42. Esther #2
I try to stand but can’t, another bout of blood rising to the surface as I cough onto her feet. This time, she giggles, the Fate behind her bemused as well.
“You will be our champion and face Felia, before she wreaks too much havoc and takes dominion,” the first says.
“Yes, we do not want her to control us,” the second sneers.
“You took everything from me!” My power rises, shaking to break free, but under the force of the gods, it’s barely a wisp.
“We did not take. We whispered for the water greer to take you in. We promised your safety at the expense of your parents’ sacrifice. We nurture you, so that you can give back.”
“You don’t own me,” I yell.
The second giggles. “We own all, and all abide. If not, there are consequences. They’re my favorite game.”
“Grow stronger, Esther the Bound. Play into your wars and follow back the string to our sister’s hand.”
The second giggles. “Felia’s been busy. Neina absent. The fourth god locked away.” She immediately clutches at her throat, deep black ink pooling from her eyes and mouth as the first runs to her.
“No,” she screams. “We mustn’t tell secrets.”
The second screams, the inky stream of black threads pouring out of her and into the pool, which expands outside the barrier.
More black than gold threads out as she begins to laugh and cough.
“Oh no, the elements have turned.” Her face points in my direction, the black ink running down over the lips of her mask, and a cold shudder runs over me, knowing that beneath, whatever face she takes, it’s smiling, those purple eyes wide as she continues, crazed.
“Tick-tock. Not much time or they all die.”
Black and golden threads pull at me, constraining my hands, feet, and around my stomach. One sister pats the other, whispering healing thoughts. The other stirs trouble in the wake of the living, a game to be had for all her little pawns.
The threads rip me through the barrier and back into the depths of the crushing sea.
Icough violently, salty water pouring from me as I roll over to the side, choking, needing to get it all out.
Chants stop.
“Sasha!” a woman screams, going to a greer’s side and breaking the circle.
A breeze sweeps through, extinguishing the flickering flames, as two spirit greers fall forward.
My vision and hearing are disoriented as I try to focus on the commotion, my gaze finding Regent’s eyes, which I use to guide me back to the living.
I’m barely able to lip-read the words Regent speaks, “Are you okay?”
I nod, although I feel far from it.
The first thing I can make out is sobbing and hysteria, drawing me back to the first woman who fell, and when my vision focuses, I see the black ink-like substance oozing out of her mouth and eyes as the spirit greer beside her cries. The poison-like ink is similar to that of the ill Fate.
“Are you out of your fucking mind!” Imogine screams and shoves Regent hard. He doesn’t budge as he tries to help me sit upright after what I assumed was him holding me, using his lap as a headrest. “You bonded with her! Are you out of your fucking mind!”
“I do not have to explain myself to anyone,” he snaps angrily, but even I can see the concern. I didn’t know you accepted the mating bond.
I blink once, then twice. Wait, I heard his voice in my head, right? Or am I hallucinating things now?
“And if she dies now, you’ve damned us all! If you fall, what will become of the continent? What will thrive here? How will others survive?” Imogine shrieks.
Sheila holds out her cane, intercepting her daughter. “It is not your choice to make.”
I can barely speak, exhausted, my head spinning from the barrage of the Fates’ riddles, giggles, and vicious, primitive screams. Grimace grabs my attention as he scampers into my lap, and that’s when I see it. Vibrant blue relic tattoos glowing over my arms, exposed by the sleeveless shirt.
I turn, looking into the mirror behind me, my hand coming to my throat where the small circular relic glows, a half-moon within a sun, fading slowly as it shifts into place.
Mine and Grimace’s contract. Except, more markings spread along my hands, arms, shoulders, and collarbones, shifting as if still solidifying into place.
They look like vines with thorns, a few budding leaves glowing with an ethereal pink hue.
“What is this?” I ask Regent, the vine markings too identical to the ones he has on his own arms.
His jaw ticks. “Let’s discuss this outside for a moment.” He reaches for my arm, but Blaze intervenes, holding his blade up as he comes to stand by my side.
“What have you done to her?” Blaze barks, those blue eyes lethal as he grabs me by the elbow to help me stand. My legs are heavy, my mind disoriented as I search Regent’s gaze for an immediate answer.
“Do not touch her,” Regent roars, and the vibration of his magic shifts through the room uncomfortably. More beast than man.
“Blaze,” I say carefully as I remove his hand from my elbow, not because he can’t touch me, but because I understand that Regent is not entirely himself right now.
I do not want the two people I care about most fighting.
Especially not until I get answers, hoping for a digestible reason, the pit of my stomach telling me this is so much more.
Regent’s hand catches mine, and he pulls me toward the tent opening. “Tend to your fallen. We’ll discuss what she saw shortly,” he instructs Sheila, avoiding Imogine’s cutting glare.
The moment we’re out of everyone’s sight, I jerk my hand out of his. “What the fuck has gotten into you? You don’t tell me who can and cannot touch me.”
“You are mine, Denva. I won’t let any other man touch you.”
I throw my hands up, exasperated and tired of this push and pull dick-swinging bullshit between Regent and Blaze. I point my finger at him. “Let me make one thing clear. No matter what happens between us going forward, you will respect him.”
He scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest as if to say, this should be good. His arrogance only pumps adrenaline into my veins, my wit slowly articulating itself after coming out of a daze.
“You will show anyone I love respect, simply for the fact that they were here before you. Blaze has been with me for fifteen years, protecting me and keeping me sane.”
“And now I’m here to protect you,” he growls.
“It does not discredit what others have done before you, Regent!” I say with irritation while pointing a finger in the direction of the tent, frustrated by his narrow-minded thinking.
“Blaze has been an anchor, keeping me together for most of my life. He was the first friend I made after everything was taken from me, my family, my clan, my history. I know nothing except I am hated for what I am, and he was the second person to embrace me, knowing that fact. When we met, I was mute, Regent. I couldn’t even speak after all the things I had seen, so terrified of what and when something else would come for me.
Until he came into my life. Where were you then?
You weren’t.” I can tell I’ve hit a nerve in the way his gaze darkens.
“You weren’t there. So, you will show respect to those who helped me shape myself into the person you think is yours.
They were my protectors until now. You do not own nor control me.
And if that’s how you view whatever this is between us, then you leave,” my voice cracks, the very real repercussions of my demand quickly snapping into place as my heart seizes. What if he chooses to leave?
I straighten, preparing myself for that reality, still standing by my every word.
He pulls me in for a hug, a heavy sigh escaping him.
“Denva, I cannot leave you any more than I cannot naturally take my next breath. But it is hard for me to watch another male touch you. Because you are mine.” He pushes my hair out of my face, cupping my cheek as he lifts my chin.
All the rage I felt leaks out of me as I see the gentle touch of vulnerability in his gaze.
“What are these markings, Regent?”
“It means that you have accepted our bond, Denva. Meaning my life and yours are intertwined forever.” His words echo in my mind and I feel it deep within my bones, this connection that binds us.
Forever.