“The irony is that death itself is turning out to be punishment beyond what I can give—they are most aggrieved not to be able to fornicate,” Death responded with a snicker.
“I fear Eternity did not nudge them personally. She sought the help of Desire.”
“No wonder they think with their loins. However, she only increased their passion. The rest of the Fae had no such excuse, and many followed in the example of the Protectors.”
“I would suggest a compromise. Instead of reaping the souls, we transform them into a new race. Although they have done remarkable things with their magic, their punishment for lawlessness is to be stripped of it. They defied the wishes of Fate, so we will free them of physical desire outside of their mate.”
Death smiled. “I did not expect you to have such a devious mind.”
“It is not devious. It is justice. We will place them with a mixture of sorcerers and shifters.”
“Where is this?”
“I forgot you were not involved. We are playing with a naturally formed planet and adding things as we think of them. It is the perfect place for the former Fae. Without magic, they cannot create too much chaos. We will strip their memories. Shall we change their appearance?”
Tapping her foot, Death shook off the hurt from not being asked to join her sisters in their latest project. It was imperative for her to stay focused. They still had to hunt down Eternity to get Roriethiel’s and Drekkoril’s souls, or they would be left alone without balance leading to destruction. “Remove the beautiful paint from their skin. When they are bonded with their mate, they will receive the tiniest amount of scrollwork on one cheek.”
“Fate may add things at their bonding.”
“It is truly none of my concern.”
“Come with me,” Justice said. They strode through the castle and up to the grand creation rooms.
“She has chosen a new Dark Fae leader,” Death commented. Discovering it was Daravius caused her smile to form. “He would have been the best of them.”
“What is that he is holding?” Justice asked, waving a hand over the table whose top morphed into an image of the dueling worlds which were steadily crumbling at the edges.
“It is Zarasha. She is bound to him and his fairy. A tale for another day.”
“He holds her and his fairy close.”
“He is a good bemollo. Likely the best. I hate to see his memory end.”
“Are you ready to create elves?”
“Elves?”
“Elves. That is what I am calling them. Elf if it is only one,” Justice revealed. Fairies and bemollos alike were soon being stripped of sorcery, their ears elongated, and the marks on their skin disappeared. The last few inches of their long hair and skin changed to a variety of tones. Death’s eyes narrowed at all the pale blondes and redheads. Pushing forth her magic, Death assisted Justice in creating elves—only, hers had hair black as night with a sprinkling of brunettes.
“Summon Eternity,” Death demanded. It was imperative that she get Roriethiel’s and Drekkoril’s souls from her so they could be converted. Daravius was losing his chance to be a leader, and she tried not to watch the horror on his face as people around him fell toward their new home, but the entire situation saddened her. There was no recourse—the damage was done and the spell to end the Fae was cast.
“I wish to save Daravius,” Death announced, almost scaring herself with the shout and the trueness of her words.
Justice shook her head. “If you do it, Drekkoril must live too.”
“If I were able to have his soul, Fate could select a new ruler. Perhaps Life could create a new Fae for that purpose.”
“You would sentence them to a life of loneliness. What of their mates?”
The sound of a gong reverberated through Death’s mind, and she didn’t get the chance to swear as she was yanked onto the realm of theTier’llomen.
“Death. Justice. Take your seats,” Honor demanded. Around the room were ten enormous chairs and not much else. It wasn’t Death’s first experience being summoned to the Tier’llomen, but she always hated it. The creation was one of her mother’s and was used to end disputes, leaving her no choice when the bell was rung but to accept her destiny.
Death stalked to one of the two empty seats, and Justice did the same. “Get on with it,” she ordered.
“Eternity has called us to the Tier’llomen to handle the crisis facing the fairy folk,” Courage stated.
“Give me the souls of Drekkoril and Roriethiel. Justice and I have already changed the Fae to elves,” Death drawled.
