43. Chapter 42

Chapter 42

" W here the fuck are you going?" Sabra shrieked.

"There!" Aya pointed in the direction of the blast. "We're all alive right now, which means—"

Understanding dawned. Sabra stepped back with a rough nod. "Go. I'll find the others."

Aya landed upon the edge of the gaping hole in the earth, the edges charred black. Blood roared in her ears as she stared into the darkness. Her heart was a fistful of thunder against her ribs. Everyone was alive—for now. Fear flooded her veins. Not for herself, or for others, but for the damned witch she didn't know lived or not.

No, no, Elaine was going to be fine. She promised. She—

Aya shoved the thoughts away and bent down, plucking a stone from the ground before she tossed it into the hole. As it fell, she counted the seconds, her unease building as it seemed to go on forever, perhaps to the very heart of the world itself.

Clop!

Her wings unfurled as she stood at the edge, feeling the breeze dance among her feathers. How it caressed her skin. She cast one look to the sky. Though the barrier had been invisible, Purgatory now felt naked without it, exposed to a world that would no doubt come for them.

She released a deep breath and stepped off the edge.

Air rushed up, catching on her wings as they snapped out. Her stomach tumbled ceaselessly. Deeper and deeper, she went, down into the darkness, to whatever hellscape might await. The shadows melted away suddenly. A damp, earthy note brushed her nose first, followed by the unmistakable tang of blood.

Then she felt it.

The cold whisper of death, of a soul close by. Their rage crawled over her skin, prickling the hairs until they lifted.

"Please, no, don't tell me you did it, Elaine."

The ground came into view. A large circular room with tall, arched walls, bending toward the hole blown into it. Large chunks of stone piled high in a rough circle, scattered around a single glowing light. A sphere thrumming with pure magic. Nearby, a young woman stood off to the side, pale and shaky.

Aurora.

The shattered remains of chains were scattered along the stone, some melted into mangled piles. Old scars wrapped around Aurora's arms, vanishing into the sleeves of her tattered dress. This was not a goddess anymore, not a creature of timeless magic, but someone stripped bare, worn by time. Five hundred years trapped had taken their toll, enough that as Aya landed, Aurora paid her no mind. She continued to stare into the glowing sphere.

"Aurora?"

There was a beat of silence; then, an answer, quiet words spoken with an ethereal note.

"Why hasn't she come back? She should be back by now. Surely, I…No, she…" Aurora's voice trailed off. "I gave her my power…She should've made it…"

Aya grew cold as she followed Aurora's gaze to the sphere, horror and understanding crashing through her. Each wave was a blow, knocking her to her knees.

"No!"

A knife sliced through her heart, carving it from her chest. Tears blurred her vision. Elaine promised her she wouldn't do it, that she'd find a way. Aya's hands curled into tight fists until half-moons bit into her palm, drawing blood in tiny blooms along her skin. Each running a thin trail down her skin, falling upon the stone.

"What happened?"

No reply came. Aya surged to her feet, descending on the goddess. Shadows rushed in around them both. Aurora blinked several times before her gaze finally seemed to alight upon Aya. Wordlessly, she touched her mouth, eyes wide as she finally spoke.

"It's—"

"Bring her back."

"I can't."

Aya grabbed her, nails biting into flesh. "I said brING HER BACK!"

The walls rattled at her roar, but Aurora remained steady. A red welt bloomed along her cheek. Her eyes remained fixed upon Aya, soft—it made her want to gouge those fucking eyes out of her skull.

"She is beyond me now."

"So, she's alive?" Aya scarcely dared to breathe.

Aurora hesitated. "Elaine absorbed all the magic from the barrier. It obliterated her body."

"A-and her soul?"

She didn't know if there was a way to bring someone back without a body, but for Elaine, she'd find it. Do whatever needed to be done. Burn the world if necessary.

Aurora seemed unsure for a moment, then spoke in a whisper. "I don't know."

An idea sparked within. Aya's hand dropped to the dagger strapped to her hip. The cold, leathery hilt felt like it belonged to her. That, in a way, it was meant for her, and perhaps, for this moment.

"Hypothetically, how attached are you to Akaria?" Aya ventured, turning to look upon what Elaine had become.

"For what she did to me? Very little—why?"

The dagger felt warm, hidden securely in the folds of her jacket. "Might have a way to remove that obstacle. However, I want to know something since no gods have appeared right now, and the barrier is clearly down. Can they not sense you?"

"Not this close to Elaine, but they will come and not just for me. For you, my dear."

" Me?"

It was then the truth of Aya's destiny spilled from Aurora. That Aurora had dared to create a new deity—Aya's ancestor—and was imprisoned for it, as the gods had a vision that one of their descendants would be the end of the gods.

That blood would run in the heavens.

Aya's skin crawled. Well, she had kind of vowed murderous vengeance, but the notion it had been foreseen was a little unnerving. And rude. She decided it was quite rude on destiny's part—or whatever asshole was responsible for it. If they were in the heavens, she was going to have words with them.

"Right, so fuck the gods." Aya tipped her head back, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Be nice if my promises of vengeance weren't already prophesized. Certainly ruins all the fun there."

"You're taking the news they want you dead well."

Glancing at Aurora, she shrugged. "Rather used to folks wanting me dead."

Pretend as she might, understanding the gravity of why her people had been hunted—why the gods wanted her dead—lit a fire in her chest. It swelled and raged, flames licking against her ribs, demanding escape. A smile followed, wicked with promise. She smoothed down her shirt, allowing the dastardly idea to take root.

One entirely dangerous. Full of risk and bloodshed, and one oh so earned.

She turned to the goddess, a smile pulling at the corners of her mouth. Teeth flashed, a predator's grin.

"Aurora," she began, "How would you feel about some revenge?"

"I would love to, but I am not exactly in any condition to fight anyone—why?"

Aya held out the dagger to Aurora. "I have an idea."