She stepped back, fear taking over as Silas's damning words broke the silence. “My life… for Adan's? You're going to kill me?”

Silas shook his head. “Oh no, nothing like that. I'll bring your adan back, and you will serve me.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Anything I say, you'll do it without hesitation.”

I thrashed against the invisible force, and Maya looked at me, torn. I shook my head, trying to convey what words couldn't. After a minute, she looked back to Silas. “Adan will be back?”

Silas nodded. “Yes, and he'll be better than before. He'll be unkillable. Nothing will take him from you again.”

Dreadful understanding dawned. He was going to raise her father as an undead. I couldn't warn her; the weight on my chest had increased to the point darkness was closing in. Through my rapidly tunneling vision, I watched Maya square her shoulders and nod, sealing her fate.

“I promise, just…please bring my adan back.”

Silas shook his finger. “Ah-ah, that's not how you make an oath.” He took her hand, lifted his sword, and sliced across her palm. She flinched, a small whimper escaping her lips, but she didn't fight. Blood welled up and he instructed, “Now repeat after me: by this pact, my life is yours.”

She looked toward her father's body before slowly speaking. “By this pact, my life is yours.”

The air charged with power as invisible bonds snapped into place, chaining her very soul to the oath. I shuddered, barely clinging to consciousness as Silas smiled and waved a hand.

“Good girl. Now, for my end of the bargain.” Instead of casting a spell, he called over his shoulder, “Dominicus, come here.”

In the chaos, I'd forgotten he was here. Unfortunately, Silas had not.

The bat hybrid unfurled his wings and coasted down from his place on the wall, landing silently. Silas wasted no time.

“Use your special ability on this young lady's father.”

I could only lie still and watch as Dominicus raised a hand over the corpse and channeled power into it. His stare stayed blank and empty as strands of magic wove down, covering the body until, with an almost physical crack, his ability took hold.

The body rose like a doll, its head lolled back as more and more magic coiled around it. Every hair on my neck stood to attention as the power sank into dead skin and…changed it.

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When Dominicus cut off the power, the body dropped, the newly made undead catching itself on one knee. Maya lunged forward, wrapping herself around the corpse with a cry.

“Adan, you're okay!”

She burrowed into the undead's shoulder, joy quickly fading into confusion when

there was no response. Dread built in my chest as she eased back, a frown tugging at her lips.

“Adan?” She poked its shoulder, but it didn't react, staring blankly ahead at Dominicus, waiting for an order.

Silas chortled, the sound raking against my nerves. “He can't answer you, girl.”

She backed away, face twisting with confused despair as she spun on Silas. "You said you'd bring Adan back!”

Silas's hand flashed out, striking Maya and sending her tumbling into the grass. She cradled her cheek, shaking like a leaf in a hurricane, eyes wide with dawning fear.

Silas wiped his hand on his robes, a hint of disgust there and gone in the blink of an eye. “You will mind your tone when you speak to me, peasant. I am the rightful king of Nexus and you will respect me as such.”

Maya scooted back until she pressed against the undead's knee. Then, looking at the unfeeling husk wearing her father's skin, she curled in on herself and cried.

Silas marched forward without pity, another cruel plan already brewing behind his eyes. “Yes, yes. I tricked you. Now, onto other matters. Cease your crying and stand up.”

She shook her head, tightening her grip on her knees. “No, I want my adan!”

Silas's lips curled. “He's out of your reach, brat. No one can bring back a soul once it's left this plane. Now, get. Up.”

His words pulsed with magic, the invisible power thickening the air. Maya jerked upright like a puppet on strings, staring in open mouthed disbelief before it melted into terror. “What did you do to me!?”

Exactly what I'd feared. With the oath she'd given him, he had control over every aspect of her life, including her will.

Silas's smile stretched wider until it looked almost unnatural. “I did nothing. This is all thanks to the oath you took. Remember, your life is mine.”

Maya paled, a sheen of sweat coating her forehead as she struggled against his hold. It didn't budge, and after another futile attempt, she looked at me.

Desperation and pleading melded in her expression, silently begging me to do something. The combination curdled my stomach, guilt further driving home how useless I was.

I'd come to Nexus to help people like Maya, yet the only thing I succeeded in doing was tearing apart the world’s only hope.

Karma’s smile painted behind my eyes, her words coming back like a punch to the stomach.

I'm a great judge of character, and I can already tell that you're going to do good in Nexus.

Yeah, fat lot of good I'd done. I hadn't even found any information about the apocalypse, just a few suspicions with little evidence to back them. I'd failed in my purpose and gotten good, innocent people killed in the process.

Disappointment slithered through me, but before it could sink its claws deeper, Silas snapped his fingers, and the weight on my chest disappeared.

I sucked in a breath and staggered to my feet, ignoring the sickening lurch in my stomach. “You won't get away with this.”

Silas raised an eyebrow. “Won't I? With your power at my side, you'll find I will. Now, to get on with that.” He raised his hand and moved to close the distance.