Risen (Alex Verus, #12)

by Benedict Jacka

Anne’s spell failed again. “Come on!” she shouted. “Why won’t it work?” It’s okay, I told her. I knew this was coming. I raised my artificial arm—the only one I could still lift—and stroked her cheek gently. I couldn’t see very well but I could just make out her face. Glad I got to see you one last time. Realisation flashed in Anne’s eyes, followed by fear. “No!” She stared down at me with a look of dawning helplessness. “You can’t do this! Not now!” I felt a cold nose poke against my left hand, and smiled slightly. Hermes. I did everything I set out to do, I told her. Now I get to die in the arms of the woman I love. Good way to go. The fateweaver was still holding me to a single future, but I was close enough now to make out the end. It was like riding a train to the end of the line. Beyond was an empty void, though it was white, not black. Had it always been that way? “There’s got to be something.” I couldn’t make out Anne’s face anymore, but I could hear her talking to herself, her voice quick and frantic. “Rebuild from another organ, no. Amputate . . . too late. Oxygen . . .” The shadow realm trembled and I heard the grinding crack of breaking stone, followed by a roar. The floor bucked and shook. You really should get out of here, I told Anne and Hermes. “Be quiet! It’s the fateweaver, I can’t heal you while it’s doing that. Have to make it part of the solution somehow . . .” You can’t save everyone this time. The end of the line was very close. But it’s okay. It doe...