Page 12 of Salt & Blood (Ivy & Bone #4)
SILENCE
MONA
Mona had been warned the Voiceless Jungle was ominously silent, but nothing could have prepared her for the jarring absence of sound. Even her footsteps made no noise. It felt like she had stepped into a yawning void of nothingness, a stasis between worlds that trapped her forever.
She had been between worlds before. She had been in a state of helplessness, disconnected from her soul and unable to fix it. Unable to move or do anything.
This felt a lot like that.
Mona swallowed hard, her heartbeat thundering louder than anything around her. From beside her, Evander’s warm hand captured her own and squeezed. If anyone understood how this would feel for her, it would be him. He had been her anchor during that time in the Underworld. Her guardian. Her savior.
Mona squeezed his hand in return and clung to the warmth of his body next to hers. Alive. Whole. Healthy.
It didn’t matter to her that he was altered. But she knew it bothered him. It would take some adjusting. He had lost a central part of himself that would never come back. And she was prepared to stand by him for as long as it took for him to come to terms with it.
On her left, she felt Pandora trembling beside her. She’d seen her sister conversing with Sol, and judging by their venomous expressions, the conversation had not gone well. Sol was full of a hatred that couldn’t be quenched, and Pandora was masochistic enough to let him torture her. Because she was in love with him.
But Mona knew it wasn’t her place to interfere. Both had to work out their own issues in their own time. Besides, the last person Sol would want to hear from was the woman who had gotten his mother killed. The reminder of Hestia’s sacrifice still ate at her, and being surrounded by the fire goddess’s acolytes only worsened Mona’s guilt.
If she hadn’t taken a stand before Apollo, Hestia would still be alive.
If Sol should blame anyone—besides Apollo himself—it should be Mona.
Mona’s steps were slow and careful as she followed the shadowed forms of the witches in front of her. Darkness surrounded her, but Farah’s palms were lit with the smallest of flames, providing a dark orange glow that guided their way. The coven leader seemed to know the right path to take, although there was no trail that Mona could see. Nothing but wild foliage and overhanging trees blocked the moonlight.
No twigs snapped. No leaves crunched. Not a single insect chirped.
There were no noises at all. The jungle might as well have been a graveyard.
A chill skittered across Mona’s skin, and she drew closer to Evander until his arm was pressed against hers. The warmth of him warded off the ice in her bones, and she inhaled his scent, clinging to that strong presence beside her.
Farah had warned them not to speak, that it would disturb the spirits that lived here. But all Mona wanted to do was talk to Evander. How did he feel? Was he all right? After they reached the Gorgon sisters, what did he want to do? Try to return to the Underworld? Stay here in the Realm of Gaia? Mona wanted to remain with Pandora, to support her sister. But if the Gorgon sisters determined she should be executed or imprisoned, Mona wasn’t certain what she could do.
Her heart twisted at the thought, even though, logically, she knew Pandora’s crimes were great. Many had perished because of her choices. If the Gorgons sentenced her to death, it would be warranted.
But that didn’t stop Mona from feeling guilt and anguish at the thought of losing her sister.
Pandora was cruel and vicious and conniving. But she was Mona’s blood. And, despite everything she had done, Pandora still had a heart. She was trying to make things right. She was trying to change her ways. People like Sol were making that difficult, but Mona could acknowledge the effort her sister was putting in.
It meant there was still some good in her, and Mona hoped this meant Pandora was strong enough to conquer her curse and the vengeful soul inside of her.
Farah suddenly lifted a hand, the glow of her flame burning in the darkness. The crowd of witches stopped, and Mona’s heart lurched in her throat with apprehension at what was coming.
“You are not welcome here,” said a low, threatening voice.
Mona went rigid, scanning the dark forest for the source of the voice, but she saw nothing. No one.
“We have come to see the Gorgons,” Farah said, her voice solemn and strong.
“You bring darkness and death with you,” hissed the voice. “And your flame threatens our sacred flora.”
Mona straightened, her breaths coming sharp and fast. Sacred flora. Was this stranger an earth witch?
“The flame is contained,” Farah promised. “It is only to guide our way. The Gorgons are part of our coven. We have a right to see them.”
“The Gorgon sisters are visitors on our land, protected only by the god blood that flows in their veins,” said the voice. “You have no such protection.”
“But I do,” Mona said, surprising herself by how firm and determined her voice was.
A few people gasped, and the witches parted, forming an aisle through which Mona walked to reach Farah. Her hand was still clasped in Evander’s. He followed, his body taut, as if he expected a fight.
Only when Mona reached the front of the crowd did she make out a figure of shadows standing before Farah. It was shaped like a tall, slender woman, but Mona could not make out any details; only darkness, as if the woman was born of the shadows themselves.
“The blood of Gaia flows in my veins,” Mona said. “And I am one of you, earth sister.”
The shadowed figure withdrew slightly, as if in surprise. Mona’s skin tingled as she had the distinct impression this witch was looking her over, scrutinizing her carefully.
“I smell earth on you,” she said. “Earth and life. Yes, you are one of us. And you are welcome.”
Hope rose in Mona’s chest. “These people are with me.”
But the shadow shook her head. “No. We cannot allow so many intruders. Our soil is too sacred.”
Uncertain, Mona glanced at the witches behind her. Her eyes met Farah’s, and the coven leader shook her head.
“We have never come here with this many before,” Farah murmured. “In the past, they have always let us through.”
A knot formed in Mona’s throat as she looked at the dark specter. “How many? How many will you allow?”
A moment passed. Then, the woman said, “Five.”
A protest formed on Mona’s lips, but before she could utter it, Farah grasped her arm. “This is acceptable, so long as the earth witches allow us to await the Gorgon sisters out here. We will use no flame.” When Mona looked at her in confusion, Farah offered a grim smile. “Your matter is urgent, and you need the sisters more than we do. Council with them. See what they can do for you. And we will be waiting when you finish.”
Mona licked her lips, feeling uncertain about the idea of following this dark stranger and leaving the safety of Farah and her coven. But there was no other choice, and the earth magic rippling from the shadowed woman was strong. It smelled of sage and forests and home.
It smelled like Gaia.
A pang of longing filled Mona’s chest at the thought of her mother. Gaia had made many poor choices, but that didn’t mean Mona didn’t miss her.
“Evander, you’re with me,” Mona said. Then she turned and called into the crowd of witches. “Sol. Romanos. Pandora. Come with us. We will need you.”
The three figures emerged from their party and stepped forward. Sol shot a nasty look at Pandora, who calmly ignored him and stood next to Mona. Romanos seemed utterly unfazed by the entire situation, as if this happened to him every day.
The shadowed figure inclined her head. “Very well. Follow me. I will take you to the king.”
Mona stiffened. “King?”
“Yes. The Gorgon sisters are conversing with King Midas now. I will take you to him.”
Shock coursed through Mona as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her. King Midas ? The man who had been cursed to transform everything he touched to gold? Mona had read about this man in books, but all the stories she’d read said Midas had died long ago.
She was still trembling with apprehension and disbelief when Evander gently guided her toward the shadowed witch. Shoving her emotions aside, Mona took a deep breath and followed after the witch, descending further into the darkened jungle.