Chapter 369: Ask Thalia For Help

Victoria and Elena walked back toward the estate in silence.

The morning sun was warm on Victoria’s face but she felt cold all the way through to her bones.

One Alpha would have to be sacrificed.

That was the price of resurrection. That was what it would take to bring Lilith back if the transformation failed.

And Victoria would have to be the one to make it happen.

They reached the edge of the tree line and Victoria stopped walking.

"Wait," she said.

Elena turned to look at her.

Victoria took a breath. "You said I need death magic. That I need to make deals with entities in the Underworld. But I don’t..." She stopped. "I don’t know how to do that. I’ve never attempted anything like this before."

Elena’s expression was grave. "That’s because what I’m describing is forbidden magic. The kind of thing most witches spend their entire lives avoiding. The kind of thing that gets you exiled from covens and marked as dark."

"I don’t care about being marked dark," Victoria said. "I care about having the knowledge I need to save Lilith if it comes to that."

Elena studied her for a long moment. "You’re sure? Once you start down this path, once you begin researching resurrection and death magic and making plans to deal with Underworld entities....there’s no going back. Even if you never actually perform the resurrection, the knowledge alone will change you."

"I’m sure," Victoria said.

Elena nodded slowly. "Then here’s what you need to understand. The Underworld isn’t a single place. It’s a collection of realms that exist between life and death. Different entities control different territories. Some are demons. Some are death gods. Some are ancient spirits that predate most supernatural bloodlines."

"How do I reach them?" Victoria asked.

"Portals," Elena said. "But not the kind you’re used to creating. Portals to the Underworld require specific components. Blood. Bone. Something that belongs to the dead. And they require you to offer payment before the portal even opens."

Victoria felt her stomach turn. "What kind of payment?"

"It varies," Elena said. "Some entities want years of your life. Some want pieces of your soul. Some want you to perform tasks for them in the mortal realm. And some...." She paused. "Some want things you can’t quantify. Your ability to feel joy. Your capacity for love. Your memories of people who mattered to you."

The horror of it made Victoria’s breath catch.

"And if I refuse to pay?" Victoria asked.

"Then the portal doesn’t open," Elena said simply. "Or it opens and the entity on the other side kills you for wasting their time. Underworld entities don’t negotiate. They state their price and you either pay it or you leave."

Victoria absorbed this. "You said I should find someone who has access. Someone who has made these deals before and survived."

"Yes," Elena confirmed.

"You’re talking about Thalia," Victoria said.

Elena met her gaze directly. "Your cousin has been making deals with dark entities for years. She corrupted her Morvaine gift specifically by bargaining with demons. She knows how to open portals to the Underworld. She knows which entities to approach and which ones to avoid. She knows what prices are worth paying and which ones will destroy you."

"She’ll demand payment for that knowledge," Victoria said.

"Of course she will," Elena agreed. "Thalia doesn’t do anything out of kindness. She’ll want something in return. And Victoria, whatever she asks for, it will be significant. She knows you’re desperate. She knows you’ll pay almost anything to save Lilith. She’ll use that against you."

Victoria thought about her cousin. About the woman who had attacked the estate and tried to capture Lilith. About the dark witch who had killed and corrupted and destroyed in pursuit of power.

Working with Thalia felt like making a deal with the devil himself.

But if it meant saving Lilith....

"I’ll pay her price," Victoria said quietly.

Elena was silent for a moment. "You should know....approaching Thalia is dangerous even under the best circumstances. She’s unstable. Powerful. And she has no reason to help you unless she sees something in it for herself."

"What could I possibly offer her that she would want?" Victoria asked.

Elena’s expression turned thoughtful. "Information. Access. A favor to be called in later. Or..." She paused. "Or access to Lilith after she’s resurrected. A chance to study what Lilith becomes when she has both life and death magic."

Victoria felt rage spike through her. "I’m not giving Thalia access to Lilith."

"Then you’ll need to offer her something else," Elena said. "Something valuable enough that she’s willing to guide you through the Underworld and introduce you to the entities you’ll need to bargain with."

Victoria’s mind raced through possibilities.

What did Thalia want? What would be valuable enough to convince her to help?

Immunity from punishment. Protection from the Moon Temple Guardians. A promise that Victoria wouldn’t hunt her down after this was over.

Or maybe something simpler.

Maybe Thalia just wanted to watch the Morvaine bloodline tear itself apart.

"I’ll figure out what to offer her later," Victoria said finally. "But first I need to know....what components will I need for the resurrection ritual itself? What do I have to gather?"

Elena’s expression turned even more grave. "You’re asking me to give you the recipe for forbidden magic."

"Yes," Victoria said without hesitation.

Elena was quiet for a long moment. Then she sighed.

"The resurrection ritual requires three things," Elena said. "Life magic to restart the body. Death magic to call back the soul. And an anchor to tether the soul to the mortal realm while the magic works."

"You can provide the life magic," Victoria said. "I’ll get the death magic from Underworld entities. And one of the Alphas will serve as the anchor."

"Yes," Elena confirmed. "But there are other components you’ll need. Physical components. Things that have to be gathered and prepared before the ritual can begin."