by Renée Jaggér
Night swallowed hard, and Sun watched as she fought off tears. Sun gave her a sad smile. “Take my power, and you won’t be hurt again.”
Night nodded, and in a hoarse voice, managed to say, “Thank you.”
Sun’s eyes glistened with tears. “Remember that with it, you can hurt others. Sometimes that’s what it is meant to do, but other times, it only hurts the innocent.”
Night stiffened as she spoke. “I remember what it was like to be innocent.”
Sun released a long, deep sigh as if her body were ridding itself of the tension she had accumulated over all the years. “We’ll begin at dawn.”
The dawn arrived in silence.
The sun drifted over the horizon as if it had all the time in the world to bring its radiance to the earth.
The woman who called herself Sun stood outside her cave as the first rays touched her skin. Night sat beside her, legs dangling off the edge of the rock edifice.
It’s time, Sun thought. When they had taken the power from the first Morrigan, they had traversed what had once been a war-torn battlefield. The first Morrigan had been lying in the soft mud, weighed down by her power.
Sun sank to her knees, a tear slipping down her cheek. She reached for her cousin’s hand. “I’ll have to tell them when we are finished, but...you might have to carry me.”
Night nodded as though she understood. As though she had some secret knowledge Sun didn’t know about. Sun did not, however, have the strength to ask questions. Moon could do that part.
When at last the Sundering came, light filled her entire body and then left it. She felt its tearing pain. Her cries were wrenched from her throat and tore through the mountain air. Her cousin’s hand clenched hers. She felt the agony, but mostly she felt...
Release.
Freedom.
At last.
“She’s back,” Moon heard her sister say from the other room.
Moon closed the book she had been examining and rushed into the adjoining room. This room was like all the others they occupied; pillars and tapestries, plush sofas, and long tables laden with refreshments were scattered about. Stars had put them together, saying they deserved such pleasantries after their battles.
Stars was not, however, enjoying any of these things as she looked grim-faced from the balcony that overlooked the rain-soaked gardens below. Sun was trudging toward the entrance, and she was not alone.
Moon gasped when she recognized the dark-haired woman beside her sister. Stars gave her a long, knowing look and nodded. Stars’ face flooded with a fearful realization. She’s done it, she thought.
Moon read that thought, and since her younger sister seldom displayed her fear on her face, she knew it was true.
They could both feel it. They could both feel the absence of power in their sister and that it was tied to someone else. Her, Moon realized. They heard the door open on the lower floor and waited, gathering their courage as their sister and their cousin climbed the winding staircase to the upper level.
Moon reached for Stars’ hand. Don’t blow up, Moon thought toward her sister.
Stars raised a brow. Don’t spill all your knowledge and “why she shouldn’t have done it alone” on them, she thought back.
The door to their resting chamber opened, and both women entered with blank expressions. Sun’s expression was blank from weakness, the other woman’s so she could not be read.
Moon repressed a deep sigh. It has begun. The Sundering had to begin sometime and in pieces. All three could not lose their power at once. I just thought we would all know about it when it started, she thought. She did not, however, say any of this to her sister. Better she severed herself from that power than consume the world in fire.
Stars gave the other woman—their cousin, who they had grown up with long ago—a genuine smile. “I won’t hide that I’m surprised.” she laughed. “Good to see you, Ev—”
“That’s not my name,” the woman interjected, her tone cold. Sun glanced at their cousin, and the woman softened her expression and relaxed her posture. “I go by ‘Night’ now, and I understand your surprise. Trust me, no one was more surprised than I when I discovered Sun had not told you she wished to give up her power.”
She’s lying, Moon thought, but she did not allow her realization to show. She gave their cousin a sweet smile. “Would you like anything to drink?”
Night’s eyes traveled about the room as she spoke in an airy tone. “No, I don’t think so.”
Stars came to Sun’s side, asking her how she felt. “Tired” was the answer. Stars helped her older sister to one of the sofas and they sank onto it together. Moon prepared a drink for Sun, one which might help her rest. All the while, she kept her eye on Night. “What made you choose to go by the name ‘Night?’”
The woman turned, her crimson silk dress brushing the polished tile of the floor. “Oh, don’t you know? I wanted to match.” Her smile was venomous.
Moon glanced at Sun, wishing to strangle her older sister, but when she remembered what had happened with her power, she relented. You should have told us, she thought as sorrow welled within her. We should have been with you through it.
As Moon handed Sun her tea, Night decided there wasn’t enough attention being directed toward her. “You know, I think I will take a drink…if you don’t mind, of course.” She sauntered over to the sofa on the opposite side of the room and plopped down.
Stars and Moon exchanged looks. Moon spoke in a dry tone. “Of course. Anything you’d like.”
At these words, Night turned, her eyes glimmering with the venom Moon had seen in her smile earlier. She perched her chin in her hand and leaned forward. Her blood-red lips curved in a wicked smile. “You know, Moon, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you say that to me.”
“You haven’t heard me say anything in a long time, Night.” Moon’s tone was cold.
Night’s smile vanished. “Precisely.” She leaned back and rested her arms on the back of the sofa. “We’ve been at odds for some time, all of us. I’m thinking it's time to reconcile.”
Moon was not the first to react this time. Stars’ gaze was alight with her growing rage. “We tried to help you, but you chose a prince over us because he could ‘get you somewhere.’ You depended on a human man to get you out of your problems. Do you know what we did? We worked together and solved them ourselves.”
Night stiffened and surveyed Stars with a look of near-hatred. It was gone in an instant, and her dazzling smile returned. “You left me behind in that wretched village. That so-called prince got me into bed, defiled me against my wishes, and threw me into the street. When I came to you three for help, you denied me. You told me you didn’t deal with ‘powerless prostitutes.’ Well,” she shrugged, “I’m not selling my body, but I am buying power. Finally, one of you decided to help.” She gave Sun a pointed look. The latter didn’t appear to be listening. Her gaze was far-off, eyes blank.
“What did you do to her?” Moon asked in a soft yet dangerous voice. It was like a lioness’ purr.
Night shrugged. “See for yourself.”
Moon took slow, deliberate steps across the room, braced her hands on either side of her cousin, fixed her with a cold stare, and spoke in a low tone. “How did you even find out about the Morrigan?”
Night smirked. “Think about it, Moon. Think about what kind of training and skills I had growing up.” She giggled. “All those poor merchants whose pocket-watches went missing. Oh, my, how angry they got, but the thief was never caught!” Night rose, stood on the sofa, and twirled. “How they would gawk at pretty girls and not notice pretty hands in their pockets.”
Moon’s eyes grew wide, and her heart rate increased. She stumbled back until she hit the table and reached out to steady herself. “You stole the book. My book.”
Night fixed her cousin with a dry smile. Her eyes glimmered with scheming intensity. “You were never good at hiding things, most of all your feelings toward me.”
�
�I never hated you. I just thought you were...”
“Too different?” Night asked. She shot her cousin a mocking look. Moon could feel Stars rising behind her, her body stiffening, ready to fight. Sun still sat on the sofa, her depleted power leaving her numb and exhausted. No one answered Night. She laughed. “I am different. Too bad no one ever thought to consider that a good thing.”
“Where’s the book?”
“In my secret hiding place,” Night whispered. She giggled again. “I am good at hiding things.” She hopped off the sofa. “Sun told me we were coming here so we could all join together and I could begin learning from you, but you see, I don’t believe that is necessary.”
No, Moon thought, every muscle in her body tensing. This isn’t happening.
Night tapped her chin with a long, well-manicured fingernail. “I believe I’ve learned everything I need to know from the book. Now all that is left...” Her voice trailed off and she stepped closer to Moon, then leaned in and whispered, “All that is left is to take your power too.”
The room erupted in chaos.
Stars moved, sharp, crooked daggers in each hand. She emitted a snarl that even Moon, who had heard it hundreds of times before, started at hearing. Before Moon could move, Stars had lunged, and Night had reacted.
With accuracy.
With one swift movement, Night raised her blade to clang against Stars’. Night’s lips twisted in a bitter smile. “I’ve always wanted to take down the Conqueror,” she growled.
She spun away from Stars’ next swing. Stars’ dagger caught on Night’s dress and tore it but met no flesh. Stars snarled again as Night ducked out of the way. She was too fast. Trained, Moon realized. By whom?
Moon screamed as Night moved, her knife flashing. “Stars, watch out!” All Moon could see was a blur before...
Too late. With a movement as quick as lightning, Night held Stars against her, her knife pressed to her throat. Blood seeped from Stars’ neck as she struggled against her cousin.
Night’s voice was soft yet dangerous. “Shh, quiet.” She laughed and looked at Moon, who stood helpless across from her. Sun did not react. She might as well have been a statue.
Realization came upon Moon. “You didn’t just take her power. You’re taking her life, sucking it right out of her. Who’s helping you?”
Night laughed low and dark, and her tongue appeared and swiped across her bottom lip. “Sun should have listened to the god of war when he came to visit her. Some of us know who to make deals with.”
A tear dropped onto Moon’s cheek. “That was dangerous.” Stars continued to struggle against her captor, but Night’s grip was too tight.
Night seethed, “I don’t care what you think is dangerous anymore. It’s my turn now. You were too busy fighting all your wars to heal your own home. You never paid attention to what truly mattered.”
“We saved lives. What will you do with the power?”
“Deliver justice,” Night bit out.
“Revenge,” Moon corrected.
Night snarled, and Moon felt every hair on her body stand on end. “They’re coming soon,” Night whispered in Stars’ ear. Stars clenched her eyes shut. “I’ll take your power and your life, then I will rise.”
Her knife swiped across Stars’ neck, and the Conqueror fell to the floor. Moon released an anguished scream, one she felt could tear the world in two. She did not see Night stalking toward her, her knife dripping Stars’ blood, before a swarm of crows filled the entire room and blocked everything out.
The pain rushed in. They pecked every inch of skin. Fire lanced through every nerve.
Then darkness. Nothingness.
Night rose from the blood-drenched floor of the Morrigan’s resting chambers. She wiped her knife clean on a silk cloth and surveyed the room and the three bodies. The crows had dispersed, but one creature remained.
Night surveyed the enormous black wolf. “Hello, Morgo.”
The creature emitted a low growl.
Night smirked. “Don’t worry, we’ll become great friends, you and I.” From the balcony, she looked down at the too-still gardens. Even the once-bubbling water fountains had ceased operating. “It’s my turn. The Third Morrigan and the Queen of Heaven.”
Chapter Eleven
I had never been so happy in my whole damned life to drive out into the countryside.
“Finish your holiday,” Simon had told me upon my return. After taking one look at my bloody clothes and disheveled appearance, he had told me to go home. “I apologize for interrupting it.”
Although I noted his sincerity, I knew that if he had to repeat his actions, he would. I saved people from those monsters, I told myself. I did. No one else.
I knew there was no holiday for me. I had to go back and tell Gran what had happened. Surprisingly, the train had been crowded. I guessed that after similar events in the city, people desired to go elsewhere. Those who had money, anyway. I remembered the conditions the people in the council flats were living in. Was that because of the virus or because of who they were living under? There was no telling how long those beasts I had killed had been there.
What the hell were they?
I had asked myself that question all night. I had asked it before falling asleep and in the moments when I had awakened in the dead of night to darkness and shaking limbs. I truly hoped Gran would have answers. I laughed at myself. Just days ago, I had been eager to get away from the woman. Now, I couldn’t get back to her fast enough.
I hired a car, and this time, I remembered which fork to take in the forest. I avoided looking at the sign with the riddle. The woods still gave me chills as I passed through them. Although I did not tell Gran I was coming ahead of time, I had a feeling she knew.
I was right.
Gran was at the bottom of the hill when I pulled up. Wait until you hear about everything that’s happened, I thought as I stepped out of my car. I felt like a giddy child wanting to tell a story, but something else in me didn’t want to talk about last night. Something in me wanted to forget everything that had happened and pretend Gran wasn’t right.
I remembered the children we had found in the building and changed my mind.
“I knew you would come back to me when you were ready, dear. You’ll have to tell me everything that has happened, but first, I’ve made supper.” To go with supper, Gran had made me a cup of coffee.
“How do you get food here since you don’t leave?” I asked as I sat down to eat.
Gran’s eyes twinkled. “Your mother is a kind soul.”
I balked. Of course. My conversation with my mother the other night had been cut off. I should call her back soon, I told myself. Had Mum been bringing her food all these years? I doubted Gran had lived off goat’s milk and apples all this time.
“I told her to bring me some coffee since I knew you would be coming back soon,” she added.
I noted her delight in having me here. No doubt since in normal circumstances, she had only goats to keep her company.
“So much has happened, Gran.”
She held my hands as I told her about work and the council flats and the creatures I had seen. My voice shook as I described the torrent of crows that had stormed into the building and the wolf that had dashed past. “I felt a surge of power like nothing I’ve ever come close to feeling when that happened.”
Gran nodded, affirming she understood.
I described the children we had found and what I had told the police since the creatures I had killed were nothing more than the strong odor of burnt hair afterward. This whole goddess thing meant I would have to get good at lying and fast. As I spoke, Gran’s expression went back and forth between understanding what had happened and showing concern for the gravity of the circumstances.
When I had finished, I leaned back in my chair and sighed. Gran gave me a reassuring smile. “You did everything right, my dear.”
“I did my job.”
“And more.” She laughed. “I doubt killi
ng mythical creatures is part of your normal medical duties, my dear.”
I chuckled. “They can’t be mythical if they’re real, can they? I-I don’t know what those were, and I—”
“Phouka,” Gran interjected. “You fought off what I believe were creatures called phouka, which are shapeshifting goblins. While vicious and clever, they can be bought, bribed, and intimidated by more powerful beings, unlike the higher orders of goblins.”
“Goblins?” My mouth fell open, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. Why not throw mythical creatures into the mix? The situation was already all kinds of weird.
Gran nodded. “They are in books for a reason, my dear, though I would be quick to add that despite not being in the world in a long time, I doubt the accuracy of the cultural depictions.”
I stared into my coffee and tapped the cup with my fingernails. “They were awful.” Shaking my head, I added, “I can’t believe such monsters exist.”
Gran patted my hand. “Yes, I understand, but if the Morrigan is real, why can’t the stories of other creatures also be?”
I had to admit that was true. “You have a point.” A week ago, I didn’t believe in ancient Irish gods and goddesses, but now, with that very power in my own veins, I couldn’t ignore them, or any other beings in the formerly mythical world. “Are there others? I mean, other gods and goddesses?”
Gran looked away, and it took her some time to find her words. “Yes, of course there are. The Morrigan is not the only goddess, but you see, it’s more complicated than that.”
My brows furrowed. Either there are or there aren’t.
“As the Morrigan, I never encountered any other gods. There was a strained relationship between the first Morrigan and the other gods that was never quite resolved. I cannot speak to it myself, but perhaps in your journey, you will find out more.”
I soaked in Gran’s explanation, and something in me deflated.
She peered at me. “I know it’s hard to believe even after experiencing these things firsthand, and I’m sure you have many more questions, but I’m afraid I’ve helped you all I can.”