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SILIA

I exit the prison and begin the trek to my mother’s old manor. My father had built it for her as a wedding gift all those years ago. We would spend many spring nights here, and since it was next to the main river running through Eza, it made the perfect spot for fishing.

My father would go out into the river every spring in hopes of catching a fish bigger than the one he did the year before. He only successfully did this once, and the biggest fish he ever caught was almost larger than me that year. I had just turned three, and I remember him bursting through the mansion's front door and dragging the fish across the freshly polished hardwood floor while mother scolded him for getting the juices everywhere.

What I would give for a spring evening just like that one.

As I walk through the heart of the city, I cannot help but notice the lack of people on the street. Even though it’s late, there’s usually at least a group of teenagers causing trouble or the occasional drunk man hobbling between pubs. Tonight, not a single soul is to be seen. Word of the attack on the kingdom must have gotten out and sent everyone into hiding. This was my fault; all of this was my fault.

After what feels like a day’s worth of walking, I finally make it to the manor. The home has become decrepit, and it looks as if it’s standing on its last legs. After Mother died, we had come here the following spring, but the home had been too quiet. The once-joyful spirit that was holding our family together had been taken away when she was.

We had never gone back. The paint on the wood foundation of the home is peeling, and water damage has ruined its once-beautiful appearance. Grass has begun to overgrow its previously manicured grounds, and any semblance of life has seemingly died.

Passing the gates of the manor entrance, I can feel the dread enter my body, and the weight of what I am about to do pushes down on my shoulders. Showing up tonight would seal Diana’s safety. All I have to do is walk in and agree to whatever Erebus proposes.

I trudge up the path to the front door, and I’ve just begun to walk up the steps when suddenly, I’m grabbed from behind, and something wet covers my mouth and nose. I try to struggle out of my unknown assailant’s grasp, kicking and trying to free my muffled screams as my vision weakens. My eyes grow impossibly heavy, and my limbs begin to give out. Just as I fade out of consciousness, I steal a glance at my captor. He is not a stranger at all, and in the dim moonlight, I see a crooked smile begin to form on his mouth.

“You’re late.” Those words hammer the final nail in the coffin, and I’m swept away into a non-consensual sleep.

I wake up sprawled on the floor in my room at the palace. My head throbs as I sit up and take in my surroundings. Standing in front of me is a familiar pair of worn brown boots attached to a very familiar pair of legs. I stumble to my feet and stare at that dimpled smile.

“Hello, Silia.”

“Rein!” I run over to him and pull him into a bone-crushing hug. How is he here, alive and breathing?

I pull back from him and slap him across the face to assure myself he is not a figment of my imagination, and as payback for what he had done to Diana.

Rein takes my slap with understanding and turns his head back to face me. “I deserve that.”

Tears form in my eyes as I take in the sight of him. There’s a thick scar running along the horizontal slope of his neck, and he’s dressed in the same clothing I had seen him in last.

“I know what you did. I saw everything in the cell. How could you not tell Diana what would happen to her? How could you not tell me ?”

Rein takes my hands in his and holds my gaze. “I thought Odious was crazy, Silia. I thought he was the one luring her to Daqet. If I knew his words were true, I would have done everything in my power to protect her. I loved your sister. You know I would have never knowingly sent her into harm.”

For the first time in a long while, I believe the string of words being spoken to me. Rein would never keep this from me with ill intent. His only mistake was that he didn’t realize until it was too late.

“I know. I don’t blame you for anything. I’m the one that got us into this mess. Erebus wants both of us for some fucked-up plan.”

Rein’s gaze lowers, a frown now wiping away the happy expression he wore moments ago.

“How are you here? Are you truly alive?”

Rein raises his head again and lowers his hands from mine. “Unfortunately, I am not. You are speaking with my spirit.”

I search his face for any sign of a jest, but he is not joking.

“Being blessed by Hecate allows you to speak with the dead—not with their bodies directly, but with their spirit.”

“Oh,” Is all I manage to say as I stare back at him. His olive skin and brown curls ignite a recent discovery. “Rein, why did you tell me your parents were dead?”

A hopeful glimmer begins to shine in his eyes as he closes the distance between us. “Did you see them? Are they well?”

“They are, but unfortunately, Erebus showcased your corpse to basically the entire realm. They saw you there.”

He runs his hands through his hair and lets out a sigh. “I was an ignorant child. I ran away from home after a petty argument I had with my parents. I wandered the forest for almost three weeks before I stumbled onto the grounds of Eza. I didn’t know where I was. All I knew was that I couldn’t go back home, only to have my parents scold me for leaving in the first place. My immature pride is the only thing that kept me from going back or contacting them again. I only told you they were dead so no one would go looking for them.”

I pull him into another hug and hold him tight. He was just a child.

“I’m so sorry, Rein, for everything. But I thank the Gods that you stayed with us. Growing up without you would have been exceedingly boring.”

He laughs into my hair and kisses my temple, then pulls away. His gaze travels to my chest, where my armor no longer resides, and my newest brand peeks just above my tunic. He touches the brand and focuses his gaze back on mine. “You did it…”

I grin widely at him and puff out my chest. I showcase the brand like it’s a badge of honor. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess me dying put you next in line, huh? You’re welcome.”

I gasp and smack him on the arm. “You know that’s not what I meant!”

He rubs his arm and chuckles, “I know, I know. I’m proud of you Sil, truly.”

Gods, it feels so good to laugh with him, or even laugh in general. When was the last time I had done that?

Rein suddenly clears his throat and takes a step back. “There are others here to see you, Silia.”

He pulls away and walks back a few steps as my mother and Aunt Viktoria appear at his side.

“I—what is happening?” Why is Lars’s mother here? She stands behind my own mother with a large blood stain on her chest, right over her heart.

My mother walks up to me and takes my head between her hands. “My little girl. How remarkable you have become”

Fresh tears pour from my eyes as I gaze upon her. She looks exactly as I remember her. Her red hair envelopes her shoulders and hangs down to her waist, just like Diana’s. Her ocean-blue eyes shine brighter than the stars.

I no longer need to search for my mother in Diana’s eyes, because she is looking at me right now, for the first time in twenty-three years.

Years of wanting to melt into her embrace and cry to her about my struggles hit me all at once, and I fall into her arms. Heavy sobs overtake me as she strokes my hair and gently sways back and forth with me.

“Mother, I can’t do this without you.” My eyes quickly puff up, and my vision blurs as sob after sob escapes my throat. “I need you. Please don’t make me leave here. I just got you back.”

“I know, little one. I know how hard it is to be parted from you. I cannot stand it most days. But you must keep fighting. The battle is not over just yet.”

I pull away from her and look into her piercing blue eyes, “But I’m so tired…” My voice breaks in between the words as she calmly strokes my hair.

Aunt Viktoria then steps forward, resting a hand on my mother’s shoulder. Her golden-flecked eyes reach mine, and she offers me an apologetic smile. “Trust him. He will guide you.”

I stumble back, breaking the connection with my mother. “It’s you. You’re the voice I heard in my head.”

She gives a solemn nod. “Yes. We have all communicated with you one way or another. Your gift allows us to connect with you.”

I open my mouth to ask her why they are making themselves known now of all times, but my mother grabs me by the shoulders. “It’s almost time, Silia. Your job is almost done.”

I glance around the room at all three of them, taking every detail in and committing it to memory. Rein sends me a wink as he speaks the final words.

“Wake up.”

I bolt awake with my head still throbbing, and a pain coming from my ankles that wasn’t there before. I look around the room and find myself chained to the floor in the middle of the foyer of the manor. Besides being restrained, I am otherwise uninjured.

As I look down at the chains wrapped around my ankles, I notice that my armor and sword have been removed, and I’m left in the fighting leathers I put on earlier. What the Hel is happening?

Out of the corner of my eye, a figure emerges from the shadows, and I hear that familiar tap of a cane.

“Erebus, what’s going on?” I frantically ask, pulling against the cuffs.

As he exits the shadows, he swings his cane in a circular motion through the air, like he hasn’t a care in the world. “Now, Silia, no need to get worked up. I wouldn’t want to have to chain your hands, too.”

A second figure emerges behind him, and my mouth instantly dries up. My father, dressed in his full armor and carrying my sword, frowns down at me.

The confusion on my face must amuse Erebus, as he scoffs, “I was hoping you would make it. I heard you imprisoned Lars. Congratulations, I am glad to see he did not resist.” He bows his head in thanks, as if I did him a favor.

How could he have possibly known I got to Lars? This had happened only hours ago…I think? I don’t know how long I’ve been unconscious.

“Why am I chained to the floor? Father, what is this?” I ask again as a dread spills into the corners of my mind.

“You could not have been so naive to think I’d let you walk out of here without something in return,” Erebus responds in a wicked voice, looking over at my father with that sadistic smirk.

“I’ll do whatever you want. I have done nothing to insinuate I wouldn’t cooperate. There’s no need to keep me in chains!” I glance down at the manacles, and anxiety begins to creep up my spine to accompany the dread.

“Oh, but there is. These chains serve a purpose.” As if on cue, they begin to emit a low glow.

“Why do you have me in these cuffs?” My head begins to spin as I realize these chains are hindering my gift and slowly draining me. They must be the same cuffs he’d attached to Rein.

“My offer to release Diana does not come without a price.” He states matter-of-factly, as if this were something I should have known by now. “As this is a deal, I need something in return, and what better than your gift?”

“Get these fucking chains off me, or I’ll rip your soul from your body.” My brain can’t catch up with my thoughts fast enough as I play through what need he would possibly have for my gift.

“Dear girl, I sold my soul a long time ago. It is no longer on the free market.” He lazily laughs as he starts to close the gap between us. The tap of his cane beats louder and louder in my skull, causing my pounding head to worsen as he steps in front of me. My father cringes in the corner of the room at his words, but does not move even an inch. Why is he not putting a stop to this?

Erebus takes the hilt of his cane and rests it under my chin, then raises my head to face him. “Your gift would do wonders for my plans. Eus and I have wonderful things in store for you and your sister, there is no need to fret.”

Eus… Erebus is working with the God of Hel?

I give him another expression of confusion as I ask, cane still painfully pressed under my chin. “You’ve never been one to take orders from anyone. What do you want from us?”

He releases me as the last word leaves my lips. “Eus has made quite an offer to me and my people. He has promised me the power to rule the Varien Realm, so long as I allow him to work through me, instilling disorder and chaos in its people.”

I huff a laugh. “What an insane proposition. You’re the naive one if you think Eus would willingly bestow that role upon you. He is a God. He’s using you to get whatever he wants. He’ll chew you up and spit you out the second he has you under his control.”

Erebus raises his cane and strikes me across the face. I let out a muffled yelp as I feel a crack in my nose from my face hitting the floor.

“Shut your mouth. You have no idea what you’re talking about!”

Listen to him. He will guide you.

My conversation with Lars comes rushing back to me as I recall I had said those exact words to him.

Just as I gather the strength to rise and rest my weight on my hands, another hard smack hits me across the other side of my face.

Anger rolls into me as I try to summon my gift, but the chains burn with vengeance. “Fuck.” I bark a loud cry as the smell of burning flesh wafts into my nose.

“Of course I am under his control, stupid girl. I am his blessed.” He states as he looks down at me with fake pity. “Let’s save the tiresome back-and-forth for another time, yes?”

“What are you planning, Erebus? I know there’s more to your scheme than gaining a little power.” I wipe the blood from my nose and scowl up at him.

He looks to the floor for a second, then tosses his arms in the air. “Fuck it, why not? You’ll be dead soon anyway. I had your mother’s body removed from her grave the night after her funeral and preserved it in my palace. With your Hecate-blessed gift, you can allow her soul free passage to return to her body. When I kill Diana and she assumes the role of Bortis, she can restore her body to full capacity. Once I get Lars out of the cell you so kindly put him in, he will control your mother into submission to take the throne with your father. She and I will rule our kingdoms as intended, and ownership of the entire realm will be ours.”

He's a fucking lunatic. Erebus wants to resurrect my mother ?

“You’re fucking sick, Erebus. I’ll slit my own throat before I help you with any part of this ridiculous plan. How would resurrecting my mother help you at all?”

“You should ask your father that one. As I’ve stated, everything comes with a price. Why do you think he let you travel all the way to Daqet without a second thought? I needed you and Diana, and he needed something in return.”

I look at my father, still frozen in the corner of the room. “You allowed this?”

He raises his head high, no more sympathetic glances from him. “Your sister took your mother from me. This is my last chance to have her again, no matter the cost. Your mother can always have more children, but there will never be another her.”

“What is wrong with you? That’s your fucking daughter !” I lunge to swipe at anything I can get my hands on, but Erebus jumps back in time and misses my reach.

“You will do as you are told!” Erebus shouts at me, seeming to lose his composure for a second, but he quickly reels it back in. He smooths his hair back and looks down at me. “I have you chained at my will. It will make no difference whether you agree to this or not.”

I slowly begin to fit the pieces of the puzzle together as I follow the length of the chains to the floor. I know these chains either hinder powers or flow them into a receptacle—and given his statement, my powers must be draining into the chains and down beneath the floor into whatever contraption he has hiding down there.

“I have been watching you for a long while, ever since your sister's birth. I have been biding my time, building your trust with Lars so you would eventually let your guard down. The moment I brought this offer to your father…it was just too perfect for him to refuse.”

Everything I have been told for the past year—maybe even my whole life—has been a lie.

Scents of sandalwood and jasmine begin to fill the room as images of those familiar eyes and dark hair swirl around in my mind. There are things you do not know . That sentence burns its way into the crevices of my brain. He knew. Lars knew , and tried to warn me. And I told him never to speak to me again.

Erebus turns his back and begins to walk towards the table in the corner of the room. As he rests his cane against the table, the glow on the chains around my ankles slightly flickers, and the pain begins to subside. Thankful for the slight relief, I adjust myself to fold into a kneeling position and rest my weight back on my heels. I subtly test my flame, and to my surprise, I can finally feel my brand tingle in response.

I have no idea how this could be happening, but I’m glad Erebus didn’t notice the malfunction of his handiwork.

He and my father sit in their chairs on the other side of the room and just stare at me.

“I guess this is where you beg for your life, and for me to free you and your sister,” he mocks. “Do not worry, she’s not chained up…yet.”

It suddenly hits me that I would never see her again. Draining my gift would surely kill me. I will never make it out of here alive. If I can just conjure enough power back into my body—

“Now,” that sickening voice interrupts my thoughts. “Just relax and enjoy the ride. Why not make your last memory that of your little fool?”

Something in me burns at the mention of Lars. Is it my resentment? My hatred? I could not bear the thought of it being anything to do with my love—my past love for him. Maybe I would make my final thoughts of him. Yes, Lars burning on a stake would be a pleasant thought to conclude my time in this world.

Yet, my thoughts do drift to him, but they’re thoughts of how he’s faring in the dungeon cell. I wonder if he’s still in the kneeling position I left him in. I wonder if he noticed the small tremble of guilt I felt when turning away from him for the last time.

No. I would not let myself soften to him once again, not in my last moments. I grit my teeth as I speak up. “What a fantastic idea. Maybe I’ll think about how wonderful it was to imprison him, the way I would love to see him suffer, or how about the way he knew exactly where to touch me to send me over the edge—”

“Enough!” my father yells and stands from his chair, sending it sliding toward the wall with a slam. Erebus smirks and grabs his cane, then walks halfway over to me.

“You’ve lost.” Anger radiates heavily from him, “No longer will I concede to some little girl who thinks the world revolves around her. The Fates chose wrong when they picked you. Their ridiculous ideas of love and the Fae way of life have hindered them from realizing their true potential. Once your mother is on the throne and Eus grants me full control, the whole realm will fall to its knees in worship. I will have all the power, I will go down in history, and I will be feared even by the Fates themselves. Not you or that pathetic excuse of a son, Lars.”

At that exact moment, I see. I see him for what he truly is. An insecure man who has never had a genuine feeling or connection with anyone in his life. He wants fame and power. If he can’t get it voluntarily, he will force it.

As I struggle to rise on my knees, he saunters closer to me, victory plastered on his face. “How does it feel to lose?” Hatred and disgust coat his voice, but I will not give him the satisfaction of answering.

Erebus grips the cane tightly, until his knuckles begin to turn white.

“How does it feel?” he impatiently shouts at me again. Droplets of spit land on my face as he bends down closer.

With one last effort, I desperately try to conjure any kernel of power I have left into my body.

Then, I feel it.

With a slight tug upward of my lips, I decide to dignify him with a response. “I guess you’ll have to find out for yourself.”

And with that, I let a stream of green flames shoot out from my fingertips, aimed directly at Erebus.