Page 10 of Evermore

Elowen’s laugh followed, something deep and soothing that started simple and twisted into her shoulders shaking with laughter. Something hysterical bubbled up from within me. Tears of mirth streamed down our faces as the euphoria consumed us and the laughter took on a life of its own, feeding off itself and growing in intensity until the feeling burned white hot.

A flicker of unease started to grow in the pit of my stomach, wrapping around the regenerating power and coaxing it until I had to physically try not to use it. It was getting hard to breathe between the relentless laughing that seized my body. My sides ached and my head spun. Glancing around, I could see the others in a similar state, smiles far too wide, eyes laced with worry.

“Quill,” I managed to choke out between bursts of laughter. “Quill, you need to stop. It’s too much.”

She cocked her head to the side, brow furrowed in confusion as she surveyed the room of hysterical adults. The mirth didn’t seem to be affecting her.

“But why? I thought everyone wanted to be happy. Isn’t this happiness? Aren’t we all having such a great time?”

The nine year old was trying to teach me a lesson, it seemed. “Too much of anything can be dangerous,” I said while laughing. The point was lost in the emotion swirling around the room. But she knew that.

“I find it really hard to believe you when you’re laughing so hard.” She stood from her spot before Archer and tucked her curls behind her ears as she glared at me. “Maybe you just need to bemorehappy.

Her magic struck me hard and fast, and before I could react at all, three sharp knocks at the door were followed by a voice I’d never heard. “Are you home, Little Bird?”

Quill spun around, yanking her power away as she ran for the door, shouting, “Aeris!”

Thea rose from her seat, the smile fading to a distant numbness. “What was that you were saying about keeping the gods away? In case you missed it, that’s not the kid you left behind.”

5

Paesha

“Huntress,” the goddess standing at the door said, her salt and pepper hair pulled back in a loose bun as she dipped a chin to me. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Our little Quill has told me nothing but good things.”

I tried to hide the snarl as I answered. “Hasour Quillbeen so kind? That’s nice to hear.”

She remained on the doorstep, no pressure to come inside nor push her way in as she clasped her hands before her. She wore a simple ivory apron over a plain floor-length brown dress, holding no air of superiority. In fact, had I not known, I would have assumed she was someone’s grandmother, come to bake cookies or knit or something equally boring.

She smiled, looking down at Quill, who bounced on her toes, giving no indication that five seconds ago she’d been content shoving her magic down our throats to prove a point. And as much as I wanted to fault her for it, how could I? She wasn’t mean as a little girl. Her heart was so big and so gentle. Clearly, whatever was happening to her was beyond her comprehension or control. Maybe it was this woman’s influence corrupting her.

“I’m Aeris,” the goddess said, holding a hand out. “Goddess of Renewal. I’ve come to collect Quill for the day. I promised shecould come along for my next project. I’m feeling quite inspired to take a look at the old castle ruins. You’re welcome to come if you’d like.”

That or leave Quill in the hands of a goddess? There was no choice here, not really. Archer and Thea came to join us at the door and the look of relief on Thea’s face as she drank Aeris in was so discomforting, I had to look away. A goddess could not be the answer to Quill’s tantrums. She’d end up in debt to them like she would have the Maestro. She was free. Right now. And I intended for it to stay that way no matter which god I had to piss off.

Archer’s cool blue eyes met mine, and I knew our thoughts were aligned. Ultimately, his sister had died on a god’s order and while I didn’t have all the details of that night sorted, I knew for sure Thorne or Reverius or whatever he decided to go by today, had known more than he’d shared and ultimately could have stopped Harlow’s death but didn’t. That was a choice. So fuck him.

I narrowed my eyes, staring into the old woman’s. Besides the fact that she was a goddess, something about her didn’t sit right with me, and while I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, I also couldn’t look away. “I don’t think we’re interested in the resurrection of a bunch of old buildings.”

“Hey!” Quill protested.

“It isn’t only old buildings and borders that need to be renewed, dear. Sometimes it’s hearts, sometimes it’s more.” She glanced at Archer. “Sometimes it’s one’s entire purpose.”

Archer looked down at Quill, clearly trying to curb his anger. He simply turned and walked away.

“I’ve only just returned home,” I said, snagging her attention back. “Maybe we could have a day together for rest andrenewalhere before we go venturing out into Requiem. Or Wisteria. Or whatever the name of this world actually is.”

“It’s always been Wisteria, dear. Veiling it away from Requiem was the severance that should have never happened.”

Could I push? Could I trust an answer? I stared at the woman’s unbothered face, tempted. Curious. “Then why did it? Why was Wisteria under a veil?”

“Perhaps if you come to watch, I’ll tell you.”

“No. I don’t make deals with gods.”

The woman’s smile never faltered. “Perhaps that’s wise.”

“Come on! I don’t want to sit around here another day. It’s so boring when there’s so much to do out there.”