Cataclysm by Karice Bolton Read Free Book Online Page B

like this never happened. What we just managed to pull off might be one of the most important pieces to this war yet.
    “I can’t believe this worked!” I squealed. “I feel so horrible celebrating this moment with Cyril wandering around completely defeated.”
    Sadness crept into her eyes.
    “How is he?” she asked softly.
    “Not well, to say the least,” I whispered, “We’ve got to tell him soon. The very instant the threat is gone, he’s gotta be told. I feel like one of the most evil beings on the planet. Watching him go through this agony is horrendous. I know what it felt like with Athen gone and to know he doesn’t need to be suffering like this doesn’t help my guilt level at all.”
    “This has to happen, Ana. I would never take this lightly.”
    “I know. I keep telling myself that, but it’s a hard one to swallow. Did you actually witness his interactions with the minions?” I asked.
    “I found some communication, and I overheard him talking to one of them. I don’t think it was Azazel, but it was definitely one of his minions. I was shocked that he’d even be entertaining the idea, like what these minions were saying was credible. I don’t know what mind tricks they were playing on him, but they were working,” Arie said.
    “I don’t exactly understand why, when a white demon is tricked or gives themselves up to the dark side, they can’t be brought back to the white side. When I was taken, you guys started the process and got me back, same with Athen and you. Why can’t we just jump one of the family members who gave themselves up to the dark side and turn them back to our side?” I questioned.
    “When someone in the underworld, essentially gives up their soul or sacrifices themselves to the otherworld, it’s like tying yourself up to the dark side. It’s kind of complicated. Basically, we know better. The rules of the immortals’ world take that into account. The celestial betterment that encompasses everything we try to accomplish is by our choice. If we choose to ignore everything we’ve ever learned to go to the dark side, it’s basically our punishment.”
    “But why if a mortal gets possessed, can we still turn them? I don’t understand why we can turn some back to our side and not others?” I asked.
    “Well, you said it right there. ‘Turn some back’, is the key phrase - back from what? We never had them on our side to begin with. They went from a human to the dark demon’s side. If a mortal becomes possessed, they made their decision in a mortal state, not immortal. Making a decision as a human has fewer consequences than making that same decision in an undying state. Supposedly, even if trickery is involved, we should know what’s at stake.” She finished with a sigh.
    “Thanks. Glad you could remember all that, still.” I teased her.
    “These memsors are pretty incredible, Ana. It actually only took seeing the one on Matilda to trigger things. It sent me to the one I had left at the front desk of this hotel, and that was the one that really helped. I was hoping every day that you would hurry up and get here. How’s my brother doing?” she added, “Does he know?”
    “He does.” I nodded.
    “Is he upset?” she asked tentatively.
    “Actually, no. I thought he was going to be mad at me, too, but nothing. He told me that you were probably right, and he would’ve tried to dissuade us.”
    “So the only piece of the puzzle, now, is ensuring that Cyril remains safe, huh?” Tears began to fill up her eyes. I knew this was one of the worst things imaginable for both Cyril and Arie. Matilda came over and pushed my hand off my lap for pets.
    “On a positive, Athen is already running him all over the state, trying to expose him to the destruction Azazel has caused with these false promises to other families. The first family had two attempts. One worked and the other didn’t.”
    “That was probably one of the best to take him to right off the bat.” Arie