“Gods can die?” I almost whispered the question.
“Yes, but it is not an easy feat. There is only one way to kill a god, and the price that must be paid is too high.”
“What is it?” I asked. I could see he was finding it difficult to talk about, but I was too curious to ignore it.
“In the beginning of the world, my brother, my sister, and I were created by an ancient being. Like her, we are eternal, but we all have one weakness. Whenever we are near our mother, our powers are weakened, and we may be killed by wood from the heart of her tree. Taking her heart would kill her in turn though. I couldn’t fathom the idea of sacrificing our mother to destroy our brother.”
“So you have a mother?”
Bethalial slowly nodded, though he didn’t say anything in response, and I got the feeling it was a subject he didn’t really want to talk about.
“Well, it sounds like the Christmas stars were your only option then,” I said to bridge the awkward silence.
He nodded once more, but I could see there was doubt in his ancient and all-knowing eyes. “Perhaps, and perhaps not,” he said. “But it doesn’t matter now. Belsnickel will attempt to rule the world once again. The final star is the only thing in his way, and I won’t be able to intervene this time.”
My skin went cold as he spoke and a chill crept up my spine. From the way my father was watching me, I could tell he was relying on me to make sure Belsnickel was stopped.
“What do I need to do?” I asked.
My mother’s gaze flicked between my father and me, worry filling her eyes. She opened her mouth to object but quickly closed it as though she decided that it was no longer her place to try to protect me.
“You’re already doing what you must, by trying to protect the final star,” Bethalial said, standing tall with pride as he looked at me. “Once Belsnickel’s powers return, he’ll be able to return to this realm and easily overpower the defenses I have in place for the star. He’ll destroy it, releasing all Christmas beings from the curse we placed on them, and then he will try to finish what he started a millennia ago.”
“To rule all the realms,” I murmured.
Bethalial nodded. “The curse is the last thing standing in his way, and once it is gone, his dark creations will have all of their powers returned to them. The destruction they inflicted under his persuasion during the last war was so brutal and intense that I have no doubt all the realms will be forced to bow before him to avoid it.”
His eyes were filled with sorrow, and I could see how helpless he felt. My father might have been a god, but he was powerless to stop what was coming. “We can’t let that happen.”
“No,” he agreed. “But you’ve already come here to protect the final star, so I know the future is in good hands.”
I certainly didn’t have as much faith in myself as my father did, but I smiled at him in return. Even if I didn’t believe in myself, it was good to know he did.
“How can I protect it from Belsnickel though?” I asked.
“You need to place it somewhere he can’t go,” Bethalial said. “It was safe here before his powers returned, as only those with godly powers running through their veins may enter this world. But it won’t be long now before he is able to come for the star.”
“When will his powers fully return?” I asked.
“So much magic is entwined in Christmas stars that when they are destroyed it can take some time for it to unravel. I’m sure Belsnickel has already had a great amount of his powers returned to him, but there is still time before he has full use of them again.”
In other words, Belsnickel could come storming into the Realm of Gods any day now. “So, assuming I can even get the star, where can I put it that he can’t go?”
“You have my powers of creation running through you,” Bethalial said. “If you can create a new realm that is only accessible by you, the star should be safe.”
“That’s not possible,” I replied.
His wide smile returned to his lips. “I think you’ll find a great many things are possible when you put your mind to them. Your creation powers are focused from heart and passion. They are a natural part of who you are, and I have every belief you’ll be able to deal with the Christmas star when the time comes.”
I shook my head in confusion, still uncertain about whether I was capable of the things my father was suggesting. “Maybe I should just focus on getting the star first, and then I can think about creating another realm to put it in.”
Bethalial placed two hands on my shoulders and looked deep into my eyes. “You’re a lot like your mother was when she was younger,” he said. “She too only liked to focus on her present problems rather than those that haven’t arisen yet.”
“That is a legitimate way of dealing with problems,” Mom said, making me smile. She had always made decisions in life on the fly, so I could see how he saw the similarity between us.
“But you’re right,” he continued. “Let’s focus on you getting the final Christmas star first.”
“And how do I do that?” I asked.
“I can show you the entrance to its resting place,” he said before taking a step back from me and crossing his arms over his chest. “But only you can retrieve it.”
“If you created it, surely you can just give it to me?” I said.
My father shook his head though. “It is not as simple as that,” he replied. “These stars were not created by myself alone, and I no longer retain enough magic to get past the defenses protecting them. Only those who are worthy of the stars’ power may retrieve them. You will be found worthy, I am sure of it.”
I let out a sigh and gestured toward the front door of the house. “Well, I suppose we should get this over with,” I said.
No one moved to leave though, and my mother looked devastated by my words. “Surely this can wait until tomorrow,” she said. “Won’t you stay with us one night?”
I wanted to agree with her more than anything, but I already knew that wasn’t an option. Every moment I wasted put more beings in danger. I couldn’t risk it, especially not when Belsnickel’s powers could soon return in full.
“I have to do this,” I told her. “But I promise to be careful.”
Mom shook her head. “Being careful is not enough, Clio. All who have tried to retrieve the star before have died.”
“Then I promise not to die,” I said. “Besides, I thought you believed I could do this?”
Mom slowly nodded. “I do,” she said. “Of course, I do. I just hate to see you in danger, and I’m not ready to let you go again so soon.”
“I’m not ready either, but I can’t put this off any longer.”
This wasn’t just about whether or not I would die. This was about something much bigger than that. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous about the prospect of facing a challenge that no one had survived before.
I really hoped I was about to be the first.
Chapter Fifteen
When we left the house, I found the world surrounding me had changed. I no longer appeared to be in Bramblewood. The houses and roads had all disappeared, and the ground beneath me was now covered in white fluffy clouds that stretched out to the horizon. The sky above had turned dark, and my jaw dropped open as I looked at the incredible view that stretched across the heavens. Millions of radiant stars sparkled across the sky, and swirling pockets of light blue and deep purple cosmic clouds lit up the night. It felt like I was looking at the entire universe, and it seemed impossible to believe.
Mom nudged my shoulder, and I looked down from the sky to see her grinning at me. “Are you okay?”
“Just checking out the view,” I murmured. “Bramblewood is gone. Are you guys seeing all the clouds and the starry universe too?”
Both of my parents shook their heads, and I recalled Mom explaining that everyone saw something different while in the Realm of Gods. My father had a secretive smile on his lips though, and I wondered if perhaps he k
new more about what I was seeing than he let on. He was a god, after all.
“So, where is the star kept?” I asked, looking around like it might be obvious from where I stood.
Bethalial came over and grasped hold of my hand. “I’ll take you there.” He gave my mom a warm smile, and she reached out to take his free hand that was stretched out toward her. Once the three of us were connected, the air around me began to shift. It rippled as the clouds and stars surrounding me started to blur, and I felt the tingle of Bethalial’s magic buzzing across my skin. One moment we were outside my mother’s house in the clouds, and the next, we were standing at the base of a mountain.
A vibrant green meadow surrounded us, and the sun shone down on the peak of the mountain that towered over me. A large golden archway, identical to all the others, stood over a pathway that led up a steep ascent. Nerves churned in my gut as I stared at the route.
“Please don’t tell me the star is up there,” I said, nodding toward the top of the mountain.
“It is,” Bethalial replied. “And I’m afraid the way to reach it is not easy. You will need to overcome several challenges to prove your worth, but I have every faith you can retrieve the star. Just trust your gut, and you will succeed.”
His eyes reflected the faith he had in me, and my mom’s eyes shone with pride as she stood at his side. I felt like I didn’t deserve their trust and confidence, and I really hoped I wasn’t about to let all three of us down.
I let go of my father’s hand, but before I could step away, my mom bundled me up in a hug. “Please look after yourself,” she whispered into my ear as she hugged me so tightly I could no longer breathe. “I don’t know when I’ll see you again, but always remember that I love you and that I’m here whenever you want to see me.”
I pulled back from her hug. “I’ll see you once I have the star,” I told her.
She nodded in agreement but didn’t seem as certain as I was. Before I could question the worried look she was giving me, I found myself in Bethalial’s arms. He wrapped me up securely, and I felt so safe that I never wanted to leave his embrace. I was so used to fending for myself that I was completely overwhelmed by all the love I was feeling from both my parents. It was something I could definitely get used to.
I stepped out of my father’s arms and glanced over my shoulder at the mountain. I didn’t feel ready to part with either of my parents just yet, and I certainly wasn’t prepared for the challenges that lay ahead of me. “Can I ask you something?” I said, facing my father once more.
Bethalial nodded for me to continue.
“When you cursed the dark beings with limited powers, why did you also curse the light?” It was probably a silly question, but as I considered the challenge ahead, all I could think was that I wouldn’t have to bother retrieving the star if we’d defeated the dark beings a long time ago.
Bethalial’s eyes softened as he responded. “The dark beings fought against their will in the war,” he replied. “I’m sure some of them would have followed my brother without any of his persuasion, but for the most part, they were unwilling participants. If the light beings had remained more powerful than the dark beings, I suspect my creations would have retaliated. I cursed them to stop a war, not to start another one.”
His words made me realize just how important my mission was. But they also revealed how much my father cared. He had a good heart, and I hoped that I could make him proud. “Okay, I guess this is goodbye for now,” I said, with another glance toward the mountain.
“It’s not goodbye,” Mom replied. “But see you soon.” Her eyes were filled with tears she was trying to hold back, and I could see from the way she gripped tightly onto my father’s hand that she was afraid. She gave me a tight smile.
“Good luck,” she said. Her voice broke over the words, and I knew it was killing her to let me go. She knew better than I did how dangerous the journey ahead of me was, and seeing the fear in her eyes reminded me what I was getting myself into.
I didn’t have room for self-doubt though, and I knew if I allowed myself to linger any longer, I’d lose the courage to take that first step and start the journey to the star. So, I turned and focused on the way ahead.
The large golden arch wasn’t far from where I stood, and I took a deep breath before I began to walk toward it. I could feel my parents still watching me as I departed, and I glanced over my shoulder at them one last time. Bethalial was holding my mom close, and his eyes were clouded with concern. We might have only just met each other, but I could feel a lifetime of love in his gaze. I lifted a hand in farewell, and my father nodded to me.
“Remember to trust your instincts,” he said, before the air around him started to ripple with his magic. Through the sparks of power and the haze behind him, I could see Mom’s cottage. It only appeared for a brief second, but then the magic dispersed, and my parents and the house were gone.
Now, I really was on my own.
I faced the archway once more. As I looked through it, the world beyond was simply an extension of the rocky pathway up the mountain that I was currently standing on. These archways never seemed to show the true destination on the other side though, so I was surprised when I stepped through it to find that no magic tingled against my skin and I hadn’t been transported away. I was still at the base of a mountain, and for once, I was disappointed. I really didn’t want to do any climbing.
I knew there was no time to waste though, so I didn’t hesitate before I took the first step forward and started up the steep path. The way was narrow and the ground was uneven. Small rocks and pebbles were dotted over the path, and I had to walk slowly to ensure I didn’t slip. On one side of me, the craggy and sharp rocks of the mountain rose up high above me; while on the other side of the path there was only open air and a view out over the world below.
I’d only been walking a few minutes, but the path was so steep that I’d quickly ascended quite a distance. The air had the sweet, floral scent to it that I first noticed when I entered the Realm of Gods, though there wasn’t any sign of any flowers.
My parents had both warned of how dangerous the journey was, but I felt like perhaps they were mistaken. So far, other than being short of breath and my legs straining as I walked up the steep pathway, it didn’t seem so bad.
I came to a stop though when I reached a divergence in the path. The trail I’d been following continued to wind its way around the outside of the mountain, but there was also a set of stairs that looked to be a shortcut all the way up to the peak.
I folded my arms over my chest and took a moment to catch my breath as I considered the two options. The stairs were narrow and uneven with parts of the rock appearing to crumble away with age. They were ancient and dangerous and were cast in ominous dark shadows. Just looking at the steps gave me a bad feeling, but I wanted to get to the peak as quickly as possible, so I didn’t dismiss them right away.
Given the state of the staircase, I knew I would have to climb it slowly. It was also far steeper than the pathway, which was actually beginning to look appealing right now. I felt as though I was more likely to make it to the top in one piece if I continued along the path rather than the steps.
I couldn’t let my lack of fitness make my decision for me though. My father had warned me there would be challenges along the way, and though this seemed like a simple decision, I didn’t want to make the wrong call.
As I stood there considering the two options ahead of me, I began to notice that the floral scent surrounding me was now mixed with the rich scent of brandy—my father’s magic. I glanced around, trying to understand where the scent could be coming from, before I took a deep breath in. The two fragrances were equally as strong where I stood, but as I took another step toward the staircase I noticed my father’s scent growing weaker and the floral smell growing stronger.
I started pacing up and down, taking long breaths in through my nose as I tried to figure out where each scent of magic was coming from. My father’
s magic seemed tied to the pathway I’d been on, while the other floral fragrance appeared to be coming from the stairs. My father said he hadn’t been alone in protecting the Christmas stars, and I felt certain it was his sister Belphia’s protective magic I was scenting on the stairs.
“Well, that makes things easy,” I muttered before walking past the stairs and continuing on the path I’d set out on. I knew that my father’s magic was powerful and dangerous, but it also felt familiar, and I had a strong connection to it. Whatever challenges lay ahead of me, I knew I could overcome them with my father on my side.
As I continued upward, the weather started to turn. The warmth was leached from the air, and a chill seemed to settle in my bones. The sky began to darken as thick clouds rolled in overhead. Within minutes, the weather went from a perfect summer’s day to the deepest depths of winter. Snow started to fall around me, and a wind whipped up that battered against me with powerful, strong gusts.
My hair and clothes quickly became covered in wet snow. They no longer afforded me any protection against the cold, and I started to shiver as my skin turned to ice. I tried to summon myself something warmer to wear, but not so much as a spark of magic lit up my fingertips.
I swore under my breath and then attempted to send out my summoning magic one more. Again, I was met with nothing. I stared at my fingertips, which were starting to turn blue. I could feel the deep well of my power within me, but the magic seemed trapped inside. I hadn’t used my powers since entering the realm, so I wasn’t sure if it was the mountain or the realm itself that was stopping my magic—either way, I knew my powers were of no use to me now. I couldn’t turn back though, and I was going to have to face the mountain’s challenges powerless.
Ignoring the protests of my body, I continued up the steep slope. The temperature only dropped as I hiked, and the heavy snowfall turned into a full-blown storm. I could no longer see the top of the mountain—I could barely see a few feet ahead. I kept my arms huddled against my body as I shuffled through the calf-deep snow, but it did little to keep me warm and it was impossible to ignore the cold when I felt frozen to the core.
Christmas Curse (Christmas Magic Book 3) Page 14