18. Alke

The Past

"My mother sends her regards." Solaris bowed his head in greeting to the High Goddess of the Sea, who sat perched on her throne, carved from kyanite.

Naia stood beside him, arms at her sides, peering up at the blank spot on the wall over Mira's head and wishing she were anywhere else in the world.

Not that she had been doing anything of importance before being summoned. Though, it had taken Raksa an hour to locate her in the far cove south of the palace. For the first time in a long time, the attendant's annoyance had brought a touch of a smile to her face.

After a century of being forced to lay with Solaris, she found it difficult to find joy in anything these days, and not even the abrasive tension in Mira's tone was enough to trigger fear.

"I imagine Lady Levina is disappointed, as am I, Lord Solaris," Mira said. "Would you imagine why that is?"

Solaris shifted his stance, sending a waft of spices, like fire-roasted wood shavings and clove, up Naia's nose. His scent had changed since earning his new title as High God of Fire. She could not muster up enough sentiment to miss his old, familiar lemongrass one.

"Lady Mira, as you've seen with your own eyes, Naia and I are doing precisely what you and my mother asked of us. I believe the reason Naia is not with child yet is due to her being sterile."

Naia wasn't sure if she was more upset over hearing him refer to her as if she was not standing beside him, or how it had been the first time in decades she'd heard him speak her name.

Every night was the same. Impersonal as they could make it. Raksa escorted him into her bedchamber and stood in the corner and watched.

Some nights, Solaris downed a draught to perform. Her bed was off limits. She did not wish to demolish the safety of which it provided. Only her loneliness was burdensome and she was willing to accept any form of closeness handed to her.

During their encounters against her wall, she indulged in the feeling of his hands and lips on her.

Afterwards, once he'd leave, she'd clean herself up and pray to the High Goddess of Fate.

It seemed Lady Ruelle answered her prayer.

"Gods are not born imperfectly," Mira replied.

"Then, perhaps it is Lady Ruelle's doing," Solaris said.

Naia noticed the minor change in Mira's marble-slate eyes, like water freezing. The prospect of Naia's pregnancy had been a bead of hope for her.And now, it was gone.

A bitter laugh scuffed up Naia's throat.

Mira and Solaris both spun their heads to look at her.

Naia wasn't sure where her burst of careless courage came from. After the last century of stretching herself emotionally thin, perhaps. Or dissociating night after night with Solaris thrusting inside of her, disgusted with herself for being too fearful of the consequences awaiting her if she said no. Detaching from herself, too exhausted to sort out her feelings. Avoiding them was the easier solution. A solution that only worked for so long—until Naia mentally broke down on Gianna for forgetting to bring her favorite marmalade for breakfast.

The servant was always sweet and apologetic, and most certainly did not deserve to be the outlet for Naia's outbursts.

She learned to plan her emotional breakdowns then, with a clay jar of wine and isolating herself deep in the jungle away from the palace grounds. She discovered a waterhole, and it quickly became her place of seclusion. Drunkenly stumbling into the water, staining her skin starlight silver. It was her weekly therapeutic purging. Though it did nothing to lighten the depression latching onto her like a toxic shadow.

"It's quite genius on Lord Cassian's part," Naia said to Mira. The pit of her stomach swirled, but she continued anyway. "He assumed you would attempt to defy the laws of his curse, in which he struck a deal with the High Goddess of Fate to give you a sterile daughter."

Solaris's mouth fell open, gaping at her. "Naia?—"

"Now that I am of no use to you until my eight-hundredth year"—Naia kept her chin elevated, unafraid—"I wish to explore outside of Kaimana."

Mira laughed.

Naia paled. She had never heard such a vivacious, sinister sound come from Mira.

"You wish to leave my kingdom?" Mira's malevolent smile aimed down at Naia, her furious power radiating off her like tidal waves.

Instinct had Naia bending her knees to beseech forgiveness, but she locked them before they gave in."Yes."

Mira remained unblinking, with a glare potent enough to evaporate the oxygen in the room.

Naia's lungs constricted, and she brought her hands up to her throat, remembering the scraping of seaberry wine.

"My eldest daughter," Mira said, "if I must suffer in this cage, then you will suffer in it with me."

In Naia'sfour hundredth year, Finnian was born.

The moment her father passed the little ball of black hair and bright green eyes to her arms, some of her internal, dreary fog lifted. Rays of sunlight sneaking through the darkness. Hope reappeared within her. Getting out of bed became easier, as if she had shed some of the rotted skin clinging to her.

Finnian's presence carried a tender touch, akin to their father's, prompting Naia to shield those vulnerable parts of her little brother.Luckily, his title was unbeknown, and he proved to be a difficult infant. These two things made Mira lose interest in him quickly, resulting in their father being his sole caretaker.

As the years passed, Solaris' visits receded to a few a year. Both Levina and Mira retracted their order for Naia to become pregnant, concluding it was the High Goddess of Fate's meddling that had made Naia sterile.

Naia couldn't figure out if she was sad at the thought of never having a child or elated by it.

Looking down at Finnian's infant form with an ache, she knew then. One day, with the right person, she longed for motherhood.A family of her own.

Through Finnian's boyhood, Naia taught him of the Mortal Land, of wars and health. She let him accompany her into the village where they ate slices of sourdough and met their father at his favorite cove. He would sprout trees from the ground and tickle their feet with flowers.

Naia's attention solely revolved around her brother and father, when she wasn't doing menial tasks delegated to her by Mira.

The first time Mira commanded Naia to flay fish alongside the kitchen maids, it took a few intakes of breaths to calm her pounding heartbeat and irritation on the matter. She entered the kitchen as she was told, and flayed the fish corpses. The kitchen maids exchanged glances. When they tried to intervene and politely inform her she was doing a sloppy job, she'd grumble remarks under her breath, continuing to work her hands, regardless of what they said.

That evening during their feast, it brought Naia immense satisfaction watching her gaudy relatives break their teeth on the bones she failed to pluck out of the white flesh of the fish.

The most rewarding, though, was when Vex swallowed one and wailed, pink faced as Malik carved into his stomach with a dinner knife to remove it.

Naia was never assigned to work in the kitchen by Mira again.

Although, it didn't stop Mira from assigning her other tedious tasks.

Naia would have much preferred breaking off her own legs rather than command servants around the great hall in preparation for a lavish feast, intended for a group of High Gods Mira had invited to Kaimana. A pathetic effort to stay updated on the politics of the Council and which High Deity had lost their title. But nevertheless, Mira enjoyed finding new ways to fill Naia's life with daily duties as petty punishments for her failure of a uterus.

Finnian burst into the great hall, beaming. "Sister, you must come with me at once!"

Naia pulled her attention away from the center pieces on the tables to her little brother. The sleeves of his tucked-in tunic were stained with dirt.

"Have you been in the garden again?" Naia scolded. "Mother will punish you, Finny."

He was in his twelfth year, and still possessed an innocent, childish charm in his gaze that Naia had desperately tried to preserve.

Finnian grabbed Naia's hand and pulled her away from the group of servants, awaiting her approval on the dreadfully over-the-top flower arrangements. "Not in the garden," he said. "I cannot say where aloud, but the place only the two of us know of."

"Okay, okay, Finny. Slow down," Naia giggled, allowing Finny to lead her away.

The servants gawked at the young lord, too stunned to dispute Naia's departure. It was rare for them to see emotion exuding from him.

Finnian inherited Mira's standard aloofness that either drew other's attention in, or hit a nerve, as others easily mistook it for arrogance. Most days, Finnian didn't bother the servants or guards with a look or indulge when they attempted small talk. His acknowledgement went as far as a bored stare.

He continued holding her hand as they traipsed down the cobblestone, leaving the palace grounds."You'll never believe what I stumbled upon during my walk."

Grinning, she looked down at the back of his head. "Do tell me."

His ebony strands swayed at the tops of his shoulders as he walked. Mira had demanded his servant to cut it a few months ago, but, preferring its length long, he refused. Naia was told by their father that when Finnian's servant attempted to approach him with a cutting blade, he bore the poor goddess with a dark glare, daring her to touch his hair.

"You'll see," he said. "I do not think I could accurately describe its beauty."

They veered off the cobblestone into the jungle, down an invisible pathway in the ground cover carved by the soles of their feet.

They passed by the metallic pool of a waterhole as he led her to the edge of the small clearing. Surrounding them were ancient kapok trees, their buttress roots jutting out of the soil, like graceful fingers sinking into the earth. Finnian loved climbing them and finding a spot to nap.

He crouched down in front of a make-shift pile of large banana tree leaves, their ends browned and cracked.

He removed one leaf from the pile.Naia leaned over his shoulder to inspect a tiny baby bird chirping in the center of the leaf chamber.

"It's a Boyden. I found it in the waterhole, but its wing is injured. It almost drowned, and I've been nursing it back to health for a few days now," he told her.

Naia kneeled to examine the bald creature, barely covered with a soft layer of fuzzy cobalt blue feathers. "It has been ages since I last saw one in Kaimana. I overheard Malik once say he saw one traveling from the Land of Entity to the Sun."

Finnian softly grazed its delicate head with the back of his index finger."Yes, I read in a book Father gave me how the High Goddess of Life and Balance has had one for thousands of years. She uses it as a messenger."

"How badly is its wing injured?" Naia asked.

"Not too bad. By the looks of it, the poor thing fell from its nest and hurt it during the fall. I've seen progress since taking care of it. Yesterday, it began stretching the wing, which made me hopeful."

The creature's beak spread apart, creating an oval shape, indicating it was hungry.

"Oh!" Finnian dashed to the closest kapok and dug his hand between the protruding buttress roots. "It adores worms."

Naia moved closer to assess the creature's lopsided wing. The brace Finnian created to keep it secure was impressive. A piece of string and a cloth wrapped around its body.

Her heart swelled with pride—of her brother and his kindness.

"What's its name?" Naia offered the bird her finger. It lightly pecked at her fingernail.

Finnian returned with a handful of wiggling insects. The bird reopened its mouth, and he dropped them in.

"Alke." He looked up at her with a solemn line across his lips. "For courage."

Naia smiled. "It's beautiful, Finny."

The summer solsticearrived soon after, filling the palace with gods to celebrate Naia's and Solaris' birthdays.

Naia sighed in front of her vanity as she fastened Wren in her updo. The tassels grazed her neck, reminding her of the relic within reach.

A knock sounded on her door. "Sister, it is me."

Naia spun on her cushioned stool.

Finnian slipped through the door with Alke perched on his shoulder, snacking on a half-eaten piece of licorice.

It had been a year since Finnian found Alke. The bird seldomly left Finnian's side, occasionally perching on Naia's shoulder or nearby branches to watch over her. She never minded Alke any attention, because she found Finnian's concern for her endearing.

Alke's fully grown form sat taller than Finnian's head. The color of its body indigo dipped in molten, the way the golden rays of sunlight sometimes smeared across the deepest, bluest parts of the sea. Long, spiked feathers protruded from the top of his head, ranging in height. It was Alke's eyes, soulful and wise, that captivated Naia.

"The guards are on high alert," Finnian said, chewing his licorice.

Naia leaned in to straighten the lapels of his tunic. "Between the summer solstice activities and the celebration, there is more to be on guard for."

Finnian gave a small shrug. "Or Mother is full of herself," he mumbled dryly.

Naia's eyes dropped to the small leather box he slid out from the inside of his blazer and grinned. "What do you have there, Finny?"

He handed it over to her. "Happy Birthday, Sister."

She popped open the top. "Finny, you didn't have to?—"

Her breath caught.

Laying on the cream satin material was a chrysocolla pendant.

A teardrop of the sea.

"The same as Mother's." Finnian pointed out with an eagerness to his tone. "Do you like it?"

Naia studied the gemstone, her heartbeat plunging in her stomach."I love it, but where did you come across something this valuable?"

"Informing you of such would diminish the sentimentality of the gift."

"Mother has never revealed where her necklace came from." She looked up at him, brow creased. "Tell me."

Finnian sighed in defeat. "Father is the one who told me about it." He plucked the necklace from her grasp and moved behind her. "Wear it to your celebration."

He placed it around her neck and clasped it in the back.

Father's involvement eased some of her worry.

She couldn't recall ever verbally expressing her admiration of the necklace to anyone, but Finnian must've caught onto her stealing glimpses of it during feasts. The thought he put into the gift touched her.

Naia brought her hand up to graze the gemstone resting in the center of her sternum. "Thank you, Finny. Truly."

"Anything for my favorite sister." He held out his arm. "Now, allow me to escort you."

Her expression fell to distaste. "Can we skip the feast?"

"The sooner you make an appearance, the sooner we can sneak out and join the festivities in the village."

"Very well. My sugared almonds await."Naia rolled her eyes, hooking her arm around his. "A double batch of sugared almonds. And I want to sleep by the waterhole and wake up to dolphin calls."

Finnian shook his head, smirking faintly.

The vaulted greathall exuded an aura of grandeur, thanks to its hanging silks and sparkling jewels.

Deities lined up in front of the family table to deliver their gifts personally to Solaris and Naia.

Solaris sat to her right, downing his wine, laughing sprightly at a goddess of mischief and art as she leaned over the table to murmur in his ear. On Naia's other side were her siblings and parents.

Naia gazed down at the golden pear in her hand, gifted by the goddess, pretending to admire the golden fruit. What in the gods am I supposed to do with this?

The next god in line stepped up and joined the conversation with Solaris and the goddess.

Naia tried to soothe her irrational worry that had picked like a scab in the back of her mind all evening, but the pendant beneath the neckline of her gown stung against her skin. She couldn't ignore the guttural feeling roiling through her insides, telling her something was off about the necklace.

She scanned the room, counting the abnormal number of guards stationed around the walls.

Twelve. Six more than usual. The ones racing about the palace seemed to be searching for something.

"Sister, could you pass me the wine?" Astrid held her nimble fingers over Finnian's plate.

Naia handed off the golden pear to Solaris. She leaned over to grab the porcelain jar when another goddess stepped up in the line with a present wrapped in red satin. "Lady Naia, what a beautiful necklace."

The jar slipped from Naia's fingers. Luckily, Finnian reached up to grab it and passed it to Astrid.

Naia's smile strained, bringing her fingertips to rest on the exposed pendant."Thank you."

"Was it a birthday present?" The unknown goddess, draped in a sparkling peach-colored robe, slipped closer to examine it, only bringing more attention.

From her periphery, Naia saw her family members' heads swiveling towards them.

"Yes," Naia managed a curt reply to the goddess, accepting her gift over the table. "I appreciate the gift."

"My pleasure. May you have the happiest of birthdays, Lady Naia and Lord Solaris." She bowed her chin to each of them before turning to leave.

"Show us this necklace," Astrid purred and leaned forward for a clear look around Finnian. "Move your fingers for me to see."

Finnian exchanged a look with Naia, his brow tapered as if he couldn't understand why she hid the necklace. Naia frowned, not sure how to silently express her thoughts. A look of hurt crossed over Finnian's face because of it. She knew he was mistaking her action of hiding his present because she was ashamed of it.

It was the last thing she wanted, so she lowered her hand to her lap.

"Oh my!" Astrid gasped dramatically, eyes bouncing from the pendant to Naia's face. "Isn't this Mother's pendant given to her by grandmother?"

A painful surge of blood beat into Naia's skull.

"What did you say?" Vex asked from the other side of the table. "You found Mother's necklace?"

"Why yes, I did." Astrid turned her head in the opposite direction of Naia. "Mother, it is Naia who has your precious pendant."

The chatter in the hall quieted as people turned to look.

Naia could feel Solaris intently staring at her cheek. Beside her, Finnian's mouth opened and closed, head spinning from Astrid to Naia.

Mira rose from her chair, and the hall seemed to hold its breath, the stillness somber like a funeral.

The menacing aura of Mira froze the breath in Naia's lungs. She pinned her gaze down on her half-eaten plate of herb-crusted salmon and vegetables.

Mira hovered over Naia's shoulder from behind, leaning forward and positioning inches from Naia's exposed neck.

Naia shuddered, her instincts blaring fight or flight. Her mouth opened in preparation to alleviate the situation when Mira flicked her finger underneath the edge of the table, overturning it. Plates of food flew across the air and strewed across the tables in the great hall. Those sitting shot up to their feet and stumbled back out of the way as a chorus of gasps filled the air.

Mira hauled Naia up by the wrist and forced her down. "Are you so bold to think you can steal right underneath my nose, you insolent child?"

Naia's knees slammed into the floor, her arm dislocating from the angle Mira held it. She let out a whimper, looking up to take in the gown Mira wore—bright blue silk embroidered with golden lace and a neckline that went up to her throat, making it impossible for Naia to notice the absence of the necklace.

Waves of panic flooded through her system. "I-I did not—" Her teeth chattered too much to get a word out.

Mira released her wrist, causing Naia to stumble forward and catch herself by slapping her palms on the floor.

The sharp end of Mira's heel came down and punctured straight through the back of Naia's hand.

Naia wailed.

A searing pain shot up her arm, radiating all the way to her jaw and cramping her stomach. The sickening scent of copper invaded her senses, and she felt her face pale. A crimson pool formed between her fingers, and her breath went short.

"Mira!" Father shouted.

Mira snapped her head towards him. "Vale," she said, crisp and cutting.

He came to an immediate halt halfway to Naia.

Like the many times before, Naia sensed he wrestled with the weight of the consequences that came with defying Mira.

Naia rotated her head to find Finnian wide eyed in shock, to Vex and Astrid, staring down at her with smug accomplishment.

Naia wanted to scream. Finnian was only a child, gullible to their games.

She kept picturing the moment Finnian gave her the necklace with composed giddiness. It must've taken him ages to think of the perfect gift. Naia imagined his thrill when Astrid and Vex approached him with the idea.

It made sense—why the guards were on high alert, and her feeling that something was off. Naia berated herself for not listening to her gut. After everything, she should've questioned where Finnian got the necklace instead of assuming Father helped him hunt down a replica.

"How shall Ipunish you this time?" Mira twisted her heel, grinding Naia's tendons and bones coiled around it.

Finnian wedged himself between Naia and Mira. "Mother!" He splayed his arms wide, backside pressed against Naia's arms. "It was me! The gift was from me! It was not Sister's fault. Punish me. Not her!"

Mira cocked her head at Finnian. Naia recognized the sick glint of anticipation in Mira's gaze.

Naia's heartbeat plummeted. "Finnian is lying! I stole the necklace!"

"No. I stole it," Finnian said, louder. "Me. Not her."

Naia tugged to free her hand from Mira's heel. Adrenaline pulsated in her veins, dissipating her physical pain. "Mother, it was me!"

Mira turned her head towards the enormous crystal cut doors of the great hall and whistled loudly. The call was familiar, a long, high-pitched sound she'd heard Finnian do hundreds of times when beckoning Alke.

Naia's pulse slammed in her throat. She lifted her free arm to shove Finnian's small frame aside. "Mother, listen, I beg of you! Please! Do not do this! It was me who stole your jewel. Finnian had nothing?—"

Alke announced its presence with a majestic call, soaring above the guests and beneath the vaulted ceiling.

As commanded, the bird landed on Mira's forearm.

A Boyden's loyalty was first and foremost to High Gods over their masters. Until Finnian possessed such a title, Alke would have no choice but to choose Mira's order over his.

"Mira." Father's plea came out hoarse. He took another step, but Mira paid him no attention as her milky gaze flashed to Alke.

From the first time she'd caused Finnian physical pain, it had not made a difference. For Finnian's most frustrating quality was his stubbornness. It only took him enduring her wicked punishment once to understand physical harm could not kill him.

The second time Mira had punished him with pain, Finnian writhed on the sand with the goddesses' ribbons of water worming in his veins, clotting his blood. The sight was horrendous. Naia fought Vex and Malik to get to him, to no avail.

When Mira relented, Finnian sat up after his body repaired itself and leveled Mira with a defiant look that said, you cannot break me.

And after four centuries of learning to decode every shift and movement of Mira's face, Naia knew precisely what her next move would be.

Hysteria crashed down on Naia, and she tore her hand free from Mira's heel and shot up. "Mother, please! Beat me! Hit me! Drown me! Do whatever you wish, but please do not?—"

White foam gushed from the bird's beak. No.

Finnian froze beside her, watching in horror.

Naia jumped, flailing her arms in the air to spook the bird. "Alke, fly away!"

Alke squawked. No longer able to keep himself balanced on Mira's arm, its spasming body fell. Mira caught hold of the bird's neck, and all sense of rationality snapped in Naia's brain.

Without thinking, she seized Mira by the arm, lifted, and swung.

Mira flew across the hall. Her body collided with the crystal wall and shards scattered. Overhead, the chandeliers trembled on their bases.

The hall descended into chaos and disorder. The sight of bodies stumbling, coupled with the jarring sound of shocked hisses, left behind a void filled with swirling smoke and empty spaces as the majority dispersed.

Naia gaped down at her hand, stunned by her ownstrength. Then, her eyes fell to a limp and lifeless Alke at her feet. Her brother down on his knees, his movements slurred. Hands shaking in the air, hovering over his dead bird.

"How dare you lay your hand on me!" Mira's voice resonated like an earthquake, quivering in Naia's bones.

She is going to mutilate me?—

Mira moved swiftly, making it impossible for her to be seen.

Roots exploded through the floor, bursting forth like thick fingers tearing through the earth. They seized Mira inches from Naia, plucking her up by the arms and hurling her into the ceiling. The arches crumbled under the weight of the roots, ensnaring her in their grasp.

Father stood in front of Naia, hand drawn up, commanding the roots with a bolstering power unknown to her.

"Naia, take your brother and go." His voice was booming, godlike.

She couldn't pull her eyes off him; off the sight of Mira, suspended from the ceiling like a helpless insect, filling the room with a cacophony of furious screams trembling the furniture.

Solaris wrenched Naia by the arm. She stumbled on her feet into his chest, and he pushed her towards Finnian. "Naia!" he snarled. "Go!"

Her senses snapped back into focus, and she reached for her little brother, hugging Alke's corpse, and she forced him up onto his feet.

Together, they ran.