18. Kalel #3
Venus and Pluto share a look that suggests that they aren’t sure whether or not they should share that part with us. But Venus ultimately concedes.
“The Fates gave me two outcomes for my daughter. One that always ended in her demise, and another that resulted in the unity of both Devicit and Alzhor. In one reality, and one alone, do you end the war and both demons and demigods end in peace,” Venus says, staring at Alira.
Everything about the goddess is so calm that it almost feels like we are talking to a statue.
Alira fidgets with her hands and shifts uncomfortably. “That is the one I want,” she whispers.
My eyes widen. She still wants that? Even after everything I’ve done. I bite my lower lip to keep my expression empty.
Pluto stands slowly in one effortless motion and walks in front of the chessboard in the center of the table that our chairs are circled around. It begs the question of who he’s been playing chess with and for how long.
He bends down and picks up a knight, knocking a bishop off the board before setting down the knight piece. Pluto’s cold gray hand then moves to the queen on the opposing team and lifts it. He studies the board methodically, the piece still in his hand, his head tilted in thought.
“Once upon a demon’s heart, it was done—only written in gilded blood can it be undone.” Pluto’s words are chilling as he sets down the queen piece, near the knight.
Alira’s eyes widen. Has she heard this saying before? “What does that mean?” she asks quietly, avoiding looking in my direction.
Pluto smiles and glances up at her. He throws back his hood, revealing dark hair and cold eyes that look like coal. “The Fates will only consider prayers written in gilded blood, but they always take things to create balance.”
Alira gives him a frustrated look. Only then does she look at me.
“I don’t understand. What would I write—”
Venus interrupts her. “Something was lost that must now be replaced.”
I look between the three of them. What has been lost? Our trust in one another? “But aren’t we already dead? What good would our prayers do down here?” I ask.
Venus draws with her finger in the air, gold flecks falling in its wake like embers from a campfire. She whispers, “You are neither dead nor living. Yet you both hold the only blessing to save your kingdoms.”
“Enough of the riddles,” I snap.
Venus studies me for a moment and says, “I’m afraid that is all I can say.”
Pluto lifts his hood back over his head, motioning for Alira and me to follow him across that area toward a dark pool of water that surrounds the rock we stand on.
“Come. Look and see what has become of your kingdoms, what ruin has brought. This will continue until neither side is left. If you two cannot stop the fighting, there will be nothing to return to. You must hurry. Make your way through Mortem together; don’t lose yourself to your lies.
Only once you overcome the dead that haunt you will you find the answers and peace you seek.
” Pluto nods to the pool of water. Alira and I both look down into it.
Darkness collects like a storm cloud beneath the surface, swirling until it breaks apart, revealing a bird’s-eye view of warring kingdoms clashing together far below.
Screams erupt from the kingdom, my kingdom, burning in massive flames, the way I watched Alzhor burn to rubble in the time loops.
This is what’s to come. Or perhaps it is already happening. There’s no telling how much time has passed already.
“Take us back to the kingdom. My people need me.”
Alira gives me a sympathetic look, her lips pursing. “Kalel, until we figure our way out of here, we can’t help anyone.”
Venus stands and approaches us beside the pool, shaking her head slowly. “We cannot take you out of Mortem. But you can find your way together. Take your time. Things move slower down here, each hour a mere second there.” She bends down and presses a kiss to the top of Alira’s head.
“How? What are we supposed to do?” I press her.
Venus smiles. “Only the two of you will know.”
Time moves that slow down here? I let out a relieved breath. That makes me feel a bit better, knowing my kingdom hasn’t already been burned down, as Pluto showed us in the pools. But I don’t want to have hope of returning to Faultore. No one has come back from Mortem, have they?
Alira’s eyes fill with many questions that she doesn’t have time to ask her mother.
“We will meet again, Alira. I’m sorry we didn’t get to know each other more. But know that I have given everything for you to have a sliver of happiness.”
Alira tips her head down and swallows back whatever words she’s keeping in. She looks at me and gives me a tortured look.
“We should go,” I say, knowing there are a million things I need to say to her too.
She nods, sparing only one look back at the two gods as they watch us ascend the dark stairs back to Pluto’s throne room. An immense ebony door made of bones frames the exit. I don’t know what to expect on the other side of those doors. I swallow nervously, looking down at Alira.
But at least we are together.
For better or for worse.