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Hecate s in and out of existence as her features shifted “You are certainly not ‘so That is indeed correct Weso much in so little ti Whenever Belphegor deems it time to present the hell-blade to you, of course”

“Yeah,” I said, dragging ain Hecate stayed by the sink, trailing her finger through the dishes She really had a thing about water “But noe’ve attracted Zeus’s attention, and it looks like Agatha has done so horrible What, exactly, I couldn’t tell you, but I’m sure you know about the ritual murders in France”

Hecate nodded “This is onlyThe sooner you can gather the five blades and execute the ritual, the sooner you will have the power to destroy Agatha Black, to stop the gods the you”

I shivered again at the promise of so much power, but I definitely noted her use of the word execute “That’s one thing I’ we’ve discussed about the ritual points to me – well, it sounds like I’m meant to die as a result Is that what it takes to ascend?”

She clasped her hands together, nodding again “Yes Yes, Dustin, that is certainly one way to put it The Apotheosis does involve your death, in a sense But surely you understand It is the sa upon a cere sht even be co a cake The fire cleanses as it destroys, but it also recreates, offers a pyre for your resurrection You will be shattered, in order that you ed froer”

My fingers threaded through each other as I wrung my hands “I’m not sure I like the sound of that”

“It is sis You will be annihilated”

I gulped

“Then what remains of you must spend time in your new doies”

I gaped at her “My own do about actual, deific ascension”

“Have we not fully explained this to you over and again, fleshling? Godhood That is the point of the Apotheosis”

“But all the other rites of power deatha and the Coven of One, they all had to kill” My fingers dug deep into the couch,back

Hecate shook her head “And kill you shall, fleshling Agatha Black must die Is that not your deepest desire? The Apotheosis will give you the ht to do so But you must make a sacrifice”

The question hung thick in the air “And what is that sacrifice?”

“For you to linger within your do as it takes for your new body to reforodhood”