‘And if he can use you to cross the realms …’ Steph said, working it all out and grabbing Salvatore’s hand tightly.
I nodded. ‘He will go to the physical space that will draw the angels to him in a corporeal form. And he will have his fight—’
‘With your blood on his sword,’ Griffin finished, a heavy silence following his words. Because it was true.
And I don’t know how to stop him. And everyone in this room knows it.
‘I don’t see why we are even entertaining this idea,’ Drenson snapped. ‘It seems simple enough that Violet is the cause of this mess. If we remove her from the problem, Sammael won’t be able to do any of it.’ I heard a few murmurs of agreement from the senior Grigori listening in.
‘If I thought that was an option, I’d gladly agree,’ I responded. ‘But Sammael has control over Spence’s mind and he won’t relinquish it if I don’t turn up.’
‘So what!’ Drenson retorted. ‘You expect us to risk the world for your friend? He is Grigori. It’s his job to make this sacrifice.’
Carter snorted. ‘Right tosser, he is,’ he mumbled.
‘I’ve never liked him,’ Gray threw in.
My hands fisted. ‘Josephine was right when she evaluated me at my testing, Drenson. I will put my friends and family above all else. I will fight with my last breath for what is right, but I will not ever leave one of them behind if it is in my power to help them.’
‘There is something else you need to consider,’ Phoenix said, his words spoken with a force that, when combined with the menacing look in his darkened eyes, served to remind the entire room that he was an extremely powerful exile in his own right. ‘Sammael already has some of Violet’s blood. With his magic it is possible he can create his own gateway, and as Violet is the only other person who can cross over …’
Griffin’s voice came through over the loudspeaker: ‘While she could be the world’s downfall, she is also our most likely saviour.’ I could almost hear Griffin’s small smile. ‘And if I had to guess, I would venture that, like you, Drenson, Sammael has greatly underestimated the power of Violet’s will.’
I looked down, embarrassed by the praise. But when I looked back up I saw a room of warriors watching me with something new in their eyes. The combination of fear and curiosity was still present, but now there was also hope.
In me.
Then, of course, Josephine spoke. ‘Violet, I hate to sound unsupportive at this stage. We’ve had our differences in the past and despite your feelings towards me … It would be remiss of me to not ask whether you have considered that it might be better if you left others to deal with this? That your presence causes more complication than aid?’
I took my time. A couple of years ago I would have been hurt by what she’d just said. But I’d grown up.
‘Josephine, your question is fair. I’ve faced death and loss, and since becoming Grigori I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that I don’t seem to be quite like anyone else. More than once I’ve considered the danger that my existence puts those around me in, and those I love the most have paid greatly for those fears. But finally, I am beginning to understand that while I don’t have the answers you may need, I do have the only one that matters. I was made for this. Yes, there is danger and chaos. But also reason and design. I was created by one who has the most unwavering sense of faith in the goodness of this world. He trusts in me to protect that at all costs. And that is exactly what I will do. Can you understand that, Josephine?’
There was silence at the other end, and our room was deathly silent. ‘Yes, Violet. I believe you’ve explained it perfectly.’
I waited for Drenson to argue but he was surprisingly mute.
Looking up at Lincoln, I knew he saw the resolve in my eyes as I became more and more sure of my role in all of this. ‘I have to go with Sammael.’
He was silent for a moment, watching me, then said, ‘You took Rainer with you to find Nyla.’
I nodded.
‘So, you could take me, too.’
I winced. ‘Hypothetically, yes, but I kept physical contact with Rainer the whole time. I don’t know what would have happened if I’d let go of her. I could have lost her forever.’ My voice caught. I’d only just got him back.
I knew what I was looking down the barrel of. This was like history repeating itself. I stood firm. ‘I should go alone.’
Phoenix cleared his throat. ‘Before you make any final decisions, you might want to take a good look outside and consider the other problem you will almost certainly face.’
Instantly everyone moved towards the windows.
‘It’s started to rain,’ Salvatore said.
‘It’s not the rain,’ Phoenix said gravely.
‘The wind,’ Gray said, with a faraway, haunted look. ‘There was no wind earlier.’