*****
Darius and Peyton were still in Central Park, waiting. They didn’t know how far behind Azrael was, or how long it would be before he caught up to them, but Peyton was ready. She knew what path lied before her and she knew it was one she had to take. Her tears had stopped, dried out as she had hugged Darius, but she was ready now. Ready to face Death, in every sense of the term.
Even though she knew what was about to happen, that her soul was soon to be imprisoned inside a supernatural being, she couldn’t help but feel bad for Darius. He had done so much and risked so much more to protect her, to save her time and time again. She didn’t know what Azrael would do to him once he had her soul. There was a strong likelihood that Azrael would simply destroy him. She wanted to ask what happened to a Reaper’s soul if one died, but didn’t want to put that kind of thinking into Darius’ mind. He was worried enough about her. No need to scare him with the possibility of his own doom.
Peyton and Darius stood side by side, looking out into the shadows of Central Park, waiting for Azrael to appear. They stood hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. Darius had left his curved blade in its sheathe. There was no need for it. Not anymore.
Suddenly, the wind began to blow harder and a glowing vortex appeared in front of them. It glowed a bright violet and spun like water going down a drain. Peyton tightened her hold on Darius’ hand and he squeezed back. Then someone walked out through the vortex.
“Eve!” Peyton cried.
Eve had stumbled out through the vortex, holding a bloody wound in her stomach. She had taken two steps, then collapsed in a heap as the vortex closed behind her. Peyton and Darius rushed forward and kneeled beside her, rolling her onto her back.
“Eve, did Azrael do this?” Darius asked.
Eve nodded, her face pinched in pain. “His blade… it’s stronger, too. It… it somehow slows down my healing.”
“Why did you come here?” Peyton asked. “You need to rest.”
“I need… to stop you,” Eve breathed in agony. “What are you doing? Azrael… will kill everyone.”
“It’s the only way,” Peyton said quietly. “Fate told me.”
“But you’re giving Azrael what he wants!”
Peyton looked desperately to Darius, unsure how to explain, then looked back to Eve. “It’s complicated.”
“He can’t have your soul, Peyton,” Eve pleaded. “He can’t.”
“He’s going to get it either way, Eve,” Darius said, his voice thick with emotion. “Fate has foreseen it.”
“She… must be wrong,” Eve said, turning her eyes up to Darius. “Azrael will… destroy everything.”
“But if I offer my soul to him, then you have a chance,” Peyton said. “If I resist, you won’t stop him. If I give in willingly… then you could beat him.”
“No…” Eve whispered, closing her eyes. “No… Fate schemes. She twists truths. She tells you… only what you need to hear. You can’t give up!”
“I’m not giving up,” Peyton replied, beginning to sound angry. “This is the only thing I can think of doing that might help. I’m not an Angel and I’m not a Reaper, I wouldn’t stand a chance in a fight. And I can’t run forever, Eve. Azrael has been behind us the entire way. He’ll catch up soon. He could be here any second.”
As Eve and Peyton argued, Darius thought back to everything Fate had said. Something was nagging at him, but he couldn’t place what it was. Fate had said something that bothered him, but he couldn’t think exactly what she had said. It somehow made him think of Charon. What was it?
“Think about this, Peyton,” Eve said, holding Peyton’s hands in her own. “Even if what you say is true, think about how many people will die in the next few days alone if you do this. It will be a bloodbath. Biblical scale annihilation.”
“It’d be worse if I don’t do this,” Peyton said.
“Wait,” Darius said. “Fate said something before we left. She said… she said it’s choices that are made that determine one’s fate. She told me to remember that.”
“Yeah? So?” Peyton pressed.
“It reminds me of something Charon said not long ago. Charon was helping me work out why I couldn’t see your fate, Peyton. Before we knew about Azrael. He told me about… what was it? Chaos Theory!”
“What, like a butterfly effect kind of thing?” Peyton frowned.
“Exactly. He told me that one occurrence can drastically change occurrences elsewhere. Peyton,” Darius said. “What if someone else’s choices can change the choices you need to make?”
Peyton looked confused. “You lost me.”
“What if I have a choice to make as well?” Darius went on. “What if my choice causes a butterfly effect that affects your life and changes the choices you need to make? What if I can make it so you don’t have to make this choice?”
“But Fate said-”
“You heard Eve,” Darius interrupted. “Fate is a trickster. She wants you to think you have only these two options. But there are more choices. Choices that I can make.”
“Darius, did you think that maybe you’re reading a little too much into it?” Peyton asked. “I know you want to believe you can save me, but…”
“That’s not what this is,” Darius replied. “I can do something. I know it.”
“I don’t know,” Peyton said slowly, sounding dubious.
“Please, you have to try,” Eve said, still lying on the ground with her flaming red hair pooled around her head. “Whatever it takes to stop Azrael from getting your soul.”
“This could work, Peyton,” Darius said. “I’m just asking for the chance to try. If I fail, then the choice is back on you. But, please… let me try.”
The silence stretched on as Peyton thought. She looked down at Eve, bleeding on the ground. Then she looked back up at Darius’ desperate face. She opened her mouth to give her answer.
“Peyton,” a raspy voice said. “Finally.”