I told him firmly, looking deep into his eyes.

He nodded, a gentle smile on his lips, and so many emotions in his eyes.

“If he leads us we will surely die,” I heard Bael tease.

We all laughed, but deep down, I knew that Devas would die for me.

My eyes fell on Avery, who looked at me, leaning against the wall. He smiled, his expression full of understanding. He knew it. He felt everything.

In the end, we agreed that Devas and Bael should plan the next steps.

They were the only ones amongst us who really knew this strange world. Its hidden dangers, the sinister creatures that wreaked havoc on the island of hell, and all the deadly pitfalls that could await us there.

While we were still groping blindly through this unknown wilderness, they could predict every threat, name every weak point, and prepare us for anything that would knock the breath out of us.

But before we could leave, we had to see the king.

We would explain everything to him, every gruesome detail, every horrible possibility.

For a journey into this hell, we needed experienced warriors by our side, men and women who knew what they were getting into.

And I knew one thing for sure.

Without Devas and Bael, we would be lost before we even took the first step onto this damned ground.

After Devas told his plan, the king was very worried, but didn’t want to forbid us to save my amicus. He was just worried.

King Elior agreed, but on the condition that only volunteers could come. He didn’t want to force anyone to accompany us.

And I couldn’t blame him… because the place where my amicus was being held was obviously terrible.

While Devas and Avery were talking to the king, Bael waited outside the mansion, clearly not wanting to run into Ava.

But unlike him, I really wanted to see Ava.

When I got to her room, she was lying on the bed, staring out the window. Her eyes were red from crying, and her beautiful face was pale.

Noticing me, she turned as I sat on her bed, and I took her in my arms.

It didn’t take words or big talk; the only thing I wanted to show her was that I was here for her. And she hugged me and cried, holding me tighter.

She knew I was there, and that was important to me.

She was not alone in her pain; we were all there for her.

“If you’re ready, you can always talk to me about it,” I said softly, stroking her hair.

Ava just nodded. When Avery came, I knew she would be so much stronger.

He was her brother and knew her better than any of us.

After spending a few hours with her, Avery said we must see my brother.

The warriors he trained were the best in Antaris, and we needed to look for volunteers there.

“Maybe you want to come with us?” Avery asked his sister.

But she just shook her head and softly replied, “Maybe later…I still have a lot to do here.”

This Ava we had to leave in bed wasn’t the same young woman I had met. She was broken and sad. Her eyes didn’t shine anymore, and I missed her happy nature.

But she assured us that everything would be fine and we should go.

So we went to my brother on the Island Bellatorum, where we were already expected.

***

Aidan and Inna greeted us warmly when we arrived. I was happy to see them both again.

Devas and Bael went to the training camp to see the fighters.

While Avery was talking to Aidan about our plan, I took the time to talk to Jade about Ava.

“I don’t get it. What’s the reason for Bael to turn Ava down? Soulmates can’t be without each other, that’s why it’s so painful for Ava. But Bael doesn’t seem affected by it,” I said to Jade.

“Oh, you are wrong, my dear Iris. He is in agony and the sorrow in his heart is painful, but he masks it for all. He is a trickster…but I see more than he can hide,” Jade said, watching Bael.

“Can you figure out why? Perhaps we can help them?” I asked Jade.

As she concentrated on his thoughts, Bael turned to us and stared at Jade.

“You know, you shouldn’t do this. There’s nothing in here that should be any of your business!”

I heard Bael’s voice in my head—and apparently Jade did too, because she looked at me with wide eyes.

“You fucking asshole!” Jade hissed angrily, shooting him a deadly glare.

Bael turned back to watch the training the warriors were having, uninterested in our attempts to help him.

“How did he do that?” I asked Jade.

“Well, he’s a trickster, my dear… But a better question is, why can’t I read your mind anymore?” Jade asked, with a raised eyebrow.

“Well, I learned it from Devas,” I replied proudly.

She just rolled her eyes and laughed.

“So no more embarrassing thoughts?” she asked, amused.

“No more embarrassing thoughts,” I replied, laughing.

We spent a few more hours planning and discussing our rescue mission.

Then Aidan called all the warriors together and explained where we wanted to go and what the mission was.

“I will not force any of you to go. Only those who want to come voluntarily should step forward now,” Aidan said to the warriors.

Noah, Elian, and Alvar were the first to step in front. Behind them were Keijou, Mana, and Inna.

Aidan nodded and stood next to his Inna while Jade stood next to Noah. Five more warriors joined them.

I looked at Devas, who was discussing something with Bael. He looked over at me and nodded, as a sign of his satisfaction with the group that was going to serve with us.

We had to practice together to be prepared.

After the first day of training, we sat together in the evening.

I was taught how to transfer my power to weapons. Devas did it with his shield and Aidan with a sword.

Avery used bows and arrows. Each one had a weapon that was enhanced by their power.

I tried all the weapons but found the sword the easiest to use.

We all sat around the campfire; it kept us warm and the sound of the ocean was soothing as we all rested.

Everyone was talking and laughing as if they couldn’t possibly get hurt or even killed in a few days. And they could…

Every single one of them could die during this mission.