“Watch your head,” she says as she bends down anddisappears through the tiny door. I follow suit behind her, jaw dropping to the floor as I step into a room that holds the most magnificent art. Original art from the Romantic era that must be worth more than a small fortune.
I gasp silently at its beauty. I’d seen this art before on display in the room with all the windows. The reflection of us dancing off its oiled surface. I remembered the men instantly, because they were in almost every memory, but it took a moment to remember the other woman, until now. It was Cher. Cher was with me and Que—and Ry.
And, as if knowing my thoughts, she bows, “I didn’t think I’d be that hard to forget,” she winks, “and like I said, most call me Cherry, as in The Rooted Realm of Cherry and Choice. And that is what I am here to help you do. Remind you that youstillhave a choice.”
“A choice about what?” I ask.
“A choice about your life, of course. And how you want to live it. It is yours after all, and your mother fought quite hard to make sure you have one…or more than one obviously.” She says with a flick of her hand, as if this is all perfectly normal.
“But aren’t you out to get me like all the other tree Beings? You are with Que constantly…he…” I say, hinting toward her obvious bias.
“Ah yes, he has played a part in a few of your demises. But can you blame him? It’s been you and Ry all along. Ry hasneverhelped him find his promised, only parades his and yours around like a taunting bully. It was only right he played a game or two.” She says this all rather calmly.
I look at her in disbelief. Hisgamesended in my death. And more than once. She doesn’t seem to notice my distress. She can’t be that insensitive, but what do I know of any of these Beings?
“He is the one suffering most, I mean, apart from you right now.” She looks at my confused face. “Wait, do you not know? You aren’t the only one, sweet girl. Que has a promised as well, and he swore anoath with Ry they would find her. An oath Ry hasn’t kept.” Another like me? The other ring.
“Que was close to finding her once, with help from you actually. Maybe that is why he has grown so smitten with you after all these centuries together.” The more I learn, the more I feel spited by the ones around me.
Cher continues on, not a care regarding the look of unease on my face.
“What happened to her?” I have a sudden uncontrollable need to save her from what I’ve been put through.
“It didn’t work out for him, obviously. They hid her away. I’m surprised she didn’t tell you, although in your heart I’m sure you know.” Cher tilts her head, intrigued with revealing this bit of information.
“She?” I ask.
“Yes, Magnolia,” she answers. “Or what is it you call her…Lollipop or something that?”
“Lollie?” I ask. I can see amusement in her eyes and how pleased she is with herself. She smiles slowly.
“Yes, Lollie,” she says, rolling the double l with her tongue. “She can be a mysterious one. But that makes her one hell of a mother. Although is she giving her daughter a choice? I’d probably have to disagree on that one.”
“Wait, Lollie has a daughter too…that was promised to Que?” I ask, confirming what I think I just heard. “She didn’t tell me.”
“Well, love, you don’t have the best track record for making decisions regarding yourselforher daughter for that matter.” Cher comes off cold then. She isn’t wrong, but I fight it anyway.
“No, that’s not true.” I say angrily, tears brimming my eyes.
“It is dear. But you are far from her now. You have a choice. So, what will you choose?” She asks, then pauses, ducking out of the short attic hideaway. Have I ever reallyhad a choice?
“Call if you want to get a drink. I’ve been needing some more excitement around here, andyouare sure to deliver,” she says in her singsong voice and breezes out the door of The Rooted Realm Estate. The name of this giant place taking on a whole new meaning.
31
DANCING WITH TWO DEVILS
RACINE 1978
Iget right drunk that night. And all by myself, for that matter. I don’t trust anyone except the cozy feline curled around my feet at the end of the chaise lounge.
It doesn’t matter whether I am here or in the upper half of the country. Nobody has been completely truthful with me. Even as my phone rings nonstop, most likely Lollie or Ashton, I replay all the facts over and over in my head, trying to make sense of things I may never fully understand.
Who is this other promised, and why do I feel a tug in my heart when I think about her? It’s an ache that has been there all along perhaps, and I am just noticing it now. Crawling out of my subconscious like something unwelcome, but persistent. Is she somewhere out there in human form like me?
I know that both Ry and Que have played their fair share of destructive parts in all of my lives, but perhaps I had just as much to do with those events. My heart being only confused because of how Ry conflicts with the version I knew before I put the ring on. I must move past that. See him for what he is. So many parts good, but so much bad.
He lied to me. Broke my mindandmy body. Even now, his intensity portrays care—written on both our souls, whether or not we admit it. Our story, written over and over in the human world, but rooted in the realms beneath the earth. Does that make it less genuine or, in fact, more? I know I can choose what it means to me.
