Deliverance (Life and Death Cycle Book 3)

DeliveranceLife and Death CycleBook 3ByJoshua Phillips Copyright © 2023 Joshua PhillipsAll rights reservedThe characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.Cover design by: TS95 StudiosPublisher: Hidden Fox Publishing Contents DeliveranceCopyrightDedicationPrologueChapter 1 Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29Chapter 30Chapter 31Chapter 32Chapter 33Chapter 34Chapter 35Chapter 36Chapter 37Chapter 38Chapter 39Chapter 40Chapter 41Chapter 42Chapter 43Chapter 44Chapter 45EpilogueThank You!About The AuthorBooks In This Series To those taken before their time. PrologueEvery day, it had been the same. Alexandra secluded herself where, while in secret, she grasped at her essence, and her soul burned for it. The First Lady ignored the fire, an indication of her flagging power—an injury of her own doing when she used it to save humanity the first time.Now she was doing it again, but she was only a shadow of her former self. A mockery of the bright example she once was. It was her decision to do all of this, and she would pay the price until her soul fizzled out like an old wedding sparkler.“How do I get you out of this mess, young one?” She wiped a tear from her eye, saddened by the cruelty of others. Humanity had great potential, but that potential did not discriminate.Galan crossed the wards she’d placed, and he slipped through the door like a mischievous youth. His eyes softened when he saw the strain Alexandra bore. “Still? It’s been months, Alexandra. This was only supposed to be a few nudges. The others think you are finally fading.”“Contrary to what others may believe, I am only human,” she grunted through clenched teeth.“It’s different when it’s self-inflicted,” he said pointedly. “Even if he survives, the need for revenge will turn his soul black as he drinks everyone who wronged him. We both know it never stops there.”“He is different than the others. I know him. And he will have me for guidance.”Galan looked at her, like she were a naïve girl, before shaking his head. “I wished I had your faith, but I can’t let myself hope. Even with a Paragon’s help, people like him can’t be saved.” He gave her a sad look. Maybe it was better to burn out and die to avoid seeing the end of all things, he thought.Alexandra didn’t say anything. Each day was becoming harder as she was forced to use her power for longer, despair eating at her charge’s will to live. Every day, he spent more time throwing himself into the darkness, straining the cracks in her soul further.She refused him. He would live and be whole. Even if it destroyed her. She would persevere. Chapter 1 Mei LynnThe night was young, the light having given way to darker proclivities. Vague sounds of revelry reached my ears from nearby, those businesses only now coming to life. Expensive aura lamps lit some of the main thoroughfares, but much of the lighting on businesses were the much cheaper essence variety.Stelsomin never truly slept. It was fortunate neither did I.I was wrapped in a hooded cloak. It was grey and broke up my athletic form earned through blood and perspiration. A hooded figure wouldn’t be too remiss on a chilly night, assuming anyone could see me—I made sure no one would.I watched the guard as he left the prison campus. I’d been watching him for three days now, only one of several others I split my time between.The hood and the shadowy gloom of night weren’t the only defenses against unwanted attention I employed. Spiritual senses would find no purchase on me, nor would they feel any power, having figured out Aidan’s soul veiling technique.I grimaced. Aidan failed to mention messing with the soul would leave me a miserable mess for a week as I lay writhing in agony while my soul slowly recovered. The painful memory bled into my consciousness, causing me to run my hands across my body, reassuring myself I was whole. The ache was a persistent poison that infected my thoughts until it faded with the glacier speed of a changing season.That was after hardening it through meridian expansion. I shuddered, contemplating the results of what rending my soul would have looked like before it had been strengthened.It might have taken months—or years, to recover.But I persevered because life never allowed me to rest—to have any choice in the matter. The day I stopped trying was the day my path would end, and I could never allow such a thing. I made it through, and I was stronger for it. I could tell the heft of my soul was greater, if such a thing could be weighed. Maybe it would be easier the next time I cycled between my veils, but that day would be a long time coming. I had no interest in experiencing that pain again after I relaxed my veil this final time. I would need to ensure my essence veil would suffice.As the guard headed home, I followed, nothing more than a sordid shadow in the night. There were few nearby to sense me, and none could if they tried.This particular guard was going to die tonight. From what I gathered—he wasn’t a very nice person. The guard was an honored lieutenant of the Stelsomin City Bastille. People like him made me sick. His status and advancement made it so others could do nothing to him, and he relished that feeling of superiority.But I could. However, I needed information first. He was heading home, a place I had become familiar with.The horizon where the sun set scarcely betrayed its recent retreat. The myriad colors of such