38. Chapter 37

Chapter 37

E laine staggered back, her legs wobbly, nearly sending her careening into the stone. Sharp breaths shot in and out until darkness nudged the edge of her vision.

No, no, no, no.

She pressed a fist to her mouth, trying to stifle the scream clawing up her throat.

"Y-you're wrong," she whispered.

Aurora released a dry, hollow laugh. "I wish that I was."

"But she loves you!" Elaine's hand fell away as she straightened, fire sparking in her blood. "She struck a deal with Aya because she wanted you—"

"Free?" Aurora tilted her head. "Pray tell, what exactly did Akaria want of your lover?"

Cold dread seeped into her veins. "She asked her to free you and in return she would bring Aya's people back…She was never going to do it, was she?"

Aurora smiled at her as one might a child, gentle, indulgent. "Deals with goddesses are seldom as they appear. Their hearts are just as fickle. Akaria was no exception. She may claim to love me but when she learned of the child, she felt betrayed. Said I was scheming for the end of the gods and for me to rule with complete power."

"I don't understand. She claimed she wants you back and to bring back the necromancers." Elaine struggled to make sense of the mess laid before her. "That she…"

"So why hasn't she?"

The question settled like a looming storm, laying the truth bare at Elaine's feet.

"She can't do it, can she?"

An old weariness claimed Aurora, the thin smile not quite touching her eyes. "Not without breaking a great many rules stopping the gods from interfering."

"Like they're interfering now?" she threw back.

Aurora turned away from her and wandered over to the books piled on the floor. "All laws possess loopholes and the gods have been looking for a way to intervene. As it turned out, Purgatory became that very thing. When the barrier was originally constructed, it's source was mostly humans and a handful of wolves. It was still very weak and a little unstable."

"You were conscious then?"

"For a little while." Aurora plucked one of the books up. "After my daughter left Purgatory and began to spread the word of my home, more folks from all walks of life came to the shelter. Fairies and syrens and vampires, and all in between, and the consequence of all that new magic began to create a kind of separation between Purgatory and the land beyond. Then, by some evolution of the land itself, Purgatory began to move. To the outside world, it would appear in one location for a time, then vanish. It became its own realm and by the laws, it was no longer considered part of the one they were forbidden to interfere with."

The truth settled between them, stretching out an ocean of reality that terrified Elaine. With all that she knew of the gods, it was no wonder they sought to destroy what they could not control. Once it became outside of their laws, and Aurora's child was no longer within it, Purgatory became exposed. They simply had to wait for the right opportunity.

But what had started all of this? What spurned Honoria to decide to seek to free Aurora and take down the barrier? Despite all that she had learned, she was still floundering in the dark. With no way to send a warning to Aya, Elaine was on her own. She had to find a way free of Ingrid and save herself.

She started to pace. "Ingrid is going to free you. The longer she has me, the closer she gets to you. I can't let her free you first, not without figuring out how the hell I keep everyone from dying if the barrier falls."

"You're still willing to free me?"

Elaine glanced away. "One way or another, you're going to be free. If I can have some control in that, then I might be able to save those I love."

To claw back a little of the power she thought she had. She might be a means to an end for some, but for fucks sake, she was more. And she'd be damned if anyone tried to tell her otherwise. She was done being a pawn.

A flicker of respect shone in Aurora's eyes. "You are certainly different. You are a child blessed by the marks of my kin and you have fought your destiny for so very long."

Elaine stepped back. "What does that have to do with anything? If I accept any more of the markings, it will burn my body up. I'll lose my god damn mind!"

"Is that what the temple taught you?"

The air rushed out of her. A protest she'd been clinging to for so long suddenly felt so fragile. Had she imagined that when she took on Vikra's power to save her family that she was losing control? A preternatural stillness settled in her bones. From then, she'd wielded ice and fire, not having time to think of the fact that she wasn't losing her mind…

And that she might just be capable of taking on more magic.

Her eyes widened. "Would that really work?"

Aurora gently took her hands and placed the book in her hands. "The gods grant harvest witches all those marks as a test, and a temptation, knowing that none will ever take that risk—or will die before they have the chance to even try. It was never a fear of theirs that one of their little toys might actually consider doing it, and that she would be, momentarily, beyond their reach."

The goddess stepped back with a hopeful smile as the edges of her form started to blur. Tears shone in her eyes, glittering like twin gems, until the room around them began to blue. Elaine looked down, her heart a storm beating against her ribs, and the book was open in her hands. The title burned bright against the cream paper, clear as day.

A Ballad of Betrayal, a tale of life falling for death

Elaine jerked awake with a gasp. She was on the back of a horse, arms tight around her, keeping her pinned against a hard chest. Sunlight was prowling across the treetops, spidery fingers of golden light prying through the leaves. The warm, damp morning air was heavy against her lips. Her head was a tangle of thoughts, the sensation of her body dull and distant, as though she were little more than a passenger. Several hooded figures rode alongside, their cowls concealing their faces.

She tried to work her tongue, but it was lead in her mouth, lips tight together as though sewn shut, where no matter how hard she tried, she was silenced.

The grip around her tightened hard, pinching the skin around her chest.

"Make a move and I'll drive one of my daggers into you."

She stilled. A heaviness clung to her body, one she knew all too well. Even without trying, she sensed her magic was smothered. For now, she was powerless. A temporary setback, to be sure, but she wasn't deterred. She'd bide her time, just as Aya had trained her. Look for an opening, exploit it, and not for one second, hesitate.

Someone shouted from a nearby horse. Elaine's head snapped up.

The narrow road widened, trees falling away to expose a small clearing set into the side of a steep hill. A hooded figure awaited her at the mouth of a cave. Slender hands emerged from the gossamer cape, pushing back the cowl to reveal Ingrid. Hard-eyed, mouth a determined line, regarding Elaine in the same way one eyed a map. A tool to be used, a means to an end.

Ice slithered down her spine. This was someone who would have no qualms about slitting her throat once her purpose was up. She glanced to the sky, hoping to see Aya, to hear the beat of wings. Silence was her answer.

Where are you, Aya?

She remained silent as the man dismounted first, then roughly hauled her down, shoving her forward. The hard blow sent her staggering, her mouth clamped so tight, her jaw ached. Curses burned her lips. Oh, what she'd give to rip the man apart, piece by fucking piece.

The man struck again, and this time Elaine's legs gave out. She hit the muddied earth, her fingers sinking deep into the cold, damp ground. Anger sparked once more in her chest, hot and fiery, straining against the magic binding her. She started to rise when a hand shot out, grabbing her jaw, and yanked hard, forcing her focus up. Right into Ingrid's gaze.

"Honoria thought stealing your magic might lead us to Aurora." Ingrid released her with a chuckle. "She never considered that Aurora might be the one to reach out to you, that all we had to do was show a little patience."

Elaine scowled. "You're going to regret this."

"Perhaps," Ingrid said with a shrug. "But you'll be long dead, and I'll ensure that not even your darling lover can bring you back by the time I am done with you."