Page 306 of Venom Sweeter than Honey
Steeling myself, I hesitate for a moment. It is no small favor.
“Seeing as how my realm is stillin recovery, and both Violette and Levi eventually enter your after realm, I want you to return their souls to me.”
Akash, please, let there be a way...
Mors’ brow hardens. “Azrael... As much as I would love to be able to grant you such a wish, you of all people, know why I cannot. Not only would they have no corporeal form to return to, but you would be forsaking them the very respite you seek... And how would they reincarnate?”
Guilt churns in my gut. It would be impossibly selfish.
“Just as you gave Lazarus—the other me,” I clarify, “A body, you could grant them the same.”
Persephone frowns. “They are not meant to spend eternity in the same incarnation, Azrael. No one is..." Her words drift but her lips, briefly, remain parted as if holding back the words, except us.
The unbearable weight of hopelessness crushes my chest.
“And if I chose to join them in Avernus?”
Mors’ brows lift. “As you might imagine, my daughter might have some qualms about that..."
Fuck.
Yet again, my past comes back to haunt me.
Mors’ expression tightens. “You should know that when your memories return, you’ll be forced to relive all the grief and heartache you’re trying to escape..." He pauses, gaze burning into me though his voice softens with empathy. “There is no escape, Azrael.”
Tears well in my eyes once more as I stare up at the ceiling from my sunken position on the couch. “How long will I have?”
Mors and Persephone remain silent. My head lolls to the side to meet their gazes, and their twin scowls give me a fresh burst of hope. “Well?”
Mors sighs before finally admitting, “A hundred years or so before things start trickling in..."
“Not all of your memories have returned?”
His expression reveals nothing. “Only the most recent centuries.”
The most recent centuries? That’s a microcosmic speck in the eternity I’ve lived.
“That’s good enough for me.”
When neither of them reply, my impatience flares. “Don’t make me show up at your temple in Atratus and start killing yourpharalakito force my way into your domain’s portalway.Your daughter would hardly be pleased. If she could kill me, she’d already have done it, but much to our mutual dismay, her efforts were an exercise in futility.”
Mors heaves a long suffering sigh, shaking his head. “Gods, you really are..."
His words come to a halt, seemingly impeded by the compassion he’s known for.
So I finish the sentiment for him. “The worst?”
Mors frowns. “I was going to saystubborn.”
Oh.
Persephone looks nothing short of despairing. “Is there truly nothing that will change your mind?”
AZRAEL
Remorse drips from every word Mors speaks. “You don’t even need to drink it. You could just dip your finger in.” Persephone stands beside him, tears openly streaming down her face. “Well, as you know, I don’t like to do things in half measures, and a sip is meant for a mortal.” Mors frowns as though he’d hoped I wouldn’t realize this.
Mug in trembling hands, I kneel beside the river, glowing an unearthly shade of blue just as Persephone rushes forward, though Mors grasps her by the arm as if in fear of her tumbling in. “Azrael, wait?—”
