“Hector,” Mum hissed. “Time and place for the sarcasm, my darling.”
Eleanor giggled into her palm. And to my relief, Hekate smiled.
“Actually,” Hekate said, “there is one more thing I require of you. Witch-kind have been severed from me for a long time. It will take someone with the fire you possess to show them back to my path. Can you do that for me?”
“No,” I said, “not for you. I’ll do it for witch-kind. Just as I know you would want. Choices. You’ve hammered that into me pretty clearly.”
“Bravo.” Her eyes narrowed, gaze flaying through flesh, muscle and bone until my very heart was exposed. “That, Hector, was exactly the answer I wanted.”
She turned her back on me, cloak sweeping, dark hounds following behind like shadows. “When you are ready, simply follow the path that calls to you. Oh, and Hector?”
“Yes?”
Hekate looked back briefly. “Caym sends his love.”
With that, a crow of obsidian feathers flew overhead, sweeping down so low that I felt the kiss of air against my upturned face. Beady, knowing eyes regarded me as it swept past and landed upon Hekate’s outstretched hand.
I lifted a hand, choking on sudden emotion, and waved.
The crow let out a keening cry, that was more like a laugh that I’d known well. And then it faded into the light, Hekate and her hounds with it.
A soft hand fell on my shoulder and squeezed. “I too am proud of you, Hector. Until next time, so mote it be.” Eleanor released me, and walked into the light, joining Hekate in disappearing.
That left me and my mum.
Her arms opened for me, beckoning me into them. I fell willingly into her embrace, glad to be swaddled up in arms that felt so perfectly made for me. She kissed my brow, holding me there for a moment of silence.
Silence that broke when my name was being called. This time the voice was notably masculine, deep and rich and full of desperate love.
We both looked over our shoulder into the mist towards where that loving voice had conjured from.
“It seems Hekate has just shown you your path home,” my mother said, gesturing towards the phantom cry of my name.
It was Arwyn. I knew it was. Deep in my soul I sensed him tugging, willing me to find my way back to him.
“What if I changed my mind?” I asked, “What if I want to stay with you? To go and see Dad, and… and…”
“We could lie to one another and pretend that is what you really want, but it would be pointless.” Her hand stroked down the back of my head, sorrowful yet proud eyes fixed on me. “There will be a time, one day in the far, far future, when we will see each other again. But I want it to be when you have far more stories to tell me. I want to hear of your life, how you’ve spent your freedom. I forbid you to seek me out until then, do you understand?”
I nodded, sniffling. “I do. Even if it hurts.”
“Life is supposed to hurt, darling boy. It gives it purpose. Makes enjoying the good times even more special. Now, I think it’s time you followhiscall, and leave this place.”
She kissed me on the forehead again, and I did the same for her. “Tell Dad I love him,” I said. “Like really love him, and miss him. So much.”
“I will, my darling. And I want you to tell Arwyn that I forgive him. He is not to carry any more shame for his actions, when we all know they were never truly his. I want you to love him, care for him, and enjoy life with him just as I did with your father. Make something special of your time together, but most importantly, I want you to live.”
“I will.”
Mother winked. “I know.”
Like smoke on the wind, my mother faded away from me before I could reply. In hindsight, I would know she did that on purpose, to stop any more hesitation as to what I needed to do.
Where I needed to go.
WhoI needed to return to.
I turned towards the voice I recognised even on the precipice of death, tears in my eyes and hope in my heart, and followed it.
