Chapter 192: A Second Death

Ezra sank to his knees as the vitality began rewriting his body and soul.

Making it stronger, better, faster.

The energy from Olivia rushed into him, merging with his soul, making it denser and more physical.

He closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling until the energy stuttered. It surged forward again before crashing back, unable to do more.

Ezra's eyes shot open in panic. He could feel the energy building up with nowhere to go. He instinctively knew that if this was allowed to continue for much longer, it could result in something much worse.

He glanced around and his eyes fell on the Ascension well.

Adam's words replayed itself again.

"When you see the Ascension well, drink from it. Drink and open your eyes."

'I still haven't drunk from it, have I?'

He stood, stumbling to the fountain and dipped his hand in, almost falling inside.

With one hand, he began scooping the water in his mouth, feeling the vast amount of energy in each sip rest in his stomach.

After a moment of frustration, he snarled and dipped his head into the fountain, drinking directly from the source.

After a long moment of drinking, he stumbled back from the mountain as the water began bubbling. Then like a broken dam, it rushed forward, following the path of least resistance. Searᴄh the nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

It filled his body and when it got to the barrier where the previous energy was building up, it broke through, sending a flash of pain through his body.

Ezra blinked in surprise more than pain, then fell to the floor… dead.

**********

Ezra's eyes blinked open and for a moment, he wondered why he was in this position.

Then, the memories rushed into him and he sat up at once.

"Easy." A familiar and deep voice spoke from behind him.

In an instant, Ezra was on his feet in a battle stance, facing the source of the voice.

"Hmmn, not great but not bad. You've still got room to improve." The man grinned at him and he blinked at the warmth in the golden eyes.

His brain stuttered.

Golden eyes.

The same face he'd seen in so many dreams.

The same voice he'd heard so many times.

It was the progenitor.

Ezra slowly relaxed, taking in the dark room.

The walls were made of darkness and so were the furniture, two chairs facing each other with a small table in the middle. The progenitor was sitting comfortably on one of the chairs, radiating an aura of nobility.

This had to be a dream.

Then, his eyes widened.

He wasn't in anybody's body. He could move freely. There was no Shadrach. It was just him and the progenitor.

"Have a seat." The progenitor gestured at the chair opposite him. "We have a lot to discuss."

Ezra slowly made his way to the chair and sat, not taking his eyes off the progenitor for a moment.

"Are you…" He swallowed. "Are you here? In First City? Or is this another dream?"

"Another dream, Ezra Matten." The progenitor chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "However, it'll be the first and last of its kind."

"What do you mean?" Ezra leaned forward, sitting at the edge of his chair. "The first and last?"

"Your other dreams were memories." The progenitor said. "Memories of Shadrach, my chosen heir. This… is not a memory. It is currently happening at this very moment."

Ezra's mouth opened and closed his mouth, having no idea what to say.

"I know you want some answers. I'm here to give you what I can." The progenitor smiled.

"How is this happening at this very moment? Aren't you in the Abyss?"

"I do not know." The progenitor stretched his hand, picking up the cup of tea that was on the table like it had always been there and took a sip. "I may be in the Abyss or even on other worlds. The me here is not real. I'm just a memory sealed inside of my relics."

Ezra blinked.

"I can see that I'm confusing you." He chuckled. "Let me start from the beginning."

He leaned forward, his expression intense.

"Have you ever wondered, why would I need an heir?" He whispered, forcing Ezra to lean closer to catch his words. "The vampires could govern themselves. They don't need someone else lording over them."

"I didn't need an heir to keep the vampires in line in my absence. No. I needed an heir to guard the door to the abyss and keep it open, Ezra Matten. Someone I can trust to let the right people in and keep the wrong people out."

Ezra frowned remembering his second dream of the progenitor. Hadn't the wolfskins that had attacked been said to have come from the Abyss?

The progenitor leaned back with a sigh, his face displaying the weight of his age. "Most people don't know but I'm not from this world. I'm from a very different world. A world filled with magic, legends and wonders. Beings powerful enough to make me look like a toddler."

"I was a very ambitious kid, Ezra." The progenitor smiled softly. "I became powerful and forged myself into a new being. A new race. And in the process, I made a lot of enemies. Including enemies angry enough to chase me to the ends of the world."

"And what did I do?" He chuckled. "I ran. I escaped from my world and slipped into the Abyss."

He sat up, focusing on Ezra. "Do you know what the Abyss is? The Abyss is a world, a road and a wasteland all at the same time. The Abyss is the desolate roadway that connects all the worlds in existence. It is also not a place for the weak."

"I wandered the Abyss until I found the perfect hiding place. A world with the smallest door to the Abyss. A world untouched by the energies of the Abyss. And that is how I came to Earth."

"I built a family and made sure my race flourished like it was meant to."

Then he grinned, displaying his fangs.

"Until my enemies caught up to me."