The Gate coughed us up one over the other. Luci, me, Belial. In that order.

“Ow, my back.” Belial clutched her hip while trampling on me.

“Get over it, Granny,” I groaned. “You’re Immortal here in Halo.”

Belial actually grinned.

It wasn’t long before Luci wedged her knee on my back and kicked. “Get off me, you!”

Normally, I would get all wound up about that. But this time, I got up snickering. “Whatever you say, Princess.”

As Luci tried to shoot me destructo-beams with her eyes, I assimilated the surroundings. Clearly, we were somewhere deep in Roselle’s Labyrinth. What was left of it, really.

Behind us, the mouth of the Gate Sathariel created warped as if it was having an internal debate whether to close or not. The crimson energy that held it open crackled.

“How much time do we have?” I asked no one in particular.

“A few hours, maybe less than two days.” Belial’s droopy eyes looked sober for the first time.

Luci paused for a thought. “Last time I opened the Gate for you and Vincent, I used so much life-force it only lasted a few minutes.”

“Spent the next week in my ward,” Belial pointed out. “Unconscious.”

Luci gave Belial a shut-up look. I never really pegged her for the self-sacrificing kind. But maybe for Vincent, it was possible.

“But Vincent and I were gone at least a few hours.”

“Time and space difference,” Luci answered curtly.

Every realm has its own concept of time and space. The first time we went to Halo, we stayed a few days for the Grand Ball. And yet, when I returned home, it was as if I hadn’t been gone at all.

As I gazed back at the Gate, Belial said, “Leave it. No one can come in uninvited anyway.”

What once was a lush, garish paradise was now a black scorched wasteland. The willows’ gnarled and twisted branches loomed over us, immobile monsters waiting for right moment to snag.

Every now and then, I would spot large craters. Probably from explosions. Elemental attacks. It was hard to tell.

I parted the curtain of burnt tendrils and discovered the stream. With the effervescent slosh of water against the crystalline rocks, it seemed like the only survivor from the wildfires. Last time we were in Halo, Vincent and I camped around these parts. I could even spot the bull-shaped rock where we fell asleep.

Luci touched the water. “What happened here?”

“A lot,” I answered bleakly. “We follow the stream. It leads downhill to the borders.”

“Our top priority is to make sure that Vincent is safe,” she objected, glaring at me. “I say we search for him first.”

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on the forest.

The stream seemed inviting. A burnt smell replaced the sweet scent of roses that usually filled the air. Mist crept slowly towards us. As far as I could tell, there was no one besides us within a half-mile radius. Except for the Ethereals hiding beneath the trees across the stream.

It surprised me how keen my senses had become. Before, I wouldn’t have been aware of half the things I detected now. Was this Alessandra’s true power?

Anyhow, I knew I wouldn’t be able to completely use it to my advantage without the risk of her possessing my body.

Focusing harder, I tried to search for Vincent through the Transference Link. It was like being deep underwater. So deep, I kept swimming up until I ran out of air and still, I couldn’t reach the surface. I knew he was there, but I couldn’t get through to him.

I hunkered down to tighten the laces of my sandals. “Do you know where we are, Princess?”

With a half-smile, Belial did the same. She removed the ties that connect the groin-high slits on the sides of her taupe robes, revealing long brown limbs.

“Do not ridicule me, familiar!” Luci yelled, the green of her eyes gradually covering the whites.

Before she could get all fired up, I tilted my head towards the Ethereals.

“I totally wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I whispered to her ear. “They’re extremely… sensitive to life-energy. It’s not so long ago since I saw someone who looks a lot like you get ripped to pieces by those things. If you don’t mind, we should really go before that mist from the top of the hill get to us and turn us into delusional psychonauts. Of course, you probably already know that.”

Slowly, I backed away from her.

Luci’s eyes widened. “W-what is happening to you?”

I looked down on myself. Without the link, my life-force leaked out of my skin like dark wisps of smoke.

“Signs of turning, I guess. Ugh. I suggest we go fast.”

I tucked my satchel at the back of my waist and started draughting. The first few bursts were shaky. But it only took seconds for my muscles to remember how it’s done. If it was Alessandra or me doing it, I couldn’t care less.

The faster I get to Vincent and re-establish the Link, the better. For now, I would just have to make sure Alessandra didn’t take control.

The air brushed against my face as I meandered between the trees and skipped on rocks. I felt light. Free. If it weren’t for a couple dozens of Ethereals on our tail.

It was the loudest hearty laugh I heard from Belial. Her flowing sleeves and skirt stretched behind her like brown butterfly wings.

“Slowpoke’s gunna be eaten by the blue wraiths!” she shouted.

Luci’s feet barely touched the ground. She draughted in a light gliding motion. She appeared but a leaf getting blown by the wind.

The Ethereals giggled and sung in their shrill gurgling voices.

If I could unsee Apple’s death, I would even think they were… excited. Some of them flew over our heads where it was easy to just grab and snag. The usual. But they didn’t.

A couple snaked between me and Belial. As they brushed past us, I felt a chill creep up my spine and fill my whole body. Much like the first time I conjured my scythe.

My head felt light. Lots of colors filled my sight.

A giddy laugh escaped my mouth. “This is fun.”

Luci hit me by the shoulder and we both hit the ground rolling.

Mindlessly, I propped myself on my elbows and sat. I saw Luci getting up. When our eyes met, we both laughed. I had no idea why.

An Ethereal dove to us.

The normal reaction would probably be to run. Instead, I sat there admiring how the creature’s translucent blue hair swell and roll upward as if we were under water, how its abnormally large blue eyes sparkled.

Its flimsy hand touched my face, playfully twirling the dark life-force leaking out of my skin with its fingers. A smile broke on its face, revealing a set of sharp teeth.

A question drew my brows together. Why wasn’t it attacking?

Right behind it, I saw three Ethereals gathering around Luci. She was cackling like crazy now, considering that one had grabbed her by the neck while the others took her by the arms. They lifted her up. The cackling became a hysterical fit of gagging sounds.

Luci’s eyes glazed over.

That was when it struck me. It’s going to happen again!

Still with a few chuckles pushing their way up my throat, I struggled to get up. I blinked rapidly and shook my head. Through the hazy euphoric thoughts that overcrowded my head, I managed to will my arm towards my mouth. I bit as hard as I could, until there was pain.

The taste of rust was more than enough to wake me up.

I spat and jumped after Luci. I caught her foot and pulled.

“Let go!” I screamed, flailing my legs to make the flight as difficult for them as possible.

The Ethereals stopped giggling and tilted their heads at me as if in confusion. The rest of the swarm approached us, hovering closely. Excluding a couple of jabs to my stomach, they didn’t attack. Instead, they gurgled at each other, then to me.

My forehead started to crumple.

“Let go,” I repeated, my voice barely above a murmur.

And they did.

My back hit the ground first. Coughing, I pushed Luci off me, blinking the dark patches in my eyes. I practically threw myself to my feet, the sudden rush of panic allowing me to focus on the enemies. Just as I readied for my Cataclyst, the Ethereals shied away. Like a reflex.

Looked like they had seen Cataclyst-summons way too much these days.

There was no giggling now. Only silence. And fear.

One advanced. It burbled something. A sad, remorseful song permeating my bones. Their calf eyes spoke to me in some unexplainable way.

For some reason, I wasn’t afraid. Circumspect, yes. But not afraid. If at all, they were far more terrified of me than we were of them.

“Just… go,” I yelled, my voice trembling. “Go! Shoo!!!”

Hesitance flashed on their faces. Confusion. Then guilt.

As I exhaled, they flitted away one by one. Though, I could still feel them watching us.

It was weird discovering that tainted souls might have something remotely close to feelings. Great. Something to makes the situation all the more complicated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know I left you hanging with the last installment, so here it is! Hope you guys enjoy! Update Schedule is still every Sunday. I'll be postponing updates for my other works to concentrate on this since we only have a few chapters left. And if I can, maybe update during the week days depending on the work my editor's giving me. Hopefully, the first book will be published in the Philippines by March under Cloak Fiction. It will be available in Buqo for everyone living in other countries. So please keep posted. And watch out for the release. I am hoping for your support, people! Thanks in advance!