Chapter 54
S O R E N
A fter helping her drink as much water as she could take, along with offering a biscuit and a pickled egg, I administered the vial to Jane under a slight guise; I told her it was to ease the pain, not render her unconscious again.
She can figure out the details of that later once she’s alive, and with a healer.
As I stare out the window, an urge to open it overtakes me as I reach over a sleeping Jane to work the latch, fresh air wafting into the room once it’s opened. While I’m up, I take one of the towels to lay underneath her, in case her body is unable to wake to relieve herself.
Sitting back in the chair, I lean my head back once more, dragging out a long, deep groan. My own body aches with a depth I don’t care to ever feel again, my damn head pounding.
The way Jane broke down when she saw me just now and knew she was safe, flooding me with every ounce of love she had, and that she thought of me as she lied there on those stairs… fuck . That’s what made all of this worth it. She was willing to die to save others, so it’s important she realizes the same sacrifice will easily be given to her.
My body stiffens when a raven flies into the small room, the bird landing on a table next to Jane, eyes glowing red. Its beak opens as the form of Cypress rapidly expands until the witch is standing before me. “I’m here to remove Jane’s ruby,” she explains without wasting any time.
All I can do at this point is roll my fucking eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. “Did you enjoy all of that?”
“I enjoyed that you all lived.”
“Not Anya .”
“She and I spoke. She understood her death was essential, and she was more than willing.”
What ? Why didn’t Anya say anything? “Why was it essential ?”
“Its inspiration is what was essential. For everyone. For Jane’s dignity, as she otherwise would have greatly suffered. I always saw a decrepit Morvock would believe Anya.” Cypress moves to examine Jane, who lies in one of the few beds on this ship, her chest slowly rising and falling in her sleep. “I can speak more freely now, Soren Latham. I don’t enjoy being so cryptic, you know. But give too much information, and it could alter the visions.”
When I don’t say anything in return, she seems to take that as permission to continue. “I saw you in Jane’s future long, long ago, to be clear. As soon as she was born, in fact. There are so many things I had to arrange just perfectly for you both to meet under the right circumstances. I needed to ensure Tempest would allow you on her ship, but that would be impossible if I involved myself, seeing as she and I go back over a hundred years.”
I absorb every word the witch speaks. “How old is Tempest?” I ask, no longer fighting whatever current Cypress is dragging us through.
“Close to two hundred summers.” I nearly laugh at that, as of course . “Her relationship with a god helps extend her life, like it does with mine. Although my god is not interested in me like hers is with her. Her capturing Ta’Kan’s attention is an entire story in itself.
“Either way, I have worked myself backwards from there,” she continues, looking at me as I remain seated. I just want her to keep talking, to explain everything . “Jane needed to be on that ship. She is who ruined Morvock, and sent him back to his lands, where he will be forced to slumber for a very long time. That’s for a future not relevant to now. It will be then that he truly dies. In the meantime, he is not a worry for you. Not anymore.” My eyes widen with this insight, wondering just how much she knows. “Jane used her healing powers and touched Morvock, sending every ounce of her goddess’s powers into him. Healing is the opposite of misery.
“Getting her on that ship, and safely, is where everything became convoluted and I began the process of spending years plotting everything out. Perhaps one day you will know the specifics as to why.” Cypress looks back down at Jane, and I admit the witch seems more mortal than usual in her expression. “For now, let me remove the ruby.”
Cypress gently lifts Jane’s head as I remain silent, just watching until, without warning, Jane’s heart returns to me with such force that it makes me grip the arm rests, overcome with solace to be fully reconnected to her.
I’m still leaving that fucking piece of my mask in her, in case she ever disappears again.
Cypress holds the ruby up, the sun catching it just right as the center glows a bright red. “Let Jane know the debt she had to pay was simply staying in Coalfell until it was time to leave, and visiting me first gave me the chance to give her those ruby earrings that began Tempest’s involvement, and that Melona didn’t know the extent of her debt, only to relay my message—that’s a burden Jane carried for a long time, I think.
“I also want you to tell her that what Misery wanted from her was my bloodline. I’m glad that information was able to be withheld from her, as being related to me would have clouded her judgment. And it wasn’t just my bloodline he wanted, but he was also after Moriganna’s, so he could claim power over the ocean god. The parents of either were too corrupted and intertwined with other deities. Ritter’s body would have rejected Morvock, which is why he needed Jane so badly out of the two of them.”
She points a finger up at the ceiling, but motions her hand toward me. “ You were the catalyst, Soren. That injury at your neck was critical for everything.” She laughs, as if she still can’t believe it worked. “Morvock was set to attack your men at Rosmertta’s within the week, but getting struck made Shade act carelessly. He so was utterly desperate to be the one to secure Jane. Morvock had always seen your injury as something he could take advantage of—he just didn’t know I would take advantage of it, too.”
It’s the oddest fucking feeling to think all the free will in my life might have been orchestrated by another. “Then why didn’t Misery just take Jane when we arrived?”
She grins. “He was confident he’d get her at Rosmertta’s. He is fed by other’s disparity, and the idea that letting you get attached—a Sensor who did not serve him—so he could crush your heart before your death, was simply inspired by greed. In all of my meditation, in all of my searching, you were the wild influence that he overlooked. Your role as a Sensor gave him false confidence that he’d know your every move. But he gave up that right as soon as he took the flesh.
“And now that Morvock is successfully back in his lands and suppressed for many more years, you can now know where your sister is.”
I swear, even my heart stops beating as my body takes on an absolute stillness, staring at Cypress as I refuse to blink .
She eyes me like she’s not sorry she inflicted this on me, but still understands how difficult she has made my life. “Your failed pursuit of Serena was always meant to be your motivation, one that would collide you with Skull’s Row, and thus be sent to capture Jane rather than Blackwell, ensuring she would be on that ship right when Morvock was at his utter weakest—it’s the only way her magic could truly work against him.
“And it was me that came to you all those years ago, disguised as a lord to lure your sister, and just as I have blocked you from feeling Jane, you have been unable to feel Serena. On the next full moon, you will discover her across the Black Sea. Basilisk is directly tied to the woman your sister now serves, which is my gift to you. I brought Basilisk here as assurance for everyone’s safety, and also to guide you directly to your sister. He doesn’t know that, however, but I trust you’ll inform him.”
I can’t see straight as I stare her down.
“ You … you’re the one that made it so she has been lost for years ?”
“I’m certain we will cross paths again, Soren. We can discuss this more then. Take care of Jane, please. She and her father are the only family I have left.”
Without anything else said, her body folds in on itself as it turns into a flapping raven, flying out the fucking window I opened. I bet that bitch orchestrated that , too.
I aimlessly look around, processing everything she just laid at my feet. I’m numb. Utterly fucking numb. My gaze lands on Jane, who was completely out through all of that.Even though she’s here with me, I feel alone.
For the first time since… since I realized I couldn’t find Serena, I lean my head into my hand and let it all out.
When Jane’s still deep in her sleep and after I’ve rummaged through all the broken pieces of me, realizing that I have Jane and Serena, I exit the small room, coming across Basilisk, who sits outside our door.
“You’re lucky to have her,” he says, cleaning the grime underneath his nails. I don’t even want to speak about what he might have just felt from me.
“Who do you have connections with that my sister will know?” I ask.
He drinks the water next to him. “Go on. I’ll watch over Jane. Then we can talk about who I’m guessing Cypress is referring to.”
I don’t press Basilisk, knowing I need fresh air so I can think straight. It won’t hurt to let my heart settle more before speaking with him further. The need to uncover information on my sister is so quiet I can finally just exist , finding relief in knowing her heart will be available to me, soon.
I stride out into the sun, noticing Ritter sitting against one of the mast’s poles, his stump of a hand wrapped tightly. He had to chop the damn thing off, to which the sirens took care of.
We’re all so beaten and bloodied.
I stand next to the man, kneeling down so he doesn’t have to get up. “Jane has had the ruby removed. She awoke, too, but Iput her back under. Thought you should know.”
He nods, eyeing the tape of his wounded hand. “Thank you for taking care of her.”
“As long as she’ll let me.”
Something has tamed within the Scorpion as well, and I can feel the acceptance of me that he thought he’d never give. “We are nearing Siren’s Cove,” he says, connecting his gaze with mine, the lines of his face deepened from the dryness of the salty air. “I have a few things to gather from the island. Things of Jane’s mother. Will you keep Jane rested until then?”
“I’ll manage her recovery.”
His grin is unburdened. “She’ll be pissed to learn she’s being knocked out, over and over.”
“Leave that to me to deal with,” I reply, eyeing the men around that pass by us.
“I won’t fight that,” he croaks out before taking a swig of water. “She’s not easy to negotiate with. Never has been.”
“Truer words have never been spoken.” My voice carries nothing but respect for her. I look down at my hands, at the rings I wear, focusing on the one that’s the body of a serpent. The one my mother gave me when I left for Death’s Wing. “She’ll be taken care of when we reach my lands. My mother’s a healer.”
Ritter’s eyes flash with intrigue, leaning forward slightly as if that does bring him relief, before his gaze drops back down, something nostalgic flooding him.
“Anyway, wanted some fresh air and to let you know,” I say, standing once more.
“Thank you, Soren.”
I grunt in reply, ready to head back to Basilisk as my head wanders down many different paths.
He and I have a lot to discuss.