image [https://i.imgur.com/95TRBeB.png]

Caleb couldn’t imagine a better moment. Except perhaps if time itself froze, allowing him to etch every facet of her beauty into memory. The perfection was everywhere. The soft light of the braziers caressed her skin, rolling down the curve of her neck and sliding across the edge of her collarbone. The scent of her twisted around him, rich and enticing, tempting him with visions of secret liaisons in dark corners. The slight taste of magic lingered on his tongue, proof of her complete domination in this place.

Their breaths mingled in the space between them, a delicate dance of life that whispered of shared destinies. Leaning forward, to taste her once more, to feel the press of her soft lips against his, seemed the simplest act, yet it was one fraught with trepidation.

He feared the ignition of that smoldering fire between them, feared it would blaze uncontrollably, consuming them in its fervor. If their lips met in the sanctity of this moment, he doubted his ability to pull back. The world beyond her embrace would fade, leaving nothing but the raw intensity of unchecked desire, a force potent enough to unravel the very fabric of his restraint.

What the hell! A part of him already recognized the signs of a burgeoning love, deep and irrevocable. Why hesitate? Why not surrender to the tempest, to kiss her with a fervor that bore witness to his awakening heart, indifferent to the eyes of the world?

He inched closer, drawn by the gravity of her gaze, a silent siren call that promised ecstasy and oblivion in equal measure.

Their lips hovered in that sacred space, a mere whisper apart, stirring the embers of a promise too potent to ignore. This fleeting contact, this near-touch, was a prelude to a union that threatened to consume his very being, to leave him utterly ensnared in her spell. In her presence, he was drowning, willingly subsumed by the tide of his emotions, teetering on the brink of a devotion so profound it threatened to erase all but her from his existence.

CRACK!

The once solid platform beneath him gave way in an instant. A strangled cry tore from his throat as he plummeted into the void, arms flailing wildly in a futile search for something, anything, to halt his descent.

The fall was brief, yet eternity seemed to stretch within those seconds before the ground rudely greeted him. A harsh thwack expelled the breath from his lungs upon impact.

Lying flat on his back, Caleb gasped for air, each wheeze a battle against the panic flooding his system. Pain, sharp and relentless, thundered through his skull, a maelstrom that frayed the edges of his consciousness and fractured the light into kaleidoscopic shards. In those moments, he became lost to the pain, each pulse a hammer against his senses, twisting his muscles into knots of distress and turning each breath into a perilous venture.

Riotous laughter echoed from somewhere close by while other voices yelled. All he could do was cradle his skull and beg for death.

“Hades’ shades!” Styx shouted. “Shinigami, what the fuck are you doing?”

He still couldn’t see anything. The blurring colors and distorted shapes ensured that.

“I’m doing you a favor,” Shinigami yelled back. “That mortal was going to suck your face! The god of death can’t have that!” The deity laughed harder.

“I swear, if you hurt him, I’ll bind your writhing body to Tartarus’ sulfurous veins for demons to feast slowly over a millennium! You’ll beg the empty abyss for mercy! And I won’t bestow it!”

“Okay, okay, message received heavenly sovereign. Someone has their panties in a twist. Ahhhh!” Shinigami’s startled yelp receded rapidly, escorted by the unmistakable slap of frantic feet fleeing wrath.

Caleb eased up onto his elbows, knowing that if he played pathetic Styx would worry. But losing her calling was already causing enough stress. He couldn’t make it harder for her. He was insignificant compared to the loss of her purpose.

Besides, if the soul bond they shared was true, then she should sense the pain he was in. Yet, she had said nothing. Perhaps that meant that his suffering was all in his mind. A figment of his imagination now that immortals and magic surrounded him.

Yeah! He’d never been to a different realm. This was just his body’s way of telling him he wasn’t used to it. Like climbers who got altitude sickness. He deliberately ignored the fact that altitude sickness could kill. All he had to do was endure it, toughen up, wait it out. Then everything would be fine.

He’d help Styx find a cure and after they’d rejoice and return to Earth. Where he’d have a nice hot bath with a steaming cup of earl gray with a fresh bowl of popcorn. Yeah!

“Are you okay?” Styx asked, helping him up.

Thankfully, his vision solidified, and he could see her. “Yeah, it was just startling. Don’t be concerned about me!”

“Cal, why would you say that? Of course, I’m going to worry. Remember, you’re a mortal in a place of death. Even the most mundane injuries can be life threatening. So I’m going to worry a little.”

“Awwww, does this mean you like me?”

Styx slapped him, thankfully, with much less force than she usually did. “Yep.”

He leaned closer to her as she helped him into a seat. There was so much comfort in a simple touch. If only they could stay wrapped in each other’s arms forever. But then she let go of him.

“Should have seen that one coming,” Past said, nudging Present with her elbow.

“Who said I didn’t?” Present winked.

The Fates huddled together and giggled. Styx shot them a glare and stomped over. Caleb leaned against the table, rubbing his forehead. If this headache didn’t stop, he would eventually have to tell her. But for now, it was going to be his little secret.

His fingers and toes started tingling, like blood was struggling to flow properly. As he wiggled all his extremities, the movement made his sockets creak and groan like he was 90. Caleb sighed. He wanted to help her figure out how to reverse the damage the demons did. Then go home.

image [https://i.imgur.com/yZ8nmXP.png]

Physical pain shouldn’t interfere with that. With a last breath, Caleb pulled over another book. He glanced at the title and grinned. “Creator Magic and those Who Harness It” twinkled on the shimmering cover.

While he’d studied plenty of books about magic, he had precious little opportunity to examine a real magical book. Eagerly, he opened it and flipped the pages. The words tried to distract him from the throbbing in his brain but didn’t quite succeed.

“That is an interesting book,” Anubis said, sliding another stack of books onto the table next to him.

Caleb startled and blinked up at the god. “I’m learning a lot! Did you know that the Creators originally had no punishments? But then one of them went rogue! Someone called Jof Barth.”

“I did. The Creators are very interesting to study. Their unique views on cooperation and group dynamics are illuminating.”

“Have you read all these books?”

Anubis nodded. “Several times. I’ve spent lifetimes between the pages.”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Wow! That’s so cool. Like super-duper awesome. I’m so jealous.”

“You’re connected with an immortal now. Perhaps you will have the opportunity,” Anubis said.

Caleb waved him off. “Mere mortal here, remember? I harbor no delusions of immortality. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s not to seek living forever. That’s bad juju.”

“You are an interesting human. Most would be eager to obtain something that precious.”

“I had to help Everlong Winter. She’s the witch I studied with, clean up many a mess from people trying to be immortal. That was all discouragement I needed.” Caleb shuddered, thinking about the gooey sights. “By the way, I see you’ve developed a very interesting conservation and protection spell for these books.”

Anubis nodded. “You’re astute. Yes, while these tomes are magical, there is still the possibility of damage and degradation.”

“Shinigami,” Caleb huffed.

“Yes, I’ve had to place considerable effort into maintaining the integrity of the texts.”

“It shows. The spell is strong yet graceful.”

“Thank you. I must say that it’s startling to hear such words from a mortal.”

Caleb grinned. “This dude knows his books and his spells. Sort of. Without magic, it’s more difficult for me to really grasp the fundamentals of the weaving, but I can sense the overall picture.”

He finished thumbing through a book and slid it aside. Next, he pulled a dusty gray one from the stack. It was called “Spectral Feline Figures: History’s Greatest Ghostly Cats.” While he didn’t think any information would be in here, he had to check for Styx.

Anubis sat and took a book.

“So, how does the whole weighing feather thing work?” Caleb asked. “From what I’m learning, the mythologies of mortals don’t always reflect the truth.”

“It’s more than a mere metaphor. However, it’s not as literal as placing a heart on one scale and a feather on the other.”

“Fascinating!”

“It’s about the essence of one’s life—the actions, decisions, and intentions that mark a soul. Every action is a brush stroke on the heart. Some lay down heavy marks, while others are light and gentle. When a soul is judged it’s not the physical weight that’s measured, it’s the marks.”

“That’s both beautiful and terrifying!”

Anubis slid another book to the side. “Judgment isn’t about tallying the good against the bad but seeing the overall hue.”

A thought occurred to him, one that might get him yelled at… but he had to ask. “Were you angry when Osiris replaced you as the lord of the Underworld in the Middle Kingdom?”

Anubis looked over at him. “No. My brother is a capable and competent leader. I was happy to follow under his leadership. Besides, that transition allowed me to focus on other things.”

“Wow, you’re such a great dude. Plenty of conflicts have started when one sibling edged the other out.”

“Because most are lacking any intelligence and only care about themselves and their status.”

“So true. So true. Status games are really the worst. I hate it when the other professors get all stupid with their status. It’s exhausting.”

Anubis shot him a look. What kind of look, Caleb couldn’t say, because jackal expressions were totally unknown to him. “You continue to surprise me.”

Caleb shrugged. “Once you’re around me more, then I’ll get boring. It’s only because we’ve only met.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“Did you help Styx with the construction of the archives?” Caleb asked.

“I did. We worked together to design this space. To ensure the archives satisfied the requirements. We still make adjustments when needed.”

Caleb nodded and regretted it as the movement sent bolts of pain down his back. “Makes sense. Sometimes collaboration is the only key to success.”

“Yes, which is why the Creators are so powerful. Cooperation is the only way to achieve true power.”

“Which is why absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Caleb said. “By working with others and sharing the power equally, you can prevent the sort of ego and fear that accompanies true power.”

“Indeed.”

After finding the book on cats more fascinating than he expected, Caleb closed it and picked up another one. This one was “Restoring Severed Summoning” and looked to be very interesting.

“Now for the real question.” Caleb leaned forward. “Is the Voynich Manuscript misdated given the uncracked encrypted nature that was far beyond that of Renaissance ken? Who created it?”

Anubis chucked, a strange expression coming from a jackal. “Idunn, the Norse goddess. That manuscript is her medicinal recipes and spells for elixirs. The manuscript is both misdated and misunderstood.”

Caleb smacked the table. “I knew it! The cryptic language and accompanying herbal images totally made me think medical. There are several entries that resembled spells, but nothing recognizable.”

“You posses excellent natural instincts.”

“Aww, shucks,” Caleb blushed. “You don’t have to say such nice things.”

“I am not trying to flatter you. I am speaking the truth.”

“Still, you made me blush. Don’t get offended,” Caleb said, eying the god. “But you’re way more awesome than I thought you’d be!”

“Likewise.”

“Wait, does this mean we’re besties?” Caleb grinned.

Anubis eyed him. “I accept that.”

Caleb’s smile broadened. “Excellent! I’ve got to thank Styx for introducing me to all her peeps.”

Anubis cocked an eyebrow. “Peeps?”

“It’s a slang word for people.”

“Interesting.”

The thudding pressure in his skull was climbing. It resembled an ice pick being slammed into a frozen wall now. Shards of white-hot pain rippled outward with each impact. The tingles in his fingers and toes were inching upwards, slowly devouring him. Each time it reached a joint, a low-level ache sprouted. A band of pressure rested across his chest, making it harder and harder to breathe properly.

Soon, he knew he’d have to tell Styx. Because this was getting stupid. He shouldn’t be stubborn, but if he left now, Styx might never heal.

He couldn’t live with himself if he caused more misfortune for her. Besides, if things got really bad, then Styx could make a portal out of here. Then he’d be back in the mortal realm and things would be fine.

But why had she not sensed it? Was he just not that important to her? If she was ignoring the obvious signs of pain, then maybe she just didn’t care. It’s not like he added anything to her life. As a mortal without magic, he was as close to pathetic as it came. Newborn babies would be more valuable to her!

A wave of sadness washed over him. It was probably too late to sever the bond, but he hated the idea of dragging Styx down with him. Still, the idea of leaving her made his stomach roll and spine tighten. He could never be happy without her being close to him.

So he slid the summoning book aside and grabbed the next one. The script on the front was a shifting mass of letters. He rubbed his eyes and opened the cover. Things were blurry, the words swimming.

“Are you okay?” Anubis asked.

Caleb sat up and rubbed his neck, hoping to dispel some of the discomfort. “I’m just peachy. Thanks for asking, bestie.”

Anubis grunted and returned to his reading.

Caleb glanced at the text, hoping that it would be readable now. Newsflash, it wasn’t. The pain in his head was spreading down his back, lighting his spine on fire. The blaze spread down his arms and legs, making them tingle and shout.

image [https://i.imgur.com/JN0B9c1.png]

Movement caught his attention, and he glanced up. Shinigami was standing next to him, the god was reaching out. Everything except the mythical figure was blurry, the archives grandeur melted into disjointed fragments beyond comprehension. Only Shinigami remained solid. Long onyx robes pouring silken purpose into limbs that beckoned him close.

There was a siren song being hummed somewhere. A call to find the eternal rest that every human was afraid of. But this cry wasn’t anything to fear. No, it was a call to adventure. The greatest adventure any mortal could take. Death wasn’t something to fear, it was something to be excited about. Because then he would learn exactly what happened to souls when they passed.

So he obeyed. Caleb drifted closer to their welcoming embrace. The god was glowing with the promise of relief and a serene, tranquil respite. All he needed to do was yield these fleshly burdens. Shinigami smiled, a blade-thin expression that held all promises beyond comprehension.

The world vanished except for the glimmering deity before him. Caleb accepted the call, reaching out to be embraced by the god and finally discover the unknown.

“What the fuck!” A voice shouted.

Caleb lurched forward as the magnificent being retreated. No! He needed to answer that mysterious question. To learn what the afterlife looked like.

“I can’t help myself! I can’t! Here is a perfectly good mortal soul that’s dying! I can’t resist. It’s not my fault.”

He scrambled towards the glowing god. It didn’t matter if he had to cross fire and brimstone and decay. Nothing would prevent him from finding that peace. From achieving all that his soul desired. That’s what all the suffering and happiness led to. That’s what life was about, learning what death really was.

He DESERVED answers!

“Why is he like this?” the familiar voice shouted.

There was a thread that connected him to it, a glittering bond that gripped his chest tight. But Caleb knew nothing was stronger than answering the call of death. The voice could wait until he learned for himself. Until he found that peace.

“It’s too late,” someone else said. “The mortal is in peril now.”

The stunning figure retreated now, leaving him cold and shaking in its absence. As he struggled to understand why they denied him these answers, despair wrapped around his soul. Just when he was about to succumb to the sadness, a new light appeared. Its brilliant radiance devoured the room, blazing its judgment across the entire cosmos.

Caleb staggered, mesmerized, towards the truth and the knowledge it offered. This was Genesis reborn, collapsed stars fueled it, weeping funeral pyres fed it, black holes fled from it. The luminance before was nothing compared to this. This is where he’d find the answers that he so desperately sought.

Three distinct shapes beckoned him closer. Nearly blind, he fell repeatedly, the impact not registering as the glimmering light consumed his being. This radiance spun his life, it was his life, and it stretched between three strangers. They held salvation and answers now, and with a single snip, they would free him.

One movement, and he’d learn the truth.

If only he could reach them, bathe in the glory that they presented. All the air left his lungs as one produced a gleaming metal object, and he knew that in just moments his life string would be severed.

It would take just one second to split his life in two. Closer, he edged. Every muscle tensed in anticipation of that beautiful release. When that string broke, it would be glorious.