Della
Idid not know what was wrong with me. My mind had been elsewhere, but nowhere at the same time. There was an itch in my brain that could not be scratched. Maybe it was because of Haden, or maybe I had finally lost my shit. It felt as if I was waiting for something to happen, but I did not know how to stop this feeling because I had nothing going on. This was especially true since Haden did not want to see me anymore.
Sighing, I stood at the windows of my home in the stars, wishing I could turn back time and figure out a way to get Haden back. Movement in the reflection of the glass caught my attention, and I turned quickly when I realized it was Cassius. I half expected him to disappear when I turned, proving that my mind was playing tricks on me. But he stood in his black guardsman uniform, frowning at me.
“Cassius?” I whispered worriedly. “Is something wrong with Thea or Haden?”
“No. They are fine.” He stared at me oddly, and for some reason that itching in my brain stopped, like it knew Cassius was here and it was what we had been waiting for.
“How do you know where I live?” I asked.
He smiled softly.
“You brought me here once, right after Thea went to Exile the first time.”
I stilled.
“No, I didn’t.” What the hell was he talking about?
Cassius’ smile fell, and he lifted his wrist, pulling up the black sleeve as his shadows swarmed it. When it disappeared, there were four orange stars in a row on the inside of his wrist. My eyes widened as I stepped forward, grabbing his wrist so I could inspect it.
“Who the hell did you make a star bargain with, Cassius? You should never make a bargain.”
I looked at him angrily because this was a serious thing to do. He should have come to me if he needed help.
“I made it with you,” he confessed. I dropped his wrist and backed away. My chest tightened as my mind swarmed to remember what he was talking about. “You don’t remember, but we made a bargain, and you fulfilled your side of it, but now I have to complete mine.”
“Cassius, you’re scaring me.” I felt tears sting my eyes as confusion filled my empty mind.
Cassius’ golden eyes filled with sadness at my words. He stepped backward as if he thought I was scared of him physically hurting me.
“I’m not going to hurt you, but you told me a very long time ago to come here on the night of the total eclipse in Elloryon.”
His head tilted to the side. I swallowed hard as he watched me closely.
“You don’t remember, but you and I made a bargain to save Thea before Mikel came to Elloryon the day that she died from her magic being stuck inside her.”
“We did?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “You arrived first, pissed beyond reason. You kept talking about how Thea could not die; she was important. You told me you would give her what she needed to become a full goddess—part of your soul—but in exchange I needed to do something for you.”
Fear gripped me in a tight hug, smothering me to death slowly.
“I don’t remember any of this, Cassius.”
He nodded as he looked around the room.
“You told me of Haden,” he whispered. “I knew I’d meet him in the trials, and you told me he was important, that he needed a place to start life over. But you were panicking, talking about how Mikel could not know what you and I were bargaining for.”
Bits and pieces seemed familiar, but I did not understand how I would know any of this.
“We did this before Mikel came? I remember him coming, but I do not remember getting to you first.”
Cassius smiled.
“I think what I say to you will make you remember what you wanted to forget. You said it was to protect Haden, that you needed to forget until it was time. You used your own magic on yourself to hide memories.”
I scoffed.
