Emry grabbed Ezekiel’s waist and pulled on him as hard as she could. The purple flames burned brighter. Ezekiel’s tail dropped.

“I heard it call to me, so I followed its instructions,” Ezekiel muttered.

“You’re a fool!” Emry yelled right into his ear.

I know, he thought. He grabbed his right wrist and pulled with all his might. It meant nothing. How could he succumb to this temptation after all these years? Why did he let his paranoia get the best of him? These emotions were deadly in this forest. He failed, and he would suffer for that.

The tree split in half. Ezekiel and Emry flew backwards. He groaned in pain. His vision blurred but someone or something approached him. Its presence was warm and cold at the same time. It was odd, but he didn’t care. He rolled off of Emry and sat up. He pulled her into him.

“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have done that. I should have waited until morning,” he whispered into her.

Emry groaned. “You’re such a fool. Maybe that’s why I love you.” She wrapped her arms around him.

Ezekiel blinked. Those three words from her were not what he was expecting to hear today, especially after what he did.

“Are you two lovers?” A feminine, yet otherworldly voice asked. It came from the presence that approached the two of them after the tree split in two.

“Yes,” Ezekiel answered before Emry could deny it. This was his turn to use her feelings to his advantage. He looked down at her. A smirk lined her face. His stomach churned when he saw that smirk. Why did she smirk like that? Did she know he was going to answer that way? She did always seem to know what he was going to do. When he touched the tree, she didn’t even seem all that surprised. She did call him a fool.

“Perfect!” the thing said.

The world flashed white around Ezekiel and Emry. He shielded his and Emry’s eyes with his cloak. When the bright light ceased, Ezekiel slowly lowered his cloak, revealing the new place around them. It was like the library, but different. The books floated around, and the marble was pristine. Yet there were none of the statues that the library had.

The being sat on a chair that materialised out of thin air. A cloak soon wrapped around its shoulders, and it took on a more physical form. It had a blue tail like Ezekiel, but it had the same features as Emry. It crossed its legs.

“Why did you wake me from my slumber before it was time?” it asked.

Ezekiel blinked. What did it mean by slumber and its time? It didn’t even have a physical form before now. Though it did use magic, something that was long gone. What was it?

“You’re The Last God, right?” Emry asked. She approached the being with confidence. It didn’t even scare her when a purple flame lit ablaze in its hand.

“I suppose that is one of my titles, but you didn’t answer my question. I’ll give you one more chance.” Its tail flicked back and forth.

“The tree called to me. It told me to touch it,” Ezekiel said as he rose to his feet.

“Is that so?” It arched a brow. A smile made its way across its face. “Very well.” The flame in its hand disappeared. “You came here looking for the one thing I can offer you, right?”

“What is it that you offer?” Emry asked. She took another step forward. Her hand rested on the dagger on her hip.

Ezekiel moved to right beside her. “What is it that we have to do in exchange to get whatever you offer?”

It chuckled. It was an ethereal, yet devilish sound. The sound it made wasn’t right. There was no way what it offered would be good for Emry or him. “I offer immortality. In exchange, I want the life of the one you love most. I’ll give you two days to make your decision.” In a flash, Ezekiel and Emry were back in front of the tree that marked the centre of the forest.

Ezekiel walked towards the tree. Immortality, he thought. For the life of the one I love most. He was so close, yet so far. Everything he wanted hung right in front of him, like a bone dangling in front of a dog. He had to have it, but the cost. It meant he had to deal with Emry. A simple choice really. Kill her and get a life where he’ll never die.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“So, what are you going to do?” Emry asked. She looked off into the distance, even though there was nothing to stare at.

“I don’t know,” Ezekiel lied. He sat down.

“Do you really love me more than your greatest wish, though?” She seated herself in front of Ezekiel. Her hand went to her side and pulled the dagger out of its sheath. Emry held it out in front of Ezekiel. “Take it. I’ll know what choice you make when you decide to use it or not.”

===

Ezekiel paced around the tree for the next day. Emry handed him food, strange considering she could wind up dead the next day. Why was she so friendly with him, knowing that he could kill her? A sigh escaped his lips. He ate the rabbit each and every time he was handed a piece. Each time it tasted better than he expected. His stomach churned as he realised this might be the last time he ever has such a meal from her. He twirled the dagger in his hand. One simple decision to make: Choose Emry over immortality or choose immortality over her.

Ezekiel sat on the ground for the first time in awhile. He looked at Emry. She seemed happy almost. She did not look like someone who’s life was in danger. Seeing her like this made Ezekiel feel pity towards her. He knew what he was going to choose. When The Last God approached him tomorrow, he would offer it Emry’s body. He would get everything he wanted. His goal would be complete, and he could take in every ounce of information.

Emry stood and walked over to him. “Are you hungry?”

His brows furrowed. How could she still care about him when she gave him the means to end her life?

“No, I’m not.” Ezekiel spat the words out.

“Very well.” Emry smiled. “You should get some sleep. The Last God expects an answer for tomorrow. It won’t do you any good if you’re not well rested and can’t think straight.” She sat beside him and rested her head on his shoulder. Her eyes shut tightly. “Is it okay if I rest here like this for tonight?”

Ezekiel wrapped his arm around her waist. “Why do you trust me so much?”

“You’re predictable,” she said with a small laugh. “You’re also honest with what you want. You gave me no reason not to trust you.” She nestled in closer to him.

“Even with the threat of death looming over your head?”

“Even with that.” She looked up to him. She looked perfect. Her curls fell around her face in harmony. Ezekiel moved his face close to hers. “Are you looking to-”

He placed his lips on hers, cutting her off before she could finish that sentence. It was soft and gentle at first, but the longer it went on the more heated it got. It was his last time kissing her. He grabbed the blade on his hip, placing it between them. It pierced through her clothing and then her flesh.

Emry gasped and pulled away from him. “I see you made your choice,” she said with a smile. She didn’t pull the dagger out from her side; she just stared at it.

“You realise what I’ve done, right?” Ezekiel asked.

“Yes. Why do you ask? Not feeling guilty about it, are you?” She rested her head back on his shoulder. “Don’t. You did it to get what you wanted.”

Ezekiel nodded. That’s right. He made the choice of getting what he has wanted all his life over her. There was no reason to be guilty. She was just a means to an end. There was nothing special about her other than being someone he loved.

“I don’t feel guilty, only pity towards you,” he responded.

“Good, that’s more like you,” she said. She raised her hand and brushed his bangs out of his eyes. “I knew you would choose this by the way.”

Ezekiel’s heart dropped. Why did she stay by his side if she knew he was going to kill her? Could she be any more foolish?

“You’re the real fool then.” Ezekiel looked beyond the shield that protected the split tree. “You’re such a fool.”

Emry chuckled again. “Not as much as you.” Her skin was cold to the touch as it slowly lost the warmth it once had. Her breathing shallowed out as well. She didn’t seem like a dying person though. She didn’t fear the pain that came from the dagger lodged in her. She just wanted to relax in Ezekiel’s arms, even after what he did. It wasn’t right. Why was she like this? Not like he would ever get the answer to that question. He killed her for his goal. She would die in his arms for his goal. There was nothing he could do about that, other than let her rest in his arms until she passed. It was the least he could do, and the right thing to do.

Ezekiel watched as her life faded from her eyes. Her last breath formed a little cloud in the air. He didn’t feel shame for what he did at all. He pitied the human for sticking close to his side, knowing he would kill her. He rose to his feet. Gently, he dislodged the blade from her side and placed it on his hip in the sheath she gave him.

He bent over and lifted the human in his arms. Her body was limp and frozen. He held her close as he approached the tree. In an instant, he was in front of The Last God.

“I see you made your choice, now reap the reward,” it said.

A power coursed through Ezekiel. It was strong, powerful, and destructive. He could feel himself change on the inside, but there were no physical changes. Everything he had ever wanted in his life was in the palm of his hands.

He was immortal.