Page 24

CHAPTER 24

AURORA

A urora rarely came to the underworld, and those around her could tell. The gods that made this dark world their home gave her a wide berth as she walked toward Death’s fortress. She had tried to match the somber feel of the underworld by dressing in a gown made of the blackest silk she could find. But that did little to hide her heavenly home.

The stardust that clung to her lips and features shone like a beacon against the dark sky and gray buildings. Thane’s mother could always tell when he had been with her. Stardust clung to all the places she had touched him.

All the places . She smiled at that thought.

The dead brushed by her on the cobblestone street, paying her little attention. In life the mortals feared the underworld. Some thought there were rivers of fire, while others thought Death sat like Life on a mighty throne made of bones, overseeing his realm. Neither was true. Death was rarely in the underworld. And each mortal saw the underworld differently.

Some existed as they had in the earthly world, bringing memories of their homes and shops with them. Others did all the things they hadn’t done while they were alive. Some just simply found a place to rest, sorting through unsolved issues and regrets.

Aurora saw it for what it was: a gray land with no grass or leaves on the trees. The warmth of the sun never cut through the heavy gray clouds that hung over the underworld. Nothing grew here, for Life was not allowed.

No one stopped her as she walked through the courtyard of Death’s fortress. Tall stone walls and heavily guarded gates kept the gods and mortals separate. This was more for show than protection. The dead didn’t care what Death was doing. The demigods that stood guard watched her make her way through the halls of the fortress. They were wretched things her father had banished from the mortal lands.

The underworld was quiet in contrast to the noise and merriment that filled her father’s halls. Her youth had been spent with plush carpets under her feet and halls lined with windows that let in the morning light. Every wall in her father’s palace was covered with art or shelves filled with books of poetry, most written about her mother. Thane’s youth had been spent in what felt like a cave. The few windows there were only let in small pockets of gray light. The only art that adorned the walls were shields and weapons. Death’s brother was War . Another reason for Thane’s broodiness.

“Ah, if it isn’t the daughter of Life ,” a deep voice called. Thane’s half-brother, Deception , stepped out of the shadows.

“Deception, what an unpleasant surprise.”

Deception took her hand and kissed it. He wasn’t a full god like Thane . His mother was mortal, and the hints of his mortality played out on his handsome face. He was a mix of Death’s beauty and mortality’s fragility. “ You just missed my beloved brother.”

Aurora took her hand away. “ Thane was here?”

“Yes, visiting his mother.” Deception looked at the glittery dust that clung to his hands, wiping it on his trousers. “ It truly sticks to everything, doesn’t it? I wonder if that is what Sorrow and Thane fought about.”

“I wouldn’t know.” She shrugged.

“Really? Well , then your beloved is fucking a star because he was covered in stardust. It was in his hair. On his eyelids. And if I had to guess, other places.” Deception looked her up and down. “ But that’s not why you are here. Is it?”

“No. I’m here to see Sorrow .” Aurora tried to sound as if it were something she did often.

Deception lifted a pale brow. He could have been from the heavens as fair as he was and how delicate his features looked. All demigods were marked with their mortality. They had two different-colored eyes. Deception had one blue for the mortal half and one golden for the immortal half. “ I would love to hear what Sorrow has to say to you. Shall I escort you?”

“No, that’s fine.” Aurora tried to step past him. She needed to tread carefully with Deception if he was to do as she wished.

“Thane has already warned her about your desire to see Death .” Deception ran a finger up Aurora’s arm. “ She’ll not agree to help you. But I will.”

Aurora swallowed the coy sweetness of Deception’s words. He might not be a full god, but he still could manipulate like one. Mortals fell for him all the time and his honeyed lies. Her father had banned him from the mortal world after an entire city burned down because of the lies Deception planted.

“Besides, I hardly believe Death will listen to you,” Aurora said, looking him up and down. Demigods hated being reminded of their place. “ But please, do run off and tell Death I wish to speak with him. If you can find him.” Aurora waved him off.

“I know where he is. I just left him. We were discussing how disappointed Death was in Thane .” Deception again tried to brush the stardust from his hands.

“How nice for you.” Aurora looked around the hall, then back to Deception .

Deception continued on. “ We were discussing why Thane would reap the soul of a witch before her time was up. Any idea why?”

I would like to know too, thought Aurora . “ I don’t deal with mortals. Is there anything else? I don’t want to keep Sorrow waiting.”

A sharp smile like that of Death’s crossed Deception’s lips. “ You can’t beat me at my own game, dove. ” Deception mocked her. “ I can see how badly you want to speak to my father. But I’ll offer you this little piece of advice. Be careful what you wish for.”

“Are we done?” Aurora shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

“Of course. I know how busy you must be. Good luck.” Deception sneered as he faded back into the shadows.

She wouldn’t need luck. Deception would tell his father. If she had known Deception was here, she could’ve skipped seeing Sorrow altogether. But since Thane had taken the time to warn his mother, she continued down the long dark hall.

The large doors to Sorrow’s room creaked as guards pushed them open. The room’s warm interior surprised Aurora . A large fire burned, casting the room in a warm glow, and colorful tapestries hung on the gray walls. Ornate rugs in different shades of yellow and gold covered the stone floors.

Sorrow sat on a cream-colored couch with her white gown fanned out around her. Tiny white flowers fell to the ground, making Sorrow look more like the god of Spring than sadness. Everything in the room was in hushed colors except for the smear of red that belonged to the god sitting next to Sorrow .

Pain. The reason for Thane’s curse.

“Look who has graced us with her presence.” Sorrow waved a hand in the air. “ The beloved daughter of Life . Aurora , you remember Pain , the daughter of Fate and Love .” Sorrow motioned to the woman next to her. “ The other god to ruin my son.”

Pain’s dark hair was pulled back into a tight braid, giving her delicate features a sharper edge. It was easy to see why Sorrow thought Pain would be a better fit for Thane . There were no golden hints of softness on Pain like those that clung to Aurora . Her lips were blood red, not brushed with something as silly as stardust.

Aurora turned from Pain . “ I hoped to speak to you alone.”

“I was just leaving. Sorrow .” Pain nodded to the god.

“Oh, Pain , don’t go too far. My son is supposed to join me for dinner tonight,” Sorrow called. “ I’d like you to also join us.”

Pain closed her eyes for a moment. “ I don’t want to see your son any more than he wants to see me. And Death has asked I join him. If you’ll excuse me.” Pain slipped from the room.

Sorrow pouted before turning to Aurora . “ So what is it you want?”

Aurora waited to hear the door close before speaking. “ I need to speak with your husband.”

“Why?” Sorrow motioned for drinks to be brought. “ I am out of moonbeam wine. I have dew if you’d like that.”

“I’m fine.” Aurora waved off the offer. This wasn’t a social call.

“Oh please, I will not drink alone. If you don’t like dew, I have lightning or”— Sorrow squinted at the bottles on the table—“or the wretched whiskey Thane likes to drink. Just today he… oh, what does it matter?”

“Whiskey is fine.” It was the safest bet. Lightning burned her throat and made her head feel too light too quickly. And dew tasted like pine needles.

“Of course.” Sorrow motioned for the whiskey to be brought over. “ Why not just ask Thane to call upon his father? I’ve heard you two are together again. How long will it be this time, pet? One day or ten? You heavenly gods are never happy unless you are torturing my poor son.”

Aurora was pretty sure she was the only heavenly god that was torturing Thane . And he liked it most of the time. “ It’s only me doing the torturing, and he seems to enjoy it. In fact he comes back for it at least three, sometimes four times a night.” The underworld gods weren’t the only ones who could cut with their words.

Sorrow scoffed. “ Such a sharp tongue for a god who frolics with the stars. It will take me days to get rid of that stupid dust.” Sorrow looked over at the chair Thane must have sat on.

“Yes, I’m sure it will.” Just as it would take Thane a lifetime to get it out of his blood. Aurora just smiled and played the god everyone saw her as. Pretty and sweet. Aurora could smell the thick electric scent of the lightning in Sorrow’s goblet.

Sorrow smiled. “ Thane doesn’t know you are here, does he?”

“No. And I would like to keep it that way.”

“You would ask me to lie to my only son?” Sorrow sulked, causing more tears to fall, which turned into more little white flowers as they slipped down Sorrow’s sad face.

“I think we both know that is best. Death is not always kind to his son.” Not that her father showed much more affection. But they didn’t fight until she bled on his golden tiles, nor did he leave bruises on her skin. He was never cruel to her. Well , he did want to force her to marry Sky , but he never was physically cruel to her. Death delighted in hurting Thane .

“I should wish for that. That Death would love his son.” Sorrow sniffed, the tears still falling. The white flowers tumbled over each other.

“If I could, I would grant that wish.” Love was not something even gods could wish for.

“At least sit.” Sorrow motioned to the chair across from her. “ And tell me why you desire to speak to my husband. He is a very busy god. And not one to be summoned by a god of your making.”

Aurora sat, crushing a flower under her slipper. “ I wish to make a deal with him.”

“What kind of deal?” Sorrow brushed the white flowers from her lap.

Aurora cocked her head, wondering if Thane had not told his mother everything. “ I want to break Thane’s curse.”

“What?” Sorrow asked. “ I mean, how do you intend to do that?” She recovered her composure quickly.

Thane had not told her the reason why. Now two gods would tell Death she was looking for him. “ By asking Death . He is the only one who can break the curse.”

“How do you know this?” Sorrow raised a pale brow.

“The curse itself says till death do his part.” Aurora left out where she got this information. Sorrow was just as likely as Thane to discredit the source.

“So who must die? You ? Please say it’s you.” A slight smile crossed Sorrow’s pale lips.

“A mortal.” Sorrow had no love for mortals. Death was always running to them and producing horrible offspring like Deception and Dread .

“He did not tell me that.” Sorrow pressed a pale hand to her neck. “ This is all your fault. If he had just married Pain , he wouldn’t be cursed. So you should be the one to suffer the consequences, not him.” Sorrow took a sip from her goblet.

Aurora could feel the white flowers pushing against her ankles. She wanted to remind Sorrow that Thane was the one who broke Pain’s heart, not her. And that Sorrow should have done more to protect him from Fate . And Thane should not have given his love away so freely. “ Yes , I supposed you would see it that way. So will you help me?”

“If you break the curse, then what? You think I will just let him marry you? Thane needs a wife who is an equal. One who understands the duty to his realm.”

Aurora rolled her eyes. This was the same argument her father had used against Thane . “ And how would being married to me stop that?”

“You know nothing about what it takes to be a god of the underworld. The heavens are soft, just like your father is. He allows the mortals to run freely. If it weren’t for my husband, the mortal realm would be overrun with sickness and disease.”

The heavens were far from soft. Her father’s realm might be bright and golden. But it was home to Mercury and the Gemini twins, all equally as deadly as Pain and Suffering . And the mortal realm was far from a soft place. But arguing that point wouldn’t get her anywhere closer to speaking to Death . “ I would never ask Thane to give up his duties here. Nor would I interfere in them. You forget that I am also part of this world. I love the darkness as much as any god of the underworld. I am my mother’s daughter. Just as Thane is his mother’s son.”

Aurora knew her words affected Sorrow . Many thought Thane was like his father. A cruel god that ripped the souls of mortals away. But Thane gave them a gentle death. Even those who traded their soul for the most selfish of things were given grace at the end.

Sorrow flopped back. “ He is. Isn’t he.” Her tears still fell. “ I always worried his father would destroy any softness in him. Are you sure my husband can break this curse without killing my beautiful son?”

“Yes. You and I have that in common. I would never let Death hurt Thane .”

“How will you do it?”

“Death knows the name of the mortal who must die. I will make a deal with Death for that name. Then I will…” The words stuck in Aurora’s throat. “ I will do what must be done.” She didn’t want to think about how she would end a life. That would come later. First she needed the name and to find the mortal.

“And if you fail?” Sorrow cocked her head.

“I won’t.” Aurora didn’t give roots to what would happen if she failed.

“But if you do? Death will want you as his own. A thing to use against Thane . And I will destroy you before I let that happen.”

“Give me another option.” Aurora didn’t doubt Sorrow would destroy her. Send her to a place where Thane could never travel to. And it would be for the best. She didn’t want to give Death anything else to hurt Thane with.

Sorrow looked away. The low light of the room caught her pale lashes. The god looked as if she would break under the weight of her sadness. Her gray eyes were always bright with unshed tears. “ There is none. I could curse Fate for what he has done to both of you. Men , no matter a god or a mortal, are such spiteful creatures. And when they don’t get their way, they destroy everything.” Sorrow finally turned to face Aurora . “ I will speak to my husband. But I cannot guarantee anything. But know this, daughter of life. If you fail, I will destroy you. I will break you until there is nothing left but the dust that clung to my son this morning. Do you understand?”

Aurora stood, crushing the little white flowers under her slipper. Their pollen left a silver residue. “ You should’ve reminded Pain of the same thing.”

“I did.” Sorrow turned away.