I jumped up, running to the door, and tugged on the handle but nothing happened. Like a horror movie I turned around, looking around the room. I remembered the bed sheets, the armoire, the wall sized window on one wall. I had spent almost an entire year here; my heart pounded so hard I could hardly breathe. Oh God! My heartrate sped up, my breathing growing shallow. I looked wildly around the room for something to hyperventilate into finally making a pocket out of the bed sheets.

This isn’t happening.

Why would she put me here of all places?

To torment me, of course.

I grew lightheaded. I closed my eyes, taking slow deep breaths. Calm down. Didn’t I come here to reinforce the deal I made with the Prince; I mean Prince. What did I expect would happen?

Once I got my breath back, I started to pace. What would Kitty do to me? And Prince was gone, why did that ring with regret? I shook my head, hoping Kitty didn’t forget that humans needed to eat and drink to survive.

Days passed. My only company would be whoever brought me meals. A couple of times it was a god, staring at me like a freak in a freak show. But gods don’t find a lot fascinating for long and their Worshippers took over the task. I learned that Kitty’s new Worshipper’s name was Elizabeth, fitting for how pretty she was. I didn’t know what her powers were and wasn’t particularly anxious to find out.

No sign of Ash or Prince. I had no reason to doubt Kitty’s story.

I paced. What next?

I flopped backwards onto the bed, except I didn’t stop falling. The ceiling fell away, the walls became white and I landed on my butt on the white floor.

“That was the brilliant plan?” Eternal sat on a stuffed armchair.

“What the--? How did I--?” I landed in Eternal’s world?

“You are passed out on your bed, and I’m getting a hang of manipulating my puppet,” Eternal seemed smug...yes actually smug. I found myself grateful that he was calm.

“I was supposed to talk to Prince,” I got up rubbing my lower back. Why is everything so damn painful.

“Because you thought he could protect you from me? Or that he would release me?”

Angry and frustrated I snapped, “Look, I don’t know how to get you back, no one wants you back, I certainly don’t have the power to persuade them. I don’t know what else you want me to do.”

“You don’t know? Threat of death doesn’t inspire you?”

I wanted to scream, “I don’t know, maybe death will be easier. At least I won’t have to deal with any of you.”

A look passed over his face. Was he sad for me? “That place is worse, trust me.”

“Huh?”

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He stood and started pacing, “I took your advice. I tried to remember.”

“Oh?” That took me aback.

“It’s mostly bits and pieces. This Other Side or afterlife it may be where everything started, the universe, us, etc.”

“Is that where Katana is? How do we get to her?”

“This place, my world, exists outside of your reality or that place. It exists outside mortality altogether so ’we’ can’t go there,” he shrugged, “If Ethereal had her full powers she may be able to find Katana,” he shrugged again, “as it stands--”

“I’m stuck with a bunch of stubborn, unchanging, immortal gods.”

Eternal's lips stretched into a smile, “Yes.”

“So I guess we’re each other’s only company,” as I said that I paused, “Um, I didn’t mean that.”

“Maybe,” he said and I woke with a start on the bed.

The next day Blade showed up. At least he wasn’t likely to try to kill me with Kitty being so against it. After our last conversation I wouldn’t be surprised if Eternal just let me go to that afterlife.

He brought me food and sat on the edge of the bed. “Tell me the truth.” His tone as emotionless as ever.

So I did.

He simply nodded and walked out.

I didn’t hear the result of that conversation for three days. Then Ash broke into the room and crushed me in a bear hug. He still looked like a beefed up version of Sam and not barely contained magma.

At this point I was starting to believe that I would be stuck in this room for another year. Ash might as well have been an angel opening up a doorway to heaven.

I hugged him back laughing.

“Are you okay?” he pulled away, “They didn’t’ hurt you, did they?”

I began to shake my head when I saw Prince behind him. The closest thing to fury on his face.

“It’s not for you,” Ash whispered as if sensing that my heart stopped beating. Then he cocked his head, “Well some of it is probably for you. Did you really want to free the Death god?”

Prince just looked at me, turned around and walked away.

I felt oxygen enter my lungs, “Death god? That’s what Prince told you?”

“Not exactly, I heard it around. The gods are keeping their lips sealed.”

“Big surprise,” I sat back on the bed, “Now what?”

“Now? You can go, under the Prince’s protection.”

“Great.”

“Isn’t that why you came here?” Ash frowned.

“I never asked you how you look like that,” I waved over his non-charcoal appearance.

He shrugged looking uncomfortable, “It’s an illusion or something, just really solid.”

“I wanted Prince to bring Eternal back,” I answered his previous question, “Being around other gods is not exactly protection from him.”

Ash gave me a long stare, “Has he--has he hurt you?”

I thought about everything I’ve been through and laughed, “No, not exactly. Not your definition of hurt.”

His face blazed red, “No, I know I have no right to ask.”

“No,” crap, two steps forward, three steps back, “That’s not what I meant.”

Fortunately Prince came back just then. He looked at me. And I was walking towards him. What the--?

Only after I stepped out of the room did I realize he hadn’t stepped a foot back in the room where we--spent-- a year. I stopped when I was within his reach. He raised his hand, his eyes making contact with mine. A shiver passed over me. God what was wrong with me, why did I want to bury my head in his chest? His hand came within inches of my hair but he didn’t touch me.

His hand dropped back to his side.

“Come, you do not need to remain here.”

“She was here of her own choice,” Kitty stood in front of us.

“Locked in that room?” Prince’s back grew stiff in front of me. Where was the fear that used to rattle me when I thought of him? Was three years really enough to make all the bad fade away into a dream? If I could forgive Sam, could I forgive Prince?

Okay, I am totally missing this conversation. I refocused on the two gods in front of me. Time later to sort through my feelings, I hoped.

“She wants to free Eternal,” Kitty pointed out.

There was a silence, “She is human, how will she accomplish that?”

Kitty shrugged, “By Eternal torturing her until you cave and release him.”

I could feel all the blood drain from my head. I hadn’t thought of that. Eternal probably hadn’t thought of that until Kitty just gave him the idea. There was no way he wasn’t paying attention to this conversation.

“All he had to do was wait for her to find you since you are no longer connected as Worshipper and god,” why was Kitty still talking?

Again silence. Apparently Prince hadn’t thought of that either.

“Then I guess it is time to release The Eternal.”