Eve stumbled, a wave of unadulterated agony spreading through her as if her insides were on fire. She fell to her knees, unable to breathe, finally experiencing what he truly suffered.
But the desperation to save the man she loved, pushed her to her feet, gave her the strength she needed. Her outraged cry rang out through the dungeon. “Leave him alone!”
“He is not yours, filthy human—”
“Eve—no, don’t!”Reynner rasped, his voice guttural and thick with pain.
“He’smymate!” Too angry to stop, Eve charged and rammed Inanna hard with both hands and sent her back several feet. Inanna lashed out, delivered a vicious blow to Eve's face. Pain exploded in her jaw, stars zipping across her vision as she landed on the ground.
Reynner lurched toward her. Only then did she realize that he wasn't chained, but holding onto the fetters.
Inanna waved her hand, her temper congealing the air. Whatever she did next, she had Reynner writhing on the floor. “I still own you, lover, never forget that. And for mating this tramp, you’ll pay dearly. It won’t be a year this time.”
Eve lost all rational cognizance at the threat to Reynner, the promise to trap him back in Hell where he’d been so cruelly tortured and violated. Adrenaline jetting into her veins, she pushed off the ground, lunged for Inanna and wrapped her hands around the goddess’s throat.
Eve gasped at the onslaught, thoughts flooding her mind. Inanna’s utter delight at knowing she’d win. Eve saw her own death and she didn't care. She struggled to hold on despite the darkness seeping into her consciousness. More images bled into her…Inanna leaning over Reynner, a dagger in her hand, blood seeping from the wound on his chest—into a blue stone…a dark figure in the cavern…echoes of an eerie chant, and the truth crashed through Eve.
The vicious black-hearted heifer!
Inanna laughed. “You puny little mortal, I’ll squash you like the bug you are!” She shoved Eve off her.
Eve’s hold slipped. Her fingers caught in the choker fastened around Inanna’s neck. The filigree design sunk into her palms and it took on life, each lattice piece cut through her soft flesh like being slashed with razors. She cried out in agony.
“Eve…”
At the rough whisper, her head whipped around. Reynner struggled to his feet. The star on his chest pulsed brightly as if he were seconds away from incinerating. Inanna growled, flung out a hand, holding him back while she tried to pry Eve off her with the other.
Blood seeped down Eve’s wrists, drenching her hands as strips of the filigree hit bone. Pain seared her brain and burned her palms. At the excruciating torture, she loosened her grip and Lila’s words flashed through her mind.
No matter how unbearable it is, you have to see it through, or that which you most fear will come to pass.
No! Inanna will never have him, even if it meant losing her own life.
Eve summoned all of her waning strength. Working only on adrenaline, she tugged on the necklace.
Inanna’s laugh grew wild. “No one touches my amulet and lives. Goodbye, mortal.”
Oh, Lord, pleaseeee!
Eve tugged hard at the evil necklet mangling her hands. And from deep within her soul, the warmth that helped shape her metals streamed out. No glow, just an incredible heat flowing out of her palms. The necklace melted, separated in two. The deep blue lapis lazuli stone cracked. Dark red liquid seeped out, thick and sticky, it ran over Eve’s hand. An obscure shadow filled with icy malevolence slithered over her.
“My amulet!” Inanna screeched. She scrambled to retrieve the broken lapis pieces. Failing. Her face twisted in fury. “You slut!” Power streamed out of her. With a wave of her hand, she picked Eve up like a rag doll and slammed her hard on the granite ground.
Unbelievable agony consumed Eve. She lay immobile on the cold floor, struggling to breathe through lungs that felt like a thousand daggers had punctured them.
She’d seen this moment…seen her death.
I’m broken.
A sudden shriek of anger bounced off the walls.
Through hazy eyes, she saw Inanna fly backward and be pinned by an invisible force to the craggy rock face. She screeched. A blast flared out from her hands in the direction where Eve lay.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” Reynner snarled, his wings slashing the air. A flick of his hand and he trapped Inanna’s wrists to the wall. Her power diverted, it hit the granite surface, and rubble rained to the ground in a dust storm. Then it faded and died.
Unable to hold on, Eve closed her eyes and let oblivion claim her.
***
