“I will, I promise.” Gently laying him down, she kissed his forehead once more before standing.
“My beautiful daughter,” he breathed.
Holding back tears, Persephone lifted her head high and took the first steps on her journey as she heard the final rattling breath pass through her father’s lungs. She bit back a sob and fought the urge to look back one last time, and reached the eastern side of the clearing before giving in and turning one last time.
She gasped as golden light filled the clearing around her father’s body and sunlight glittered down. Persephone squinted, sure that it was just a trick of the light that made it look as though a woman stood over Daniel. As she watched, though, a misty figure of a man who looked suspiciously like her father rose from the ground and embraced the woman. She took a step towards the transparent figures, not quite believing what she was seeing.
The woman seemed to say something to the man, and they both turned to look at her. With a quick glance at the man, the woman disappeared for a moment before reappearing right near Persephone, giving her a fright.
“Who are you?”
“After everything Daniel has told you, surely you recognize the mother from whom you get your appearance?”
“This can’t be real.”
“It is, my dear. I managed to hold on to my spirit long enough to be able to wait for the moment I was reunited with my love, and finally be able to talk to you, daughter. I don’t have long; I am losing strength as we speak. However, I couldn’t collect your father without letting you know how proud I am of you, and that I’m sorry we couldn’t have had our life together as a proper family. But know that I always loved you, and had faith that you would become a strong woman and a good witch.” The ethereal being in front of her smiled, shimmering brightly as she spoke.
“I wish I could have known you in life,” Persephone lamented.
The apparition’s hand reached out to her, cupping her cheek in sunny warmth. She could smell wild flowers and grass freshly wet from rain, mixed with baking bread and pastries—all the things she’d always imagined a real mother would be. “In the afterlife, one day, once you’ve had a full life on this earth. Then we will know each other. Your father and I will always be watching over you, and you will never be lonely again. But you must go find your destiny, for it still awaits.”
“How can you be so sure?”
The woman’s smile brightened. “Trust a mother’s instincts. Besides, angels can’t die, not permanently.”
Persephone’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you saying?”
“Just follow your promise, and you’ll see. It will require one last sacrifice from you, but if your love for his memory is as strong as my love for Daniel, you won’t even think twice. I have faith in you, sweetheart.” Her mother’s spirit cupped her face in both her hands now, looking deep within her eyes. “You have the strength to do whatever it is your heart desires, my darling, and you have the intelligence to forge a plan and see it through. There is nothing you can’t do.”
Tears welled in Persephone’s eyes and begin to roll down her cheeks.
“You’ve made us both proud, the strong woman you have become despite everything that you have been through. Now it’s time for you to grab the life you deserved, the life we always wanted for our daughter.”
The warmth emanating from the spirit of her mother filled Persephone and it seemed to fill her with strength when her own was still sapped from the battle. Glancing to where Malachi knelt, groaning from her blast of justice, she lifted her chin and threw back her shoulders. Her mother was right. She had the strength to do whatever she put her mind to.
Persephone turned back to her mother’s ghostly apparition, determination straightening her spine and setting her jaw. Alexandria nodded in response and took a step back.
“That’s my Persephone.” Simple words, yet they almost crumbled her resolve. “Now, your father and I must be going to the other side of the Light, but we will always be watching over you, sweetheart. Just know that you aren’t alone.”
The transparent figure began to float back towards where Daniel’s own spirit waited. Once they were together, Persephone watched them embrace each other and she suddenly wished, more than anything, that she could have seen them together in life. Her parents touched their foreheads together for a moment then turned in unison to look at her, and she couldn’t help but smile. That was the type of love she had wanted with Adrian; a love that transcended life itself and survived well past the body’s death. Choking back a sob, Persephone kept her composure and took a deep breath, realizing she’d forgotten to breathe for a few moments, having been so caught up in her parents’ love and faith for her. Even though they were so far apart, she heard their whispered words as though she stood right next to them.
“We love you, lass,” her father’s last words.
“You are the woman I tried to be in life. We will always be with you, sweetheart. Never forget that."
Not trusting her voice to speak, Persephone dipped her head in acknowledgement, then watched her parents fade into the Light. Sweeping her gaze across the clearing, she was relieved to see more people still alive than dead, albeit most of those still living were barely standing. One figure stood tall and proud, however: Rosetta, Witch of the Light. She must have returned to help the other wounded, and Persephone could see her gazing over the injured. She was positive that the older woman was making decisions about who wasn’t too injured to help those who were seriously wounded get back to her inn for medical attention. The corner of her lips tugged upwards in to smirk.
As though sensing she was being watched, the other witch turned around and, noticing Persephone, waved a hand once in acknowledgement.
Don’t mind me, Rosetta’s throaty voice sounded in her head. I’ll have this lot sorted in no time; you go do what you have to do. Just promise that you will somehow let William and Daphne know firsthand that you are alright.
Persephone nodded. Of course I will. I’m just not sure what awaits me at the coast.
Oh pish, honey. Your heart knows it, your head just won’t believe it. Just get yourself moving already or you’ll never have the courage to go.
She dropped her head and chuckled. Thank you, Rosetta. For everything. I will try to get back when I can, but you will let my cousins know I’m fine, won’t you?
Of course, darling. Now go.
With a last, sweeping glance over the clearing and a definitive, curt nod, Persephone turned on her heel and marched towards the coast, unsure but determined to see what fate had in store for her now.
Chapter Eleven
It seemed like days had passed by the time Persephone emerged from the woods, but she knew it hadn’t been that long. The path she had been following away from the clearing had taken a sharp turn to the north, and although her body wanted to follow the easier, marked road, something inside her knew she had to keep forging forward, directly to the east. And so trodden earth disappeared behind her as forest trees surrounded her, until they in turn gave way to thick bramble bushes, which she thought was odd. Thorny thickets impeded her path and grabbed at her jacket and trousers, tearing holes in the material and gouging her soft flesh. Her long hair caught easily and more hair than she thought she had was ripped from her scalp, while twigs and leaves tangled in the rest. An odd roar filled her ears and a scent she didn’t recognize filled her nostrils. Panting from the pain and exertion of fighting the vicious shrubbery, she almost gave up many times over, until she finally saw glimpses of rich green grass only feet in front of her. She was almost there and now that she knew that the sounds and smells she was detecting must be the waves crashing on the rocky cliffs, and the salty spray of the ocean water. As she put it all together, her heart began to pound and she was filled with energy anew. The bluffs were close, she could make it.
Persephone covered the last few feet in rigorous fury, growling from the effort to clear the brambles. When she finally tumbled on to the grass, she
indulged in a few minutes of lying still, allowing the damp, cool greenery to soothe her aching limbs and torn flesh. When she caught her breath, Persephone pushed herself on to one elbow and glanced around, her heart thudding heart in her chest as she realized how narrow the strip of land was, relieved she hadn’t rolled too far. Turning on to her belly, she crawled the last few inches to the cliff’s edge and glanced over to the rocks below. The water crashing over their hard, slick surfaces was mesmerizing; the foam swirling around almost hypnotic. As she lay there watching the graceful dance of the water around the stern, stationery rocks, Persephone could swear she saw a golden glow wash over the large stones from the cliff side. Shaking her head, she thought it must just be a trick of her tired mind, but when she looked again, the light was still there, and now, if she turned her head just so, she could almost make out a cave entrance bathed in the same light at the foot of the cliffs. Persephone glanced at the cliff face around her but could see no footholds to help her down. She frowned, somehow knowing she had to make her way down to the cave but there was no way down without breaking her neck.
A gull cried out above her before plummeting down the rock wall causing Persephone’s heart to almost leap in to her throat. At the last moment, the bird pulled out of the dive and flapped its wings like crazy to land, albeit rather clumsily, on top of the only rock not completely soaked by the unrelenting waves. It was then that she remembered Adrian’s gift; she had a set of wings of her own, though she’d never had the time to attempt flight.
Chewing her lip, Persephone cautiously stood up, her toes at the cliff edge, and took a deep breath as she imagined stretching her wings wide. The rustling of feathers announced that her wings were obeying her thoughts. Deciding to test them out a little before risking the flight down, she made them stretch and flex a few times before a couple strong beats that made her squeal as her feet were lifted slightly from the ground. Letting herself settle back on solid earth, her heart racing and knees feeling a little weak, Persephone huffed out a breath.
“Okay, girl, don’t do that so close to the edge again, and we’ll be fine.”
She took a few steps away from the edge and beat her wings again, this time anticipating her feet leaving the ground. Feeling more in control, and a little more daring, she let herself rise a foot in the air before coming to rest once more.
The caw of the gull caught her attention and she glanced up to see it hovering above her. She watched it beat its wings a few times before folding them in and diving once more.
“Thank you, Mister Gull,” she called out after it, feeling a little foolish as she did so. “One last rise and then it’s time to see what is down there that is pulling me toward it so hard.”
Taking another deep breath to steady herself, Persephone flapped her blood red wings and rose a few feet above the ground, far enough that she could see the rocks below being pounded by the heavy waves. Her heart in her mouth, she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and decided it was now or never, so she rose a little higher, opened her eyes, tucked her wings in and plummeted.
The wind rushed past her, whipping her hair and leaving any exposed skin freezing cold. Keeping her arms and wings tucked tight to her body, she was surprised at how fast her descent was. In a matter of moments, instinct screamed at her to open her wings. The instant she did, they caught the updrafts from the sea and she gracefully fluttered to the rocks below. Settling on the hard surface, she looked around in complete shock, adrenalin racing through her veins and she whooped in sheer delight.
Her victory was short lived, however, and a large waved crashed over her, knocking her against the rocky shore. Persephone’s world went black.
When she came to, Persephone’s body was ice cold, her clothes soaked and heavy, making it difficult for her to sit up. Stripping the sopping material off her body and dropping it on the ground beside her with a wet plop, she curled in on herself, shaking as she took in her surrounds. The waves had carried her closer to the cliff wall and the cave entrance, which was now dark.
Despair flooded her; her flight had been for naught. She’d risked her life for a trick of the light. Resting her forehead on her knees, Persephone sobbed. She had held the hope that whatever her destiny had in store for her was in that cave, related to the source of the golden glow. But now, her hopes lay dashed across the hard, unforgiving rocks, cold and lifeless just as she had almost been. Curling tighter against herself, she wrapped her arms around her knees and her wings around her body, trying to keep warm. Although she didn’t see the point, her body’s need to survive outweighed her misery. Despite her best efforts, however, she slipped in to darkness once more as her body temperature dropped. Her last thoughts were of failing her promise to her parents, and wishing for a swift end.
***
Rocks slipped against each other, startling her awake. She was unsure of where she was, nor how she had arrived at such a depressing site. Her body was stiff from cold and she struggled to stretch her limbs to rub some warmth back in to them. She couldn’t even remember her own name, but through the fog that clouded her mind, she knew she had not had an easy life, and had endured much heartache. She didn’t know how she knew that, but how else would she have ended up in a cold, unwelcoming place with no memory?
Had she been a bad person? Maybe that was it; she’d done something horrible, and had been cast over the cliffs to be crushed by the strength of the waves, washed against the relentless rocks. So why had she not died from her punishment? Surely she deserved to die, or did life have more suffering in store for her as justice to whatever crime she must have committed?
She tried to voice her thoughts out loud, only to find that her voice was hoarse and barely audible even to her. Clearing her throat, she tried again.
“What do you want from me?” she cried out to the waves, her voice rasping in her throat.
“I want to know that I chose right when I gave you those wings,” a voice warm like honey sounded behind her. She spun around as quickly as stiff and tangled limbs would allow.
“Who are you?” she demanded, ready to flee if this stranger posed a threat. As she laid eyes on his form, his beautiful brown eyes seemed to see through to her soul. His shoulder length hair danced in the wind as though it had a life of its own. He was breath-taking, handsome yet earthy, firm in a kind way. The longer she looked upon him, the stronger she felt.
“You don’t remember, do you?” he asked, sadness evident in his tone making her heart break for him.
“I don’t even remember who I am.” She hesitated, tucking a damp strand of hair behind her ear. Maybe he would know who she was. “Was I... Was I a bad person? Is that why I was cast over the cliff face?”
Shock flashed in his eyes as they widened. “No, my love, you were far from a bad person. You were the kindest, sweetest person I knew.”
She took a step backwards as he slowly advanced, but she couldn’t bring herself to get further away from him, so she let him come close. He closed the distance in a few, ground-eating strides and put his hands on her arms, rubbing her clammy skin. She let him pull her in close and breathing in his clean, warm scent woke something inside her. Fog began to part in her mind and she could remember a forest clearing, a hot kiss, and a promise of a better life. His finger curled beneath her chin, raising her face to look at him. His eyes danced with an inner fire that she suddenly wanted a taste of, so she didn’t fight when he lowered his lips to hers. Wrapped in this man’s arms, she lost herself in the kiss as memories flooded back. Her childhood, Malachi’s evil, meeting this beautiful man in the woods and endeavoring to run away together before his mortal death, learning about her true heritage, and being chased by Malachi and his men, before a final confrontation in the forest nearby. She remembered all of it.
Her eyes flew open and she broke the kiss. “Adrian,” she breathed.
His smile was unbelievable; beautiful and heart breaking at once, as she remembered watching the life leave his body. Adrian placed his open palm on
her head and she leaned in to the warmth. “Persephone.”
Tears pricked her eyes and were suddenly streaming down her face. “I thought I’d never see you again. You died in my arms.”
Sadness dulled the light in his eyes momentarily. “I know, my love. I’m so sorry it happened like that. I truly did mean to get you away from there. But we’re here together now.” His bright smile returned.
“Yes, we are. So tell me, did you make the right choice?”
“I certainly think so. I’m a little hurt you didn’t try to explore the cave anyway, but when you let me come in close and kiss you, even though you didn’t remember me after almost dying, you proved that there was still something in here”—he lightly touched her chest—“ that still had faith, that still recognized me. So yes, my love, I did make the right choice.”
Adrian ran his fingers down her cheek, warming her face as his skin passed over hers, and then he leaned in for another kiss. This time, Persephone wasn’t going to settle for a gentle kiss. She took the lead and gave him passionate heat that lit a fire in her belly and in her loins. She was not going to let him get away again. Pulling back just enough to be able to speak, she demanded a promise. “Don’t ever leave me again.”
“Never.”
Persephone almost lost herself in another passionate kiss when a throat being cleared interrupted them.
“I do trust you are going to introduce us, my son?”
They broke apart, but Adrian kept his arm around her waist. “Mother, of course. This is Persephone, the woman I told you about.” He turned back to trace her jawline. “She has been through much, but proves with everything she does that she has a pure heart.”
“This is the woman you entrusted with your powers?” the man Persephone assumed was Adrian’s father queried.
“She is.”
“You’re aware that she’s a Witch?”
Beyond The Veil: A Paranormal & Magical Romance Boxed Set Page 287