Chapter 6
“What am I? What is your name?”
“Maga Anger. And it is against our way of life to expose our race among mixed company.”
“Apparently, I am mixed company. Does that mean I have no right to know?”
“You are not mixed company. You are my son and have every right to know. Should have known from the time you became old enough to ask questions about who you were. But the rest of these . . . Are mixed company.”
They were not. They were my family. They could know anything about me. They had the right to know. Ranko raised me after Mom and Dad died. Grandma Stok and Uncle Lal had been in my life my entire life.
“Aren’t to me. They are family.”
“Not to me. They have no right to know what your other half is. Once you learn your other half’s laws, you will understand just as you do the Incubus’s way of life.”
Great. My life was going to be split between two worlds. One could be combined with the other, and the other had to be in the dark.
“And your Journey Announcement has deemed your summons to the Underworld.”
“I decline.”
“You can not. And you know this.” I did. And I knew that both my worlds would be split from each other. Hell, I did not have two worlds. I had only one left. My Incubus life was over with. All I had left was the Underworld, as much as I hated it.
“He can.” Ranko took hold of my hand, lifting it. “You can choose anything you wish.”
“You know he can’t.” Grandma Stok sighed. “Once the Decision Mirror is logged . . .”
The rest didn’t have to be said. Law stated what would happen to me. Anyone who failed to be classified into one of the three Incubus statuses was dismissed from the world. Washed aside into the Graveyard Section of our world. Called that for good reason. It was where most went to die because they were never allowed to mingle among another Incubus or Succubus as long as they lived.
“It would be better for him to go to the Underworld and live his life there.”
“Grandma Sto!” Ranko’s shout made me cringe in and Uncle Lal jumped in between them. “Sorry, but how can you say that. He is your grandson.”
Her comment hurt. A lot, but it was pure truth. As much as I hated to admit it.
“He is, but I do not wish him to live in the Graveyard. Do you?”
“No, but . . .”
If I went to the Underworld what would my life be like? What was the rules there? Would there be a way for me to see my family? Would I still be giving up seeing my family to save my life?
“Will I be able to see my family if I go with you?” I forced my legs to straighten and hold me upright. Took all my strength.
Silence hung in the air until I thought he’d left me there to fend for myself, filling me with a well of grief and dread of being sent to the Graveyard. I’d heard stories of the place. People barely made it five to six years before they died. If they were lucky enough to make it longer, they became monsters and fought any and all that came near them. Neither appealed to me. Just as my legs began to shake, Maga’s cloud head shook.
“I can promise to show you how to visit in this form, but once Ez discovers you are his, I will have no say any longer.”
“Who is Ez?” Uncle Lal gave Ranko a stern look before he stepped out from in front of Grandma Sto.
“That is the son of Satan.” Grandma Sto smiled so widely her single white tooth shone.
Why was she so happy I would be paired with him? Why did she think it was a good thing I was to be a man bride? What made it such a great thing in her mind? Why did my biological father think so? Besides the prophecy that his family believed in? Was it that big of an honor or something? It sure did not feel like it, even if it would be what saved my life. Then again, was it what was saving my life? It appeared that being half whatever I was was what was going to keep me from the Graveyard.
Still, did Grandma Stok have the right to be so happy I would be paired with this Ez guy?
Leave a Reply