Chapter 728

Tony...floats.

He blinks in and out of consciousness, seeing flashes of the world beneath, between, and around him. Sometimes he's awake for a few moments or more, and then he starts to panic - because where...where is he?

Where is he in space, in time but also...where is he? His body? His...his mind?

His wolf? Tony panics, searching for him -

But something like a soft hand comes to stroke over his brow, and he relaxes, and his eyes close and he's gone again.

Floating still - almost aimless, but always drawn by some current towards some...place.

"Oh no," says a voice, cheerful as a spring morning, soft and lovely as a running stream. "I'm not done with you yet."

The yank is physical and Tony gasps as something pulls him by the back of the neck, almost as if he is a pup being pulled up by his scruff.

He spins and then, somehow, is placed on his feet...

Even though there is no ground.

Tony takes a moment to steady himself, his arms spread wide at his side, finding his balance. Next to him, his wolf taps anxiously from toe to toe, looking up at him, whining with fear. Tony gasps and laughs to see him there, incredibly grateful that he's back.

But still where...

And who...

What just happened? He tries, so hard, to remember anything - who he is, his own damn name -

"There, that's better," says the dulcet voice.

Tony snaps his head up, his mouth falling open when he sees...her.

That magnificent woman he saw before. The Goddess. She smiles as she studies him, her arms crossed.

"You're all right, boy," she says, laughing a little. "I pulled you out of that river of souls. You're steady."

"Out of...what?"

She gestures down and Tony turns his head to look off of some stark cliff that wasn't there a moment ago and sees - indeed - a strange gossamer current of air, all brown and grey and beige, and floating in it...forms. People. All asleep, or half awake, like he was a moment ago.

"Where are they going?" he whispers.

"To the Deadlands," she replies, and Tony looks back up at her, his stomach sinking. "In the Underworld."

"Ah, shit," he mutters, slipping his hands into his pockets.

The Goddess's smile grows and she laughs a little.

"So I'm dead?" he asks, his mouth twisting in disappointment.

"I'm sorry, my boy," she says, turning her head and looking at him like she means it. "But yes, you died."

Tony sighs, hanging his head for a moment, and as he does he sees that he's just like those other souls in the river below - bodyless, transparent, half-formed.

Nothing more than a ghost. Sadness sinks in him that it's over so soon. There's just...a great deal he never got to do.

Did he ever even have a mate? God, if he did...what would she have been like?

"Fortunately or unfortunately, Anton," the Goddess says, drawing his eyes back to her, "there will be no waiting in the Deadlands for reincarnation for you. No, I'm not done with you yet"

He straightens his shoulders, staring at her, wary. "Pardon?"

She grins. "I am very grateful, boy," she says, "for what you did for my granddaughter, saving her like that It was very valiant. But I'm afraid my other granddaughter has gotten herself into quite a bit of trouble."

"Who?" he asks, staring at her hard, trying to remember.

The Goddess clicks her tongue and steps forward, pressing her fingertips briefly to his forehead. "There," she murmurs. "That should be better."

Tony gasps as his whole life comes flooding back to him, all the way up to the most recent memories. Ariel - shoving her behind him - that punk kid coming at him with a knife -

Tony groans, his head hanging for a moment as he realizes what happened.

"Did Ariel live?" he asks, his teeth gritted.

"She did," the Goddess says, calm and serious. "You saved her, Anton. But now we have to concentrate on my little firecracker."noveldrama

“Juniper?” Tony asks, his eyes going wide as he leans forward to stare at the Goddess in disbelief.

She nods.

Tony stands sharply, suddenly

suspicious. "Wait, so Ariel just got attacked by her schoolmate and is facing the entire Atalaxian army with no one to cool her down if her fire rages out of her control...and you want me to go help... Juniper?"

The Goddess grins, pleased and entertained, and eagerly nods again.