"Are you going to kill me?" Jihoon asked.
"You get right to the point." The light of the moon made Loralie's skin so pale she could have been a ghost come to take his soul. It was true however, she had come to take back his brother's soul.
"I tend not to beat around the bush when my life is at stake," Jihoon said.
"I like that," Loralie mused. "It's probably surprising, but I never hated you. I just refuse to let my brother die for you."
"I don't want that either."
"Then you and I agree."
"Are you going to kill me now?" Jihoon asked again. He didn't think he wanted the answer, but he needed it.
"I have to wait."
"For what?"
"For him."
***
Shane moved through the trees, followed by Eamon. Despite the disagreement between them earlier, he had agreed.
He was quieter than Shane expected, probably his training. Shane was grateful for his presence. Facing his sister would be hard enough; at least he knew there was someone to help if things went south.
"I thought about it," Eamon said in a low voice.
Shane almost shushed him. It wouldn't do for Loralie to hear their approach. But she didn't. "Thought about what?"
"My loyalty. I guess we're sort of similar.,"
Shane's heart, already so strained from fear, thudded painfully as he waited for Eamon to continue.
"We're princes of Heaven and Hell. Everyone in our family expects us to do things. I guess you were under more pressure. Taking souls and stuff, always moving around from place to place, I guess it's hard for you. And to be honest, I am pretty jealous of you since you work so hard.," Eamon said, and though he whispered, Shane heard a trace of tears in his voice.
"I always wondered if you were a good person," Shane confessed. "If maybe that's why it was so hard for me too. . . survive the way I did."
"I try to do the right thing," Eamon replied.
"I know."
They walked again in silence, but Shane lifted his fist to knock at his chest. It was suddenly difficult to breathe like a heavy cloud had filled his lungs.
Shane couldn't think about the old wounds. he had to concentrate on following the thread toward Jihoon. And to his sister.
If he had to fight Loralie to protect Jihoon, could he? If this ended badly, would he be able to move on? Shane looked at his brother's profile and believed for the first time that maybe Loralie wasn't all she had.
The thread slowly grew stronger. So bright it lit his path. Shane glanced at Eamon, but he didn't seem to see the thread. It was only visible to him, a connection to his soul. A connection to Jihoon.
Snaking through the thick trunks, Shane inhaled the scent of the spring forest. New buds and green leaves. The beginning of something new. But when new things began, that meant old things had to end.
Shane was ready for it all to end tonight. One way or another.
And then, through the trees, he heard a voice and strained to listen. It was clear and smooth. A voice he'd know anywhere. Her sister's voice. They were close.