Chapter 37 Forgotten Promises
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Forgotten Promises
NORA
Since the day I was killed and woke up as an immortal in the Underworld, fear has been a distant memory most days.
In this moment, waiting to see if Kairos somehow survived that wound from his dagger, fear is the only thing I do feel.
I’ve never been this scared in my life. But his heart is still beating.
His breathing is slow but steady. He’s not dead yet.
I don’t think I can live with myself if he dies.
This is my fault. I sent my power raging toward Nyx so carelessly, and her dagger ended up in his stomach because she fucking fell. Because of me.
Ere doesn’t wrap his shadows around me to numb my pain as tears silently stream down my cheeks.
He stands behind me just watching and waiting as I hold Kairos’ limp hand in mine, softly caressing it with my thumb.
I think he knows the numbness, the feeling absolutely nothing, would hurt infinitely more than not suffering through this pain.
If Kairos suffers, then so should I, because gods, I deserve to.
Hekate sniffles beside me, staring intently at Nyx as if she’s counting every single breath, pressing her fingertips against her neck periodically to feel her pulse. “They should be awake by now. Something must be wrong.” Her words are quiet but they’re laced with panic and heartbreak.
I want to be pissed. I want to yell at her, to ask her what the hell is wrong with her, but I can’t gather the energy to do it.
It doesn’t help that I’ve never seen her so broken and lost before.
She loves my mortal enemy, and as much as I want to hate her for it, I can’t. I won’t. Because I love her.
“They will wake up any second now. Ere steps around Kairos and kneels beside Nyx. “Though when this one wakes up, we might all want to run. She is not going to be herself for a while.” He meets Hekate’s eyes, nodding once before he stands and comes back to my side.
“What the hell does that mean? What happened to her?” Hekate glares at Ere, holding Nyx’s hand against her heart and gripping it tight within both of her palms.
Her blue shield has been up around her and Nyx since the healing ritual, after she dragged her lifeless body away to a spot near the mountain wall. She hasn’t even looked at me since.
Ere’s head tilts as he gazes down at Kairos and I, not looking at her as he speaks. “You are asking the wrong questions, little witch.”
Kairos jolts upright, gasping for air and clutching his abdomen, his wide, bloodshot eyes darting across the realm. “How the hell—” another gasp for air and he chokes on his words, his heartbeat racing, “Am I alive? It’s impossible.” He finishes, his bright emerald eyes meeting mine.
“Good, someone who is asking the right questions,” Ere glances at Hekate and then walks away, taking a seat on the stairs of the raised platform.
“I don’t know how you’re alive right now, Kairos, but I’m so thankful you are.
” I throw my arms around his neck and pull him to me, squeezing him tight as he pushes himself up to his knees.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so damn sorry I almost got you killed.
I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t okay.
” Warm tears fill my eyes, but I’m smiling, too, because a world without Kairos would be a much darker place.
He wraps his arms weakly around my waist, leaning his head on my shoulder and taking a deep breath before pulling back slightly to look at me.
Cradling my face between his palms, he whispers just for me, “There are so many things I never got the chance to tell you. Too many things.” Glancing over at Ere, he grips my amulet in his palm, running his thumb across the swirling colors within the black stone.
Gods, with everything that has happened, the amulet and my memories were the furthest thing from my mind until now, but it is why I’m here.
To find the truth. To find myself. I am so fucking scared.
Staring into Kairos’ eyes, the hope overpowered by pain that lingers within them, my heart already threatens to crack in two.
I don’t want to hurt him. Either of them.
“The truth shall set us free,” I lie, because the truth no longer feels like freedom, it feels more like a poisonous affliction I’ll be granting someone.
I take a deep breath, unable to look into his eyes, to face the pain there any longer, so I look at the amulet instead. “I guess it’s now or never.”
He tilts my chin up, leaning in until his face is just inches from mine.
“Please,” he breathes, his warm breath brushing against my lips.
“I can’t take this pain any longer. I need you to remember.
I need this nightmare to end.” His eyes burn into mine, searching my own for something, as his glaze over and fill with tears.
It hurts. I can’t stand the heartbreak that rises and falls like broken, stormy waves within those dim green eyes.
He loves me. And looking at him now, the light and adoration that his soul wraps me up in, I’m brave enough to admit the truth to myself for the first time.
I love them both. How could I not? Fate brought them both to me for a reason. I just have no idea why.
I push myself to my feet and offer my hand out to Kairos.
He sways and then hisses in pain as he stumbles into me.
I wrap his arm around my shoulder, looping mine around his waist, until he straightens and steadies himself, then nods down at me.
His eyes pin me in place, like he doesn’t want to or is afraid to let me go, but I release him and he’s able to stand upright on his own.
Hekate gasps, drawing all of our attention, and then she quickly slides away from Nyx as blackness seeps from her skin and settles on the ground around her.
Slowly, her curved horns and leathery wings begin to crack, and before I can even blink, they shatter and turn to ash.
The black blood trickling out of the burn on her chest, the wound my flames gave her, fades to a bright crimson.
That evil I felt wrapped around her before is gone.
I sense powerful light and a pure heart that has been buried beneath a century of darkness.
The darkness isn’t gone. It’s still there, coursing through her veins, but it’s different. Her celestial blood overpowers it.
“Nyx,” Hekate whispers, crawling across the ground and taking both of her hands. “You’re free, Nyx. You’re finally free.”
Her eyelids flutter open and warm brown irises greet me as I meet her gaze.
She sits up, looking at all of us with wide, terror-filled eyes as she slides backward on the crumbling dirt.
She doesn’t stop until her back is pressed firmly against the side of the black, rocky mountain.
She doesn’t speak. She only screams. She screams and sobs uncontrollably, unconsolably, as Hekate tries to take her into her arms and Nyx forcefully pushes her away.
Hekate gives Kairos a dazed and terrified glance as she opens a portal to leave.
Ere steps up behind me, placing his palms on my shoulders, thumbs absentmindedly caressing my skin, but I can’t look away from Nyx. She seems so…broken.
“Please…take me home…these are not my thoughts. I do not belong here.” Nyx curls into the fetal position on the ground as Hekate gently brushes hair out of her face and then cradles her head in her lap.. “You do not belong here,” Nyx spits, eyes pinned in my direction, Ere stiffening behind me.
Hekate blinks and they’re gone.
“What the hell just happened?” Kairos steps away, eyes searching the ground where Nyx’s darkness disintegrated to ash.
I force my mouth closed as my mind races with thoughts of what it all could mean. “I have no idea,” I whisper.
Ere steps up beside me, lifting a hand and running the back of his fingers across my cheek. “You are safe. That’s all that matters to me.” He smiles, golden eyes warm and comforting. “It’s Nyx. Probably a new game she has decided to play.”
He’s right. I felt light within her, but none of us know what’s going through her mind, or what she’d be willing to do to get exactly what she wants. She didn’t seem okay. What if this is another game? I hope Hekate is safe.
Kairos, Ere, and I stand in silence for a moment, none of us knowing what the hell to say or do.
Kairos lifts my necklace over his head and takes my hand in his, gently closing my palm around it. “I believe this belongs to you.” He smiles at me and then glares in Eres direction.
He backs away but his eyes search mine as I look from him to Ere. I should be happy to be holding this. I should be thrilled that it’s finally over. But gods, I’m terrified of what truths I might uncover.
Opening my palms, I hold it in front of me and gaze into the swirling, hypnotizing colors. “What do I do now?” I glance over at Ere.
He steps up behind me, reaching over my shoulders and placing his palms beneath my hands. “Whatever it tells you to do, my love. Close your eyes and feel the power. Listen to the magic within it.”
I don’t even feel him walk away, too engrossed in listening and feeling and connecting with whatever magic holds onto my memories.
In my mind, I’m holding the amulet and filling it with water from a river that glows with lights and colors so vibrant and full of power that it takes my breath away.
I seal the bottle closed with a wave of a hand, and slide it onto a dainty, golden chain.
I know what I have to do. I open my eyes and hold the bottle upright, waving a hand above the top, hoping and praying my magic works.
I’ve only practiced with my flames. Nothing else.
A flash of soft light envelopes it for a moment and then slips away.
I feel the power calling to me, whispering my name, my real name, as I bring the bottle to my lips.