Chapter Twenty-One: Holly's Vow

The mist surrounding her clued her in before anything else. Holly had passed out at some point after using her magic and now here she was once more sleeping. This was truly horrible timing. If Death attacked while she was out, the consequences could be disastrous.

"Holly?"

There was that man. He was sitting on some rock or something. She couldn't make it out against the fog so she was using her best guess. "You're the dream stalker."

He chuckled. "I'm trying to protect you, not stalk you." He shook his head and then as she got closer he frowned. "Why do you have cuts all over you? Isn't Angel there to protect you?"

"I still haven't met this Angel of yours," Holly replied. "But there are a few people protecting me."

"They're not doing a good enough job if you've been hurt already." Tydeus stood up and towered over her. "Listen, I think I'll be there tomorrow. Just try to stay in one place and I'll do my best to make it to you. Stay with those protecting you, but if I find out who is responsible I'll take care of them myself."

Holly looked at the cuts on her arms. "I already have someone doing that as well."

Tydeus ran a hand through his wavy blond hair as he looked out into the mists. "You have no idea how much I'm worried for you. All I want to do is get to you and save you from all of this craziness. Have they at least found out anything useful for you?"

"The Sin's name is Sloth?" she suggested with a shrug. "I hate to cut you short but is there any way you can wake me back up?"

Tydeus frowned. "Why would you want to wake? Don't you want to spend time with me? Especially now that Dagon has finally left us alone."

"Dagon is here," Holly announced. "He's the one taking care of Death."

"Death?" Tydeus' frown deepened more and his fists clenched at his sides. "I knew that Dagon was too arrogant for his own good. I'm not surprised the other princes found you. Listen, you have to be careful around Dagon. He just wants to use your power to become the King of Hell."

"I know," Holly replied. "He already told me all of that. He hasn't tried to hide any of that. If he can keep Death away from me, that's all I care about right now. You might be some prince charming just waiting for the right moment to come and sweet me off my feet, but you're not here right now, he is."

"I understand," Tydeus didn't even try to fight with her. "I should be by your side right now, and so should Angel. It's easier than ever to find you with how bright your soul is. I should have tried harder instead of assuming that Angel would get there first."

"I have Eros, Quix, Ruby, Lachesis, and Dagon here to protect me. They're doing all they can to keep Death away again, and being awake would help with that equation."

Tydeus chuckled again. "But if you don't get rest, you're not going to be able to use your magic to help."

"The magic I'm not allowed to use because it's too dangerous?" Holly countered with a chuckle of her own. "No, dream God, just let me go back to my mortal life while I still have one."

Tydeus shook his head. "Holly, you are truly the most unique person who has the same soul yet. I can't wake you up, you have to do that on your own. But I will be there to help you tomorrow. I don't know where Angel is either but I'll deal with him when he finally shows up. My main concern is what it has always been, taking care of you."

Holly would have been flattered by those words before her run-in with Death. "And yet you're still not here, and others are. Just try to send me back? I need to prepare if I'm going to get attacked, again."

Tydeus was watching her again. "I can't. You're free to take a seat and spend some time with me. I can answer some questions for you. I'm sure you must be curious."

Holly sighed. "I doubt you can answer anything that would help me."

His lip twitched. "Why don't you try me?"

Holly settled on the rock beside him but kept her distance. "All right then, Tydeus, right? You sound attached to this soul. Would you say you understand it?"

"More than anyone else." his entire face softened and Holly's breath caught.

Before he had looked like one of the Greek Gods of the past willing to punish anyone for their misdeeds. And now? Now he caused her heart to skip a beat. She shook herself out of it. "Can you explain to me why this soul makes such bad decisions?"

Tydeus' eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

Holly held up a single finger. "From what I've gathered and been told, she never settles for just one guy right? She always spreads herself thin and goes out with a bunch of them?"

"You're saying that like it's a bad thing." Tydeus frowned again. "It helped them stay alive, and it's how the spell works. You have protectors that are attracted to you life after life. They'll dedicate everything to you, even their lives."

Was that why she was developing feelings for Quix? She hated to admit it, but it was a real thing that was happening to her. And now all of it was fake? Manufactured? Even her heartbeat speeding up around this guy, all part of a greater plan?

"What's wrong?" Tydeus must have noticed her silence.

"Just thinking about how I can't trust my own emotions anymore. I can't trust anything when you people are involved. The more I hear about you, the more it sounds like all of this is set up so I do my job and that I have backup that will be my meat shield if I need it."

Tydeus winced. "That's not exactly right-"

"No, it is. It makes sense now that the others had multiple loves. Maybe they couldn't figure out what was going on, but I see it crystal clear. You're manipulating me to get what you want, Tydeus."

"No!" Tydeus was on his feet again. "That's not right, it's the Fates that did that. I'm just trying to help you break this chain. I'm trying to save you."

"How many lives have you helped so far?" Holly asked as Tydeus sat back down.

"Three," he whispered.

"And the chain isn't broken yet? Are you even planning to really do so or just help me kill the Sin and move onto the next one? How is Eros okay? Have you not got around to him yet? Is he next on your chopping block?"

Tydeus shook his head. "No, he's not like the others. I don't like him, but he won't hurt you. He loves you."

"He loves the soul," Holly corrected.

"It's still your soul, Holly. The same qualities that attracted him, attracted us before, will attract us again."

"If this soul's mission is to defeat the seven sins, and one is considered 'good' then what happens?" Holly pressed. "You tell me that I don't have to worry about him, but you also tell me you're not going to help me with this entire situation. I'll have to kill my best friend, or let someone else do it further down the line."

Tydeus clasped his hands together and stared down at the ground. "We still have time to figure out a solution for that. I promise I'll figure out something. I won't let it come to you having to kill him."

Holly leaned back with her hands interlaced around her knee. "That's because you're going to kill him yourself when the time comes, right?" she challenged her eyes narrowed on him.

Tydeus sighed and his shoulder slumped. "If I can't find another solution, yes. I'll never put that burden on your soul. But if it's the only way to free you, then I'll do it."

"But it's not freeing me if I have to just be reincarnated to deal with yet another Sin. Besides, what happens when all seven are handled?"

"Then it's over. You can live an ordinary normal life, anyone you want. The Fate's will allow you to have whatever life you want."

Holly sighed. "That deal sounds too good. Forgive me for not trusting it. I hope you find a solution because Eros is special to me. And if you insist that you have to kill him, I'm not going to have a choice."

Tydeus was once more shaking his head. "No, I told you that you'll never have to do it. I promise. I'll handle it if it comes to that, but I'll do my best that it won't happen."

Holly smiled at Tydeus a warm pleasant smile. "You misunderstand me, Tydeus," she corrected. "I'm saying that if you insist you'll have to kill him, then I"ll have to take you out too."