Chapter 181: Where There's A Will, There's A Way

Vibrant classical music filled the air and Ezra swayed in tune with the sound.

He walked to his desk, pouring himself a glass of blood wine and taking a small sip, savoring it. He set the wine down and sat on the table, his arms crossed.

His gaze was fixed upon the dark arrow still embedded in his wall. The fact that the arrow hadn't disappeared meant that it was a real object and not a vitality created construct.

Well, the archer who had shot him was now in the hands of the Arbiter. He had thwarted Helena's plan, whatever it was. And now, he was waiting for the results of his various plans.

He enjoyed his wine for a few minutes before the Gen entered the study. She gave him a kiss and flopped down onto the empty chair behind his desk.

"Where's everyone else?" Ezra asked.

"They're coming." Gen yawned. "Red will be down in a moment and Olivia is trying to make preparations for dinner before she comes."

"Well," Ezra checked his watch. "We've got time."

He sat, enjoying the notes of the classical music. In a few minutes, Olivia and Red walked in together.

"Finally." Gen drawled from where she sat.

Ezra stood with a clap of his hands. "Let's begin."

His black zone rolled off him to seal them away from the outside world.

"Olivia, how is the search for the well progressing?"

"I think I've reached a dead end." Olivia answered. "I've searched through all the cemeteries available in Southside and I still haven't found anything that could point to the well."

Ezra nodded, the music playing in the background. "How about private cemeteries?"

"I've gone through most of them and I haven't any with fountains."

"Not one?" Red asked with a frown.

"Not a single one." Olivia answered.

"Wait." Gen sat up. "What if we're being too focused on the well staying in the form of a fountain? It was previously a well so that means it could have been changed to a different form."

Ezra thought about it. "She's right. Adam never specified if it was still a fountain. He only stated that the well would be near the dead."

"And the dead are not just confined to cemeteries." Red spoke. "The dead can also be found in morgues."

"Will a morgue be able to support a watering source?" Gen asked. "I don't think it'll be a morgue. Maybe something else but not a morgue."

"The well will be among the dead." Ezra mused. "What if we are going about this the wrong way?"

"What do you mean?" Gen asked.

"Helena is also after the well, isn't she?" Ezra tilted his head as he stared at the arrow in his wall. He walked closer to it. "She has to know its location since she had the Blackthornes."

He reached out and grabbed the arrow and with a sharp tug, pulled it out of the wall. "Olivia," he called out, staring at the arrow in his hand. "Change your focus. Retrace Helena's steps."

"If she knows where the well is, she would have visited it at least once. That's how we find the well."

The women absorbed his words, nodding in agreement.

"With that out of the way, do any of us have any ideas for breaking X's chains?"

Gen scoffed. "Do we have any way to make Griffin let X go? Short of the Ascension Well, there's nothing we can offer him."

"She's right." Olivia spoke. "The two are connected by the soul. There's nothing we can do to break it and we can't hand the well over to him."

There was silence in the room as everyone pondered their dilemma.

Ezra thought about it. He reviewed all the ropes connected to his soul. These bonds of blood were not easy to break. As his mind wandered, an idea hit him.

"Wait a minute." He spoke, the women turning to look at him. "X and Griffin are connected at the soul, aren't they?"

Olivia nodded. "Yes."

A grin stretched across Ezra's face. "I think I know how to break the chains. The perfect way to make Griffin release X."

**********

Ezra swiveled in his chair to face the window behind his desk. He closed his eyes with a satisfied sigh, enjoying the feel of the sun against his skin.

He had the perfect plan. Now, it was time to contact the main stakeholder in this plan.

He delved into his soul and was greeted by a familiar sight. His soul shone with light, producing vitality. A large part of the vitality was shunted off into the soul bond, siphoned to Olivia. The rest joined his reserves.

Wrapped around his soul were the different bonds he had. He smiled at seeing his soul bond and his blood oath but that wasn't why he was here. Sёarᴄh the NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

He coated his blood debt in vitality and gave it a sharp tug.

He grinned to himself. There was no need to keep searching for a man that could be contacted with a simple use of vitality.

He gave a small laugh as he heard the familiar whoosh of displaced air, indicating the arrival of a teleporter. He opened his eyes and swiveled to face his guest.

"Welcome!" He grinned. "Do have a seat. We have an important matter to discuss."

"No thanks." X answered as he crossed his arms. "I prefer to stand."

Ezra paused, his grin growing. "Suit yourself."

"Why have you called me?" X asked.

"Down to business I see." Ezra grinned. "I called to inform you that I found a way to free you from Griffin."

Ezra could see the change immediately his words registered. X straightened, his body going rigid with tension. His focus was completely on Ezra.

"What is it? What have you found?" He whispered with urgency as if there was someone listening in.

"Simple." Ezra steepled his fingers and leaned forward, remembering how he almost died when he'd gone to check Veran's soul. "We'll be attacking Griffin through your soul."