Rummy, too.
She squealed in surprise as the gust of air bombarded us.
The wind blew and blew and blew, stealing the breath from my lungs, until I was certain we’d be pummeled to death against rocks.
The caves had seen enough, and we were not welcome back. That was the only theory I could come up with that made sense.
I was ready to jump off my horse and flee with Rummy in tow when the wind died just as abruptly as it had started.
Our breaths became the only sounds in the cavern.
And then, “Hello.”
Rummy screamed, both horses startled, and I whipped around, in search of the source of the angelic voice.
Standing only a few feet away was a woman, yet not a woman all the same. Her ethereal presence sent a chill through my body. She was not here in the flesh like Rummy and I were, but rather made up of light beams and tendrils of white smoke.
An apparition.
Still, she emitted a powerful beauty. One that inspired fear, even in me.
“Dismount from the animals,” she ordered.
Rummy glanced at me with worry all over her face, but I gave her a quick nod and we both obeyed.
“Who are you?” I asked.
The figure surveyed us for several heartbeats before answering, “I am Astraea, Goddess of the East.”
“Are you here to kill us?” She stepped closer, her arm brushing mine.
The goddess smiled in response. “I’m not here to kill you, Rummy.”
Rummy stiffened at the sound of her name. I instinctively did the same.
The goddess’s eyes slid over to me. “I’ve been waiting for you two to seek me. It seems the voices of the caves have worried you both.”
I cleared my throat, forcing my shoulders back. “Confused us, mostly. Are you going to tell us what the rhyme means? Why do we keep hearing it? What are we supposed to do?”
A light breeze picked up and whirled around us, stirring up dirt like a small tornado around the three of us.
“Do you two believe in destinies?” she asked. “In fates?”
I glanced at Rummy. Though she had a fierce exterior, the tiniest hint of fear lingered behind her eyes.
“I guess so,” I answered, returning my attention to Astraea. “What does that have to do with the words we keep hearing?”
“In the shadows of the night, a force both dark and light.” The phrase rolled off her tongue easily.
Those damn words. I was certain I’d be happy if I’d never heard them again. But now? They sounded… different.
“What are we supposed to do?” Rummy pushed. “Are we supposed to stop Cornelius? Why us?”
“Because he senses your gift, child. What he’s told you about that is true, although he is a deceptive man. He plans on raising the dead, yes, and you must put an end to this. Both of you.”
So hedidplan on raising the dead. He was so dangerous, the goddess was getting involved? I could hardly believe what I was hearing.
“Rummy’s gift?” I asked, confusion alive inside me. “Do you mean her magic?”
