The forest is still dark, but the girl’s hair, white as snow, glows in the dark. Her braids are now untangled, and her hair begins to stir. But there is no wind.
“When Her sister descended from the heavens to destroy the world that the Mother had created, She created the Fae. But the Fae were too weak, too set in their ways, too concerned with themselves to stop the evil that was spreading. So, the Mother drew elements from each of Her five favorite creations—the deer, for their beauty and innocence.”
A stag dashes through the forest, hooves landing in puddles of blood, before disappearing through the tall line of trees.
“The bears,” the girl continues, “for their fierce loyalty and bravery.”
A hot huff of breath on my neck sends a shiver down my spine. A grizzly bear lumbers past me, its paws the size of my head.
“The wolves, for their speed and grace.” A black wolf stalks from the trees, watching me with eyes as white as the moon. It joins the bear, then darts back into the woods. The bear bellows and chases after it, the ground shaking with the impact.
“The wildcats, for their stealth and strength.” A black panther slinks between two trees, gaze locked on something over my shoulder.
“And the snakes, for their curiosity and tenacity.” Behind me, a hiss grows closer, and the hair on the back of my neck raises. A snake as thick as my thigh slithers closer. I try to move away, but I’m still frozen in place.
“She spun their magic with the Fae and created the first woodland-Fae hybrids. She gifted them the strength of elemental magic.”
With a snap of her fingers, the snake and the panther disappear. As if they were never there.
“Even then, it wasn’t enough. She plucked three pieces of Herself: one from Her heart, one from Her mind, and one from Her soul. With each piece, she created three more hybrids. But three was still not enough, so She created a final hybrid, one that had elements of all three pieces of Herself. Because the day cannot exist without the night, the Mother crafted the females after the light, and the males after the dark.”
She flares her hands and gazes toward the sky. Four people float near the treetops, hands grasped as they spin slowly. The moonlight casts an eerie glow on the group, yet none of their features are identifiable. Their hair floats around them, unbound and drifting through the air as if suspended in water.
“Two sisters and two brothers were created, each pair destined to cross paths with the other. Two pairs of mates to serve as the perfect balance to each other and save Her creation. Together, they would be strong enough to defeat the evil that was consuming the world She so lovingly created.”
The girl walks toward me, stepping into the light of the moon. The four above jerk their heads back into silent screams, and a river of blood now flows past me. I want to vomit, I want to crawl away, but the girl’s gaze holds me still. Her eyes reflect a thunderstorm, dark gray clouds writhing in her irises, her pupils white and slashing through the storm clouds like bolts of lightning.
“But even that failed. And now, the Mother is too weak to defeat Her sister. And soon, the oceans will fill with Her blood.”
Chapter 32
ELLE
When I was little,my mom used to whisper stories of brave males and females with the kind of strength that can only be gifted by the Mother. Powerful hybrids and High Fae, only made possible by the blessings provided to them by some deity.
My parents were devout believers in the Mother, never missing a single service or religious holiday. In Redwick, religious meetings were held daily, once at first light and again at second light. Without fail, my parents would drag me to every single one.
“Listen up, Elle,” my mom would always whisper in my ear. She had an uncanny ability to tell when I wasn’t paying attention. My dad, on the other hand, would squeeze me tight, as if he knew I hated every second we were there.
Every night, my mom would revisit the lessons taught by the priest, whispering them to me in the dark as her warm, calloused hands rubbed my back until my eyes closed and my mind drifted far away from the stories of the Mother. She used to credit her blessings to the Mother—our plentiful food, the safety of our home, our health and wellness. As if my dad didn’t spend every waking moment working for those privileges, as if the Mother had something to do with his hard work and provisions.
My mom always used to credit Her with me. And so, naturally, Ispat on the Mother. I was nobody’s possession and certainly nothing to be gifted. As I got older, I turned away from my parents and the religion that I was raised to believe in.
But now, I cry on bloodied knees to Her, praying, begging, screaming for Her to help me. For Her to do something. I spend hours apologizing and repenting for my sins. I spend nights clenching sheets and crying for Her to listen. She is the only thing I have left to cling to.
And She has abandoned me.
Chapter 33
MARIK
The tasteof Cora coats my tongue, nearly as vile as the taste of my shame as I lay beside her. She’s sprawled on the bed, her midnight hair wild on the crisp white linen sheets. The scent of sex permeates the air, and I long to shut off my senses.
We lay in silence as her breathing calms. I fight to control my own as my mind wars with itself, just like it does every time.
This is what you agreed to.
This is what must be done.
