Page 126 of The Unseen Hour

“I’ve been in touch with the others. We’ll be having a discussion with Charon. He’ll have more important things to worry about than two lost Shades, once this is over.”

The way she said the words made me quite certain that I didn’t want to be on the receiving end of such a discussion. Charon, however, deserved whatever consequences were coming for him.

Her face softened when she turned back toward me.

“I have only one thing left to do before I take my leave, and I hope you will understand why I’ve saved it for the last. I needed you both able to give your full attention to our plan, because many lives depend on it. Celia, I need to share something with you, if you would follow me.”

My heart was heavy in my chest, each beat like a weight against my ribcage. I clutched Orion’s arm, and it calmed slightly.

“Whatever you have found, we should both hear it,” I told her.

Death paused, then brought her arm down.

“Very well. I searched throughout my realm, and I must extend you my deepest condolences. Your father is not in the Ether. He has been with me. It may be of some comfort to know th⁠—”

I collapsed, tugging Orion down with me, still clinging to his arm. A sob tore free from my throat.

“His soul has been looked after. I promise you, Celia, he’s in no pain,” Death assured me.

But what about my pain? What about my family’s?

I clutched at my chest, unable to stop crying. Tears streamed down my face. “He was supposed to be here. He has to be here! Or in Rayus somewhere! There was no … no body. He wouldn’t have just left us!” My voice grew harsher on each word.

Orion knelt behind me, wrapping his arms around me. I leaned into him, my tears staining his sleeves.

Death knelt down, too, running a hand a few inches over my hair. I felt the crackle and static as my hair lifted, but it was strangely comforting.

I wished I had my own lightning. A way to vent my emotions that was visible, and powerful.

“There, there,” Death soothed. “I know humans have difficulties with parting. But I am just another continuation of life. You will see him again, and now you know where he’ll be waiting. And you have my assurance that he is well.”

Death had revealed very little of her realm, or what people’s spirits really went through after death. I was aware by now that Emrys’s preachings of a land of darkness and a land of light were probably wrong.

The words did help, though, if only a little. Death had done so much for us and now was offering us a way home. She would look after Father. At least he hadn’t been in the Ether, alone and lost, unable to reach anyone he loved.

I forced myself to take deeper breaths.

After a few minutes I hiccupped, still crying but no longer with heaving sobs that shook my chest.

“Thank you,” I choked out, “for finding him.”

“There is one other detail,” Death said as Orion helped me to my feet. “I hesitate to mention it, but I swore to bring you all the information I found. I am a goddess of my word.”

I sniffled, nodding along. “Whatever it is, I want to know.”

“Your father is safe now, and in my care. In regard to his manner of death, however … “

I tensed, clutching Orion’s arms lest I collapse again. I didn’t want to know. I wasn’t ready. I opened my mouth to stop Death from speaking.

“He was murdered. His death was intentional, and his killer lives.”

Death reached for me as if she might steady me. Small shocks crackled across my skin, and some of my grief morphed into purpose and rage.

“Tell me who did it!”

I would ensure that they didn’t live past another Unseen Hour. The anger that spiked through me was almost physical, so hot and sizzling that for a moment I felt like I could call down Death’s lightning if I wanted.

Death tilted her head to the side, and for once I was frustrated by the mask and not intrigued. It was so much harder to read the deity’s emotions without seeing her full expression.