Lifeblood. Gena Showalter

Ends—

      Ignore your future, pay the price.

      ★ The realm where Unsigned are imprisoned after Firstdeath.

      ★ Where happiness goes to die and nightmares come to terrible life.

      Messenger—

      Harken and deliver the good news.

      ★ One of six main positions within the realms, directly under Laborer.

      ★ Responsible for teaching humans about the realms, protecting others from the enemy and chronicling exploits within and without the realm.

      Myriad—

      Autonomy, bliss, indulgence.

      ★ The dark realm, ruled by the Prince of Ravens.

      ★ Magical forests whisper enchanted tales, and secrets lurk in every corner…self-indulgence is revered, and the party never stops…victors are adored and failures are abhorred…emotion always trumps logic.

      ★ Motto: Might Equals Right.

      Penumbra—

      In the dark, the blind lead the blind.

      ★ A disease born and spread in darkness, capable of draining Troikans of Light.

      ★ Origin and cure unknown.

      Realms—

      Home is where the heart is nourished or starved.

      ★ Kingdoms in the Everlife: Troika, Myriad and Many Ends.

      Second-death—

      Another end, another new beginning.

      ★ When a spirit is drained of Lifeblood.

      ★ Myriad believes a spirit is Fused to another spirit(s) in order to return to the Land of the Harvest; Troika believes a spirit enters into the Rest forevermore.

      Secondking—

      The one you follow decides the roads you take.

      ★ One of two sons of the Firstking; Eron the Prince of Doves, and Ambrosine the Prince of Ravens.

      ★ Ruler of a realm.

      The Rest—

      Peace beyond all understanding awaits.

      ★ Troikans believe a spirit enters into this state of absolute tranquillity after Second-death, forever separated from the realms…with a few exceptions.

      The Resurrection—

      And so the dead shall rise again.

      ★ Once every year, Troika holds a vote; one spirit within the Rest is brought back to spirit-life.

      ★ The winner must exit the Rest even if he or she wishes to remain.

      Troika—

      Justice, equality, freedom of choice.

      ★ The realm of Light, ruled by the Secondking Eron, the Prince of Doves.

      ★ Untouched by gloom, where hard work isn’t an expectation but a way of life, equality isn’t an ideal but a standard and fear isn’t a treasured friend but a hated foe…logic always trumps emotion…people are governed by a strict set of rules, and violators are punished.

      ★ Motto: Light Brings Sight.

      Unsigned—

      Without hope, there can be no joy.

      ★ A human who fails to make covenant with Troika or Myriad before Firstdeath.

      ★ Damned to spend the Everlife inside Many Ends.

      Veil—

      All who enter are welcome.

      ★ A doorway leading into and out of an Everlife realm.

      Contents

       Cover

       Back Cover Text

       Title Page

       Dedication

       Map

       Epigraph

       The light Expands and the darkness Narrows

       Glossary

       Troika

       Troika

       Troika

       Troika

       Myriad

       Myriad

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Myriad

       Myriad

       Myriad

       Myriad

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Myriad

       Myriad

       Myriad

       Chapter Six

       Troika

       Troika

       Troika

       Troika

       Myriad