Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
The child runs for the small house, a simple cottage nestled amongst the trees.
Her laughter echoes strangely, and I am aware I am dreaming, though I do not wake.
When she reaches the threshold, she is scooped up and held tight.
A familiar voice pierces the dreamscape, making it feel too real. But when I turn, all I see is darkness.
—Account of a dream, Lady Anabeth, Consort to Her Majesty Cion Livii, Queen of Aren, D’anna
Nya had been fully aware she was dying.
The ancient creature that called itself World Eater hadn’t been so kind as to numb to pain as it locked her away in her own mind, screaming and thrashing, watching helplessly as it hurt the people she loved.
When it looked at Morgen, though, she sensed the strangest emotion.
Jealousy.
The void was utterly alone. It had been listening to itself breathe in utter darkness for millennia.
It wanted companionship and could not fathom Morgen’s willingness to die for Nya.
It hated them. Hated her parents, too, for it had watched her father wait decades for Sora’s return.
When the void was forced to relinquish her, it wept.
It wanted to love but did not understand the concept. It no longer knew how to do anything but take and destroy.
Once it had created. Nyx had been its favorite, crafted from its understanding of itself.
Thanatos was torn from a piece of its cloak’s fabric.
Juno was threaded from the silver essence of the dying stars, and all the others came from dreams the creature had when it managed to sleep.
Most of them forgot it quickly. Only Thanatos remembered, though he could not recall its true name, merely referring to it as ‘the void.’
Nya was the first living being who had blinked back at it without fear since this world had come to be. Once she understood that, all she had to promise was the gift of a bit of fire to stay warm and a vow she would remember its true name.
It was nothing more than a terrified, ancient child.
Sol had unknowingly given her exactly what she needed to calm it when he unleashed the full brunt of his magic.
In return, it had given her a hollow space of time, a pause to say goodbye to Morgen before they were both swept away, an assurance it wouldn’t let Fate return them here. This was to be her last and only life.
She thought she had closed her eyes for the last time until she found herself staring at a slate-hued sky and heard Morgen’s voice from afar.
Nya, love.
She blinked hazily, finding her mother staring down at her with wide eyes and a spray of blood on her cheek.
Mama?
Her mother touched her cheek gently. Can you stand?
Nya’s lips quivered, and she bit back a whimper when she realized just how much pain she was in. It hurts.
I know, my brave girl. I know. It will just be a moment, and then I promise, you can rest.
“Give them to me!” Sol screamed.
Nya forced herself to sit up. He was hurting Morgen. Morgen, who had not stopped fighting for her until the end, even when no hope remained.
There was a blisteringly hot, heavy weight in her chest, and she pressed a hand to it, thinking there must be a wound there.
But when she pulled it back, no new blood coated her fingers.
On a hunch, she slid her hand up and touched her own throat, finding the deep wound Sol had carved into her skin completely healed.
This pain wasn’t from a wound. It was the same sensation she experienced when Morgen healed her, but everywhere, crawling underneath her skin and knitting her back together against her body’s will.
The embers.
It had worked.
She reached for her mother. Help me stand.
Sora glanced behind them, and Nya followed her gaze. Carus knelt next to her father, who was hunched over, a hand pressed against his torso. She met his eyes, and he nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips despite the pain.
Go on, Nya.
It was Carus who stood and walked to her on a silent gait, offering her a hand. He searched her face, an unspoken question in his eyes. Can you do this?
He knew she had to be in pain, but Sol was going to see the embers in her eyes, and she had to bluff enough to convince him he had no choice but to surrender.
She gave a shallow nod, gritting her teeth against the scream that threatened to rip from her throat when he hauled her to her feet. He helped her limp halfway to Sol before letting go.
“Beg,” Morgen said around the hand Sol had tightened around his throat. He didn’t see her yet.
Sol hissed in fury. “You worthless fucking—”
When she spoke, she forced herself to steady her voice, letting every note of her rage coat the words. “You should probably listen to him if you’d like to live, Sol.”
Sol stiffened, his hand slackening. Morgen gasped—for air or at the sight of her behind Sol, she was not sure.
The god of Light whirled, and Morgen coughed roughly, blood staining his lips.
She could already see the embers starting to build again in his eyes.
She just needed to hold on a little longer.
“You can’t be…” Sol trailed off and shook his head. “This is impossible.”
She shrugged casually, hoping she masked that just lifting her shoulder sent an agonizing bolt pain down her arm.
“Evidently not.” She tilted her head. “You know, as a payment for your ‘help’, I was considering letting you pick what happens to you. I’m curious to see what happens if I mix my nytfire and Morgen’s lightning.
Or, if you’d prefer humiliation over pain, you could get on your knees, proclaim your loyalty to us, and pray I’m still in a forgiving mood when you’re done kissing my feet. ”
Morgen laughed, his voice catching on the air. His eyes were wide and shining, and she winked at him, half for show and half because she needed to let him know she was really here.
Sol, on the other hand, did not find her words funny. “You little bitch—”
“Or.” She cut him off. “I was thinking we could chain you up in some unmarked cave. Cut your throat, burn out your eyes, maybe take a few fingers, and then heal it all with the embers. If the lesson doesn’t sink in the first time, we could always repeat the process.
I have eternity, and I plan to take my second chance at life very seriously, which includes keeping you in line. ”
“I will not,” Sol snapped, but she could see the fear creeping into his icy-blue eyes.
Morgen pushed to his feet, and Sol stiffened, his eyes flicking between the two of them.
“Neither of you are fit to rule,” he said, his hands curling into fists, but his wavering voice gave away his unease.
“Neither was Kronos,” Morgen said in a low voice.
“You knew that, though, right? It didn’t take you long to realize your mistake in giving him so much power, but you did nothing about it.
And when Sora and Vane died to clean up your mess, you stepped in and acted like some savior.
” He laughed, his voice stronger now. “Did you really think you could be king, Sol? That’s what you want, right? ”
Sol’s nostrils flared. “Nyx may have been the first to this world, but it would be a lifeless wasteland if not for me.”
“Maybe,” she said. “But I learned some things about your ‘old friend’ when it tried to take over.” She paused, searching her uncle’s eyes.
“You were created from a dream, Sol. Nyx was formed from the very darkness within its soul. You act as if you have power over her, but you are merely her absence; a figment of imagination from an ancient creator you very quickly forgot.”
Sol frowned. “The void is not a creator. It is nothing.”
Nya smiled, letting him think the edge to her tone was borne of cruelty and not the internal agony threatening to weaken her knees and send her crumpling to the ground. “I was told it prefers its true name. Neachith an Soaghail.”
Sol flinched as the ancient language flowed from her tongue.
“World Eater,” Morgen murmured, glancing at her. He raised a brow. “Took a liking to you in the end, did it?”
She looked squarely at Sol. “I suppose it did. Creatures of darkness have few morals, but we do tend to understand each other.”
“It tried to kill you,” Sol sneered in an attempt to demean her again. “You should be more afraid of it than me.”
“Are you afraid?” she said softly. A bolt of lightning struck the ground next to her, and she made a vague mental note to praise Morgen later for its impeccable timing.
She hardly had the strength to stand, much less explore any of the new magic the embers granted her, but Sol didn’t need to know that.
The god didn’t reply, his throat working. He was obviously still trying to find a way out of his own mess.
A chill spider-walked up her spine when Thanatos approached. “It’s over, Sol,” he said smoothly. “Back down.”
“Fighting Nyx’s battles again, are you, dog?” Sol sneered. “Why am I not surprised?”
“No,” Thanatos replied, his irises darkening.
“I just wanted to be the one to insult you. I told you your scheming would someday catch up to you, and that day has finally come.” He glanced at Nya and Morgen and smiled.
The sight of it was mildly terrifying. “I would advise you bow for your new king and queen before getting the fuck out of here before they change their minds about granting you a speck of mercy.”
Sol remained silent and unmoving. Nya clenched her jaw so tight, it ached. Finally, he said, “I get to remain on the council.”
Morgen narrowed his eyes. “You’re hardly in a position to bargain with us.”
Sol glared at him, and though Nya didn’t want to relent, she also wasn’t sure how much longer she could manage to keep up her charade without passing out. She glanced at Morgen and blinked once before she gritted out, “I will consider your request.”
“Now go,” Morgen growled.
Sol didn’t leave right away, but she didn’t care anymore. She turned, motioning Morgen to follow with a tilt of her head. She didn’t trust herself to speak without crying.
“You’re pathetic,” Sol spat when Morgen joined her. “You are the heir, not her.”
Morgen stopped walking, a hand on her back. She took a shallow breath and spoke down the pathway, Please just keep walking.
“I’m not the heir anymore. I’m your king,” Morgen barked without turning. “And she is your queen. Leave.” You’re in pain. You have been this whole time, haven’t you?
She dug her nails in his arm. Just pretend until he’s gone. If he suspects weakness, he might not give in.
Morgen glanced at her but obeyed, subtly supporting her as they walked. Sol still hadn’t left, but she trusted Thanatos to keep an eye on him for now. There was a bend in the cliff formation ahead, where Anabeth, her parents, and Carus lingered, and Morgen led her towards it, out of Sol’s sight.
We’re almost there.
A small whimper finally clawed up her throat as they made it around the bend. From the clearing they had left behind, Thanatos said loudly, “And don’t come back.”
She wondered if it was for her benefit, so she knew Sol was gone. Whether he was or not, though, she truly didn’t have it in her to think past the pain anymore. Her legs collapsed beneath her, and Morgen caught her, easing them both to the ground.
“You’re alright,” he said calmly, even though she could feel his hand shaking as he smoothed back her hair. “Just breathe, Nya. That’s it.”
Shudder after shudder wracked her body, each wave of pain bringing with it a wave of burning that felt like fire was blazing under her skin and dissolving her bones.
Blurred figures approached, but she trusted Morgen to keep her safe.
“What’s happening to her?”
Her parents?
“It’s the embers, isn’t it?” Another figure knelt. Carus, she thought vaguely.
She shut her eyes. “I’m f–f-fine,” she tried to say, but her words were fractured and slow.
“Not very convincing, sweetheart.” Carus sighed. “Any idea how long this will last?”
Morgen took a breath near her ear. “I’m not sure.”
“Can you do anything for her?”
“I don’t think—” His voice broke off. “No, I don’t think so.”
“It’s like when you’re injured, and they heal you? But amplified?”
Nya tried to clamp her jaw shut, but the pain had moved to her head, and it felt like her eyes were burning. She thought she might have screamed, thought Morgen was murmuring in her ear, that he started to shake nearly as much as she was…
“She’s about to lose consciousness.”
“Thank the fucking Fates.”