Page 39 of As Above, So Below

Her eyes return to the contract with a huff and a nod. “Not what I’d expected from a daughter of death,” she mutters to herself, bringing a thumb to her lips.

In a swift motion, she bites the pad and presses it against the parchment, leaving a dark red stain behind. The contract emits a bright red light before vanishing in a swirl of shadows. A tiny tingle on my left wrist pulls my attention downward, a small band of Malbolge runes appearing on my skin. Sunshine rips back the sleeve of her robes, showing her own matching band.

“Signed, accepted, and bound.” She grins, turning her wrist over as she inspects the new marking. She snags the crystal from my hands and clutches it to her chest.

Shaking the crystal and laughing excitedly, she skirts herself to the other end of the chamber with a speed I didn’t expect. She places the crystal upon a desk already littered with a mountain of books. It teeters precariously as she pulls her hand away.

Should it fall and shatter, releasing the imprisoned soul, I will not be replacing it.

She bends farther at the waist, pulling a drawer open. The drawer groans in reluctance as it slides open, the sound filling the chamber. Plunging her hand inside, she leans farther,sinking her arm up to her shoulder inside the drawer—a physically impossible thing based on the depth of the drawer.

A pocket dimension, I realize, brows lifting.

One likely filled to the brim with more clutter akin to her chamber.

“I have what you seek. I have what you seek. Or at least half of what you seek,” she says, her sing-song voice muffled as she buries her face into the drawer.

After a time of rifling around and growing frustrated, she straightens herself, brushing her hair out of her eyes. Lifting her hand, she clutches a silver chain, a round pendant swinging below. With an oddly triumphant laugh, she races toward us.

“With this,” her eyes remain fixed upon the silver, “you’ll be able to pass through the veil and be given the ability to walk in the living realm.” She stops outside of the radius of the magelight, but juts her arm into the light, and the necklace gleams as it slows in its swing. “Take it and wear it when you leave the hells. It’s been spelled to reunite your essence with your remains.”

My eyes narrow. “Why do you have it?”

Sunshine makes a chiding click sound with her tongue. “I should charge you for that answer.” Her face sets in a slight scowl. “But as a return for your forthcoming contract, I’ll give it to you.” She steps into the light, handing me the necklace.

The chain pools in my hand, the pendant not much larger than the iris of an eye. It appears harmless enough, but the magic it’s been imbued with ripples over my skin like cool lapping waves.

Old magic, I realize.

Strong,powerfulold magic. I’ve never known old magic to do anything other than create wards and magelights.

“Celesta left two amulets in my care. One for you, one for your twin,” Sunshine answers my earlier question. “She wanted you both to have a choice, but knew Netharis would never allow it.”

Celesta left this?

Sunshine studies me as I stare at the necklace.

“Before she was a goddess, Celesta was a powerful Aether wielder, as many winged fae were. A skill lost when their populations were essentially eradicated,” Sunshine says quietly, and my eyesdart to hers.

“Aether wielder?” Ylara asks, her dark eyes also fixed upon the necklace. “I’ve not read about Aether as an innate.”

Sunshine cackles, an amused sound. “No, not an innate, little one. An innate is only as powerful as the soul wielding it. Aether exists ineverything. With the right knowledge, it can be wielded. It saddens me to see Aether wielding reduced to wards and magelights.” She sneers her disapproval at the magelight overhead.

Shoving the necklace into a pouch on my waist, I sigh.

“You spoke of another half,” I say and she grins. “What else is needed?”

The smile on Sunshine’s face grows sinister. “I require you to fulfill your end of the contract first.”

I roll my eyes.

Not only greedy, but demanding as well.

CHAPTER NINE

I’ve had myfair share of bad ideas in my time.

Some worse than others.