The Moirai

by Ali Winters

  “We’ll need to be careful and go fast. There’s a beast that guards the valley.”

  Kain said nothing but continued to let her lead him. The pull of Elysium grew even stronger as they moved into the haze.

  They entered the fog and the distant shore vanished from view. There was nothing but clouds of gray and brown surrounding him. Claps of thunder and lightening made of orange flames, sparked, illuminating the way.

  Nivian stopped walking and turned to face him. “I have to tell you something before we go on.”

  Kain frowned but said nothing.

  “I know you can’t remember anything yet, but I’ve been thinking about our last fight.” She looked nervously over her shoulder toward the valley. “I don’t want to put off difficult words anymore. The last time brought too much regret.”

  He looked at her as if she’d sprouted a second head. “I thought you were in a hurry.”

  “I-I am, but I think if I tell you, there’s a chance it could help. This is the Underworld, things from life can have negative effects on the dead, and if I’m responsible for you not remembering anything… well, I just want to be sure.” Nivian dropped his hand and kicked at the ground with the toe of her boot. “I am sorry. I should have trusted myself more, I shouldn’t have let fear hold me back from telling you… telling you that I loved you.”

  Kain remained silent and cocked his head to the side. She had told him that she loved him already. But maybe this was about more than that.

  “I waited until it was too late to say it. You deserved better.” She looked at him as if she thought he might reply, but her declaration made his throat thick, and even if he had the words, he wouldn’t have been able to talk in that moment. “I was too scared, too uncertain,” she kept going. “Maybe if I had said something sooner, you never would have gone through all of this.”

  Kain shook his head and shrugged. Tears filled her eyes and he asked her the question he wasn’t sure he was ready to hear the answer to. “How did I die?”

  It seemed to take her off guard, but she told him anyway. “You took a hit that was meant for me.”

  “I see,” he said.

  There was something deep between them, there would have to be for it to make sense for him to take a killing blow for her. Damn his missing memories! If he could get them back, even for a moment, he could make sense of this.

  “Never mind,” she said hoarsely. “I vow to you, I will get your memories back. No matter what.”

  Such a simple promise, but there was so much more to it than he could understand. He didn’t know her, even if she knew him.

  Why would she make such an oath? He didn’t mind not having his memories, other than the fact that it would give her words more sense to him.

  “I’m sorry, we’ve lingered too long, we should go.”

  Nivian pulled him at a steady run. The fog grew thicker and swirls of fire flickered around them, giving the shadows of trees an ominous feeling.

  They only slowed when they reached the edge of the valley. The ground went from a muted gray-brown to a bright muddy red.

  They stepped forward as flames rose at their feet, creating a wall that stopped them in their tracks.

  A man appeared before them, fire licking at the edges of his cloak. Embers burned in his red irises, matching the red gold of his hair.

  “Prometheus,” Nivian said. “What are you doing here?”

  He passed through the flames and clamped a hand on each of their shoulders. “Come, little Reaper, time is of the essence.” He looked to Kain and took him in from head to foot as if he didn’t quite understand why he was with Nivian.

  Then fire formed around them in a circle and moved inward. Kain tried to back up. He didn’t want it to touch him.

  Then it was gone, leaving only thick, billowing tendrils of black smoke in its wake.

  Kain blinked.

  A vast city stretched out behind them.

  “I should not have helped you,” the god said. “Go, now!” he all but growled the order and shoved them both down a narrow path Kain hadn’t noticed, the start of which was hidden between two large rocks.

  “Why? What’s—” Nivian started but he’d already vanished in a bright flash of fire.

  Nivian grabbed his hand again and took off running. Her hand held his, tighter and tighter as they ran. The path widened and turned into large flagstones. They rounded the corner and two large wrought iron metal gates loomed before them.

  A roar sounded though the air, coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. They ran harder, closing in on the gates. She dropped his hand and he slowed as she ran full force into the metal. She pushed one open. It groaned with a loud, ear splitting screech.

  She grabbed him again, but before they could make it two steps, he felt a pop resonate from her arm as his hand was ripped from hers.

  He landed hard on the ground, his head bouncing off the stone. His vision split in two and danced, not wanting to align.

  A shadow moved over him, darkness throbbing in waves as if the light refused to touch the figure. Kain fought to focus, but to no avail.

  The darkness was stronger.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  NIVIAN

  A CRY RIPPED itself from Nivian’s already raw throat. Her arm was pulled back, her shoulder painfully popping out and then back into place. A shadow flashed, then vanished.

  She turned to see what happened, to see if there was some kind of force field preventing Kain from going through, only to run into something hard as rock.

  Hades materialized, glaring down upon her, shadows playing over the plains of his face.

  Nivian lunged for Kain and pulled him up. He was sluggish and heavy. She gritted her teeth, wishing he would help her.

  Then he was on his feet and she shoved him back, shielding him with her body. Nivian didn’t know how much good it would do, but she had to protect him. She had to.

  They were so close to being free.

  Nivian backed up, pushing Kain with her as she stared up into the midnight eyes of a pissed off god. Hades loomed, even taller than she remembered. His arms were folded across his chest.

  She held on to Kain, making sure he stayed behind her. She’d be damned if she let Hades take him from her now, and if he tried, she would rip this realm apart with her bare hands.

  “Congratulations on getting this far. I will be honest, I didn’t expect you would make it past the first river. Then again, you did have help, didn’t you?” he spoke slow, his words lazy but something dangerous and charred lingered within them.

  Fire flickered off to the side. Hades’s head snapped toward it. “I will talk to you later,” he bit out under his breath.

  “Hades…” she choked out. Even when Silas had been upset with her for not following through with her mark on Kain and had given her the chalice to drink from, he had never been as mad as Hades was in that moment.

  Briefly, she hoped that Prometheus wouldn’t suffer his wrath for helping her. But he was a god, and she was more than sure he could handle Hades.

  “Where do you think you are going with one of my souls, Reaper?”

  Nivian gulped, angry with herself that her fear was so obvious.

  “I told you. You—you knew,” she stuttered. Had he gone back on their bargain? Had the fact that Prometheus had helped her pass through the rivers negated their deal? The betrayal turned her blood to ice. “I paid you for the passage.”

  He chuckled darkly, making her clench her fists and grind her teeth. Why would he let her go through all of that when he had no intention of letting them go? Was it all just an amusement so he could claim her soul?

  “You paid to pass through my realm, and I have allowed it to be so even when you took a short cut. But you have not paid to take him out.” Hades reached out and ran a finger down her cheek. He was examining her bruised and cut face. A long finger trailed down her throat and she did her best to ignore it, keeping her eyes locked on his.

  “But that w
as the whole point!” she snapped. “You knew I came here to take him out…” she trailed off. Hades’s treachery stole her words. Hot, angry tears worked their way up her throat, but she pushed them back down before they could reach her eyes.

  He was not a god, he was a demon. And in that moment, she’d never hated anyone as much as she hated him.

  Hades leaned in, his face too close to hers for comfort. His fingers wrapped around her throat loosely ready to squeeze with a crushing force. A threat.

  The friendly tone of his voice vanished in a single heartbeat as he leaned in and whispered, “I could end your existence right now for trying to cheat me.” He straightened his back and waved his hand, letting her go. The metal gates behind her and Kain creaked open. “But I am feeling magnanimous today. You may leave. Alone. The Hunter will remain with me.”

  Spots danced in front of her eyes as her frustration grew. “I-I need him.”

  Somehow, without her noticing, Kain had moved out from behind her and was at her side, and he slid his hand from hers. Nivian looked sideways at him, hating that she let him down, shamed that she let everyone down and risked herself for nothing.

  Kain looked at her questioningly. He still didn’t understand that she needed him, didn’t understand the world needed him.

  “You need him?” Hades pressed a hand to his chest in mock injury, eyes going wide. The words were harsh, sarcastic, cold, and sharper than any knife cutting into her. “And what of me? He is dead after all. His soul is rightfully mine to keep for all of eternity.” His voice resonated, making the world around her shake violently, even as his words turned hard and flat. “Do not think you can steal him from me. You must pay the toll if you want to take him from here.”

  It took a moment for the meaning of his words to register with her. He said if she wanted to take him. He was offering her another deal. Hope flickered in her heart. The Moirai's words came back to her. Even death has a price. Did that refer to Hades? Was he more than just one of the old gods? Was he the original death and not Silas as she’d always thought?

  “T-toll? I…” She looked down, tightening her fists. She chastised herself for not thinking ahead. What else did he want from her? She’d become mortal in his realm, she had risked her existence and almost died more times than she wanted to think about. And yet, she was stupid for thinking it would be so easy to take Kain from the Underworld.

  “I don’t have anything else. I gave you Kain’s watch, I gave you my memories…” She held out her hands, palms up. “What more can I give you?”

  Hades watched her, his face unreadable, until she thought he expected the eye of the Tome… she reached for the leather cord around her neck and pulled it over her head. If he took it, then what would happen to the Tome? Without it, the power would forever remain at half or less. Nivian held it out to him.

  “Do not be foolish,” he said. His mouth turned up into a half smile, half sneer, as if he couldn’t help but be amused by the pathetic offer. “The cost of taking this soul from here must be something of equal value.”

  Nivian let out a breath. Though, her relief over him not wanting the eye didn’t last long as he revealed the cost… but what could equal the cost of Kain’s life? There was nothing that would equal half as much as Kain was worth to her. Nivian’s heart slammed against its cage as she stepped forward.

  A hand wrapped around her upper arm and pulled her back. She looked up at Kain behind her and into his worried face. He shook his head. “What are you doing?”

  Kain looked from her to the god, then back.

  “He wants something of value.” Nivian placed her hand atop his. “I’m replaceable. You’re not.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  He still didn’t understand. That part of him had been stolen. Deep down, he was still the same caring man, but the part of Kain who would jump in head first and risk everything, no questions asked, had been consumed by the Underworld.

  “For you Kain… and for the world. Finding someone to take your place is impossible. You're too important.”

  Kain's jaw fell and he just shook his head more vehemently. Nivian knew she was wrong, but her heart wanted to see more than just surprise in his eyes, she wanted to see worry… and love.

  “You can’t do that,” he rasped.

  “I have to, Kain.” Nivian took a step back and Kain’s hand fell from her arm.

  His brows furrowed. “But you don’t know me.”

  The words cleaved her heart in two.

  She’d thought watching him die was the worst pain she’d ever feel. But having him at her side and not knowing her was worse. So much worse. Nivian licked her suddenly parched lips. “I know you… even if you don’t know me, even if you don’t remember—I know you.”

  “You would give up your existence for him?” Hades’s rich voice cut between them, grating on her.

  “Wouldn’t you do the same for Prometheus?” she cut a sharp glance in his direction. He shrugged her question off, but she could see the truth written on his face.

  “While I admire your willingness to sacrifice yourself, it is not you I want,” he said, deflecting her intrusion to something other than business. “You’ve been too close to death’s side for far too long.”

  She blinked once. Twice. He’d bargained for her soul, and now… now it wasn’t good enough?

  “Then tell me what you want,” she said each word slowly and deliberately, between clenched teeth.

  “You must bring me a soul of equal value to replace his.”

  “Fine, then let us go and I will Reap any human soul you desire and bring it back to you.”

  Hades shook his head as she made the offer and held up a hand. “I said it must be equal. No mere mortal will suffice. But hurry, my offer won’t last for long.”

  A Hunter. He wanted a Hunter. The thought made her want to retch. It wasn’t fair. Whoever took Kain’s place didn’t deserve to die. Nivian had no idea how she would choose, or if Hades would demand more because who she picked might not be good enough.

  But she would figure it out with Caspian’s help.

  Nivian backed up into Kain and took his hand in hers. While she spoke to him, she kept her gaze locked firmly on Hades, “Come on, Kain, let’s go.”

  She turned but Hades’s icy laugh stopped her in her tracks. “Where do you think you are taking him in his ethereal form? He cannot leave this place without a physical body.”

  Her patience worn thin, Nivian closed her eyes and pulled in a deep breath then let it out slowly. She turned to face Kain.

  “Wait here, I will be back for you soon, Kain.” It was all she could do to keep her voice from breaking.

  Kain nodded, and she let him go then turned and strode through the wrought iron gates.

  Alone.

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  NIVIAN

  SHE RAN THROUGH the long tunnel of the cave until she reached where she’d fallen down the waterway. Its slick wall was now a narrow stairway, spiraling up to the top. It definitely hadn’t been there on her way in. Nivian pushed away her annoyance and took the steps two at a time.

  A warmth bloomed in her chest, growing as she neared the top. Nivian tugged on the leather cord hanging around her neck and freed the eye of the Tome from under her shirt, having forgotten its presence until now. It glowed like a brilliant, marble-sized sun. She dropped it and let it bounce against her chest as she ran, increasing her speed. A tiny drumbeat.

  As soon as she could reach the lip of the spillway leading to the lake, she grabbed hold and launched herself into the dark, murky water without breaking her stride, splashing toward the shore.

  It wasn’t until she set foot on the muddy shore and stood, turning in a circle, that Nivian realized no door or path marked the spot where she’d broken through the barrier. The tree line was a neat manicured row making every inch of the beach look the same.

  Nivian made a decision. She couldn’t afford to stand and debate, so she turned to the left and ran. T
he light emanating from the eye of the Tome dimmed after several yards. She slowed her pace and then looked behind her and changed direction.

  As she retraced her steps, the glow increased. She pumped her arms harder, all the while her eyes scanning the area. Then the light dimmed again. Nivian stopped and panted, resting her hands atop her knees. She lifted the eye, holding it between her index finger and thumb, and frowned at it.

  Once more, she turned and went the other way, forcing herself to a slow jog. The light was wonderful at leading her but lacked the ability to fine tune its directions. Once the glow had reached its brightest, she searched the six foot area of land, reaching out with her hands and feet. She looked beyond ridiculous and was glad for once to not have company.

  Nivian picked up a small pebble and hurled it at the trees. It flew into the foliage, rattling the leaves of plants. She bent down again grabbing another and throwing it. Silence followed. Nivian’s heart pounded as she picked up one more and chucked it at the same area.

  A ripple formed in the air and Nivian looked to the angry sky above, sending a silent thank you to Gaia.

  She ran full force into where the ripple had formed.

  The impact of her body slamming into the barrier, stole her breath. Within seconds, the familiar claustrophobic pressure threatened to overwhelm her again. But she didn’t care. She pushed harder, letting its resistance fuel her determination.

  A tingle skittered along her bones, flowing through her nerves and weaving in and out of her muscles. She felt different… more like herself.

  The spell Hades had put on her to make her mortal finally broke. It was like being trapped underwater and forgetting how good it felt to pull air into one’s lungs until bursting through the surface.

  Nivian stumbled through, free of the force field. Snatching up her scythe and cloak and holding them under her arm, she continued through the dark, led only by the glow around her neck. Soon the watery green light of the crystals came into view.