Chapter 18 River of Red
Chapter Eighteen
River of Red
NYX
“Why are we here, Hekate? What is so special about this damp, bug filled forest, and this river, anyway?” Stepping over sticks and mud, I grimace as a snake slithers past my foot and disappears beneath the berry bush beside me.
Hekate’s white hair falls nearly to her waist, captivating me like freshly fallen snow that sparkles under the light of the moon.
Her pale blue eyes are the stars that guide me through the night as she turns and gives me a mischievous smile.
She has been talking about bringing me here for weeks, proclaiming this place possesses magic beyond my imagination.
It looks like any other forest to me. The greenery is beautiful, yet rather ordinary, but she swears we must travel just a little further.
If it weren’t for her beauty and charm, I would have gone back home already. I despise hiking.
“Trust me, Nyx. You’ve seen nothing like this place before.
” Continuing down the path, her dress follows behind her in the mud, her magic keeping it perfectly pristine.
“The gods allow me entrance because I have earned their trust as queen, but they would not be happy with me for bringing you along. Let’s keep this between us.
” She stops and turns to face me, her golden crown sparkling above her brow.
“Of course. I will never tell. I promise.” I step forward, brushing my lips against hers as I press my palms against her lower back and pull her in close. “I enjoy our little secrets very much.”
I give her a delighted smile as her eyes begin to glow, the blue light within them growing brighter and brighter until it is impossible to look away.
I adore her. Having her as a teacher has been a blessing and a curse.
A blessing because she has taught me how to be the best witch I can be, and a curse because if the king and queen were to find out how deeply I care for her, they might make her leave.
Being part witch, celestial, and demon at times has its perks, but being blessed by Hekate’s presence is the biggest perk of all.
“Close your eyes.” Her voice is enchanting and ethereal as it flows around me, gusty currents of wind swirling around us like a gentle, yet powerful cyclone.
As the air turns frigid and the scent of wet earth is replaced by frosted pine, her laughter floats through the wind. The quiet of the forest becomes a gentle whisper in my ear. Beneath my heels the ground is no longer squishy from mud and rain, it is firm yet softer than a cloud.
“Open your eyes, Nyx.” Her heated breath against my ear sends chills down my spine.
As I open my eyes, I gasp. This place is much different than the Realm of Light.
The greenery is gone, replaced by pearlescent, puffs of glistening leaves that resemble snow, but as I reach out to touch one, it feels nothing like snow.
Butterflies zip past, their bright pink and purple wings gleaming like torches in the night.
Wildflowers line the path we traveled as far as the eye can see, blanketing the ground in a kaleidoscope of colors that glow like the butterflies’ wings.
Where darkness and stars once were, the sky illuminates our surroundings, the shimmering fuscia, lavender, and cerulean so bright the stars are hidden within the colors.
“Where are we, Hekate? What is this place? It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.” Stepping forward, I bend and touch the bushes of white and the flowers covering the ground.
Holding my hand out in front of me, I smile as a glowing butterfly lands upon it, fluttering its iridescent wings.
Hekate steps forward and takes my free hand in hers. “Come, Nyx. There is more here to see.”
She leads me deeper into the magical forest, the chilly breeze brushing against my skin as if it is alive and urging me forward. Everything here has life within it, like it is all living and breathing with a heartbeat just like mine.
“I never want to leave here,” I whisper, gazing up at the tall trees as they sway to and fro, reaching up toward the colorful sky and waving hello.
Hekate comes to a stop, the river in front of us sparkling and shining brilliantly.
It mirrors the sky, those same colors swirling and dancing like magic runs through its veins.
I could stare at it forever. The way it glistens is like diamonds in the sun, like the stars were plucked right from the sky and placed within it.
“What is it?” My words are hushed, not wanting to disturb the endless peace around us.
“This place is called Mount Othrys and this is the River Oceanus. It’s a sacred place the gods visit at times to discover and scribe new prophecies. The water here is said to make dreams come true. It is believed to be a mirror into the future, if you gaze into it long enough.”
“I believe it. There is more magic here than I ever thought could exist. It is truly like a dream.” Kneeling before the river, I peer into the water as it ripples and swirls in front of me.
“Would you want to see your future? If you could, would you like to see if the dreams in your heart might come true?” She kneels beside me on the plush, white ground.
“I’ve seen my future already, parts of it, anyway.
I know you question your place here with the celestials.
You believe you belong on the Earth Realm with my coven of witches, but I believe they can offer you much more than we can, Nyx.
I believe you’re capable of guiding those who may be lost into the light.
I believe you possess the power to heal and to give hope to others who have none left.
” Peering into the river, her eyes shine brighter than the sky.
“You must believe in yourself the way I do.” As she turns to me, she brushes a strand of hair away from my eyes, securing it behind my ear.
I lean into the warmth of her touch. “I believe in you,” I whisper, my heart racing and my breath coming out too fast. “I believe anything is possible as long as I have you with me.” My smile is small but genuine as I hold onto so many words that try to claw and rip their way out of my heart and into the emptiness.
I love you, my heart screams. I love you and I hate that I do not know how to admit it.
It kills me that I have been so unloved myself that I fear those three words will be my undoing.
She is all I have, and love is pain. Love is loss.
Love is giving someone the power to hurt you, to leave, to rip your heart out and break you, and I can’t… I cannot be anymore broken.
Nodding once, she turns back to the river which now churns faster, the bright hues blurring and becoming one.
“Peer into the river and shut off your mind. Let the energy wrap around you like a comforting embrace. Become one with it and allow it to become one with you. It will not harm you. It will free you from any doubts you have of the path you’re on.
It will assure you that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be. ”
She focuses her glowing eyes on the water, raising her hands up and sending it spinning into a whirlpool of colors.
The lights shine brighter and though they are hard to look directly into, I force myself to stay focused.
I gaze at my reflection, my dark hair cascading to my waist in waves.
The deep mahogany of my eyes blends into the pupil, becoming orbs of vast obsidian.
My smooth, pale skin peeking out beneath my white robe is flawless in the reflection.
Magic surges, vibrating through the air, the river and forest wrapping around me like a gentle embrace.
Warmth courses through my veins, the power latching on and becoming one with my soul.
I am it and it is me. We are the same. In my mind’s eye, a vision of myself in all white appears, the usual attire here in the celestial realm.
Then I’m kneeling on the floor of my bedroom and an old, faded grimoire sits in front of me.
Candles lit in a circle around me are the only light.
A black cloud appears, like a shadowy figure made of smoke and darkness and nothing else, and it breaks through the protective circle of magic I casted out around me.
The shadow grips me by the throat and forces its dark energy into my body, attaching to my mind and corrupting my soul.
My body shakes violently, and I want the vision to end.
I try and try to force the wicked power out, but it is useless.
The darkness persists no matter how hard I fight it.
It latches on, sinking its teeth in and crawling deeper into the crevices of my soul where it cannot be found or contained or controlled by even me, refusing to let me go.
The vision ends and a new one begins. I stand before the gods in the hall of justice.
Crumbling to my knees, I beg for forgiveness and understanding as tears stream down my hopeless face.
Metal clangs and air whips past my ears as a punishment by the gods is served.
The sword slices and severs my beautiful white wings, mutilating the most sacred part of me.
Fighting this, too, is useless. I scream and beg as the gods abandon me, casting me out for good, the realm opening and spitting me into an abyss of darkness and pain.
I’m left with nothing. No one to turn to. Alone for eternity.