Chapter 46
Iyana
Someone harshly whispering her name had woken her up.
Iyana disentangled herself from Emmeric’s embrace and followed those whispers outside of the cave.
Walking barefoot through a dense fog, she passed by Kaz, Okab, and Altair, all asleep.
Worry passed through her briefly, but then her name was whispered on the breeze again, and she forgot her concerns.
She didn’t feel the bite of cold on her toes as she trekked through the snow.
The night was dark, but she didn’t need to see to know where she was headed.
Birds flew away when she entered their space.
Crickets stopped chirping. The trees swayed towards her, urging her onward.
Murmuring promises of answers to questions long forgotten.
As she entered the clearing and saw the giant, mangled tree in front of her, a sensation of awe and rightness filled her. This was where she was always meant to be.
Iyana vaguely noticed when Emmeric entered the clearing and tried to talk to her. He didn’t understand. He couldn’t hear them. Wrapping her magic around his skin, she made him listen. She wanted him to hear the same things she did and know that this was the right thing for her to do.
The trees encouraged her in this quest. The ancient one standing tall above all the rest demanded her magic. And she willingly fed it a piece of that silver light living inside her.
Then the clearing, the trees, and Emmeric were all gone—along with her bond, leaving an ache in her chest. She stood inside a cavern, and for a moment, Iyana thought it had all been a vivid dream and she’d never actually left the cave.
But the ceilings were taller here, and it was warmer.
Sweltering, almost. Iyana removed her cloak to let her skin breathe.
Now she understood how people could be lost so easily once they wandered off the path. That fog had been completely disorienting.
Amber light suffused the cavern with a soft glow that appeared to be brighter down a long corridor.
There was nothing but darkness behind her, so Iyana shrugged and walked towards the light.
She made sure to bring her cloak with her, though.
The last time she forgot it, she’d ended up in a dungeon, cold and naked.
Iyana shivered at the memory, then shoved it aside.
There was a heavy presence of magic here, and she needed to keep her wits about her.
Iyana followed that light for much longer than she thought it should have taken, and yet, the light never seemed to come any closer.
There was nothing else for her to do, though, so she continued on her way.
Her breaths became labored the farther she went, and when she felt on the verge of collapse, she finally broke free of the tunnel she’d been following.
She stood in a large chamber. Small, crystal outcroppings lined the walls, and that was where the soft, amber glow was originating from. The air was slightly cooler here, a light breeze winding its way through the space. Iyana gasped at what she saw lined up against the walls.
Glass coffins—fourteen of them, each an identical size and shape—were spaced equidistant from each other. To her left and right, Iyana saw people lying within those enclosures, their arms crossed over their chests and faces slack in sleep.
No, not people. Gods.
Because that was Altea in the one closest to Iyana’s left, and two down on the right looked like Yrza.
Two of them sat empty, with their lids resting against them.
Iyana walked on light feet to peer into each coffin.
Her nerves were firing, urging her to be as silent as possible to avoid waking any of them.
And where before she had thought they were all the same, there was one that was wider than the others.
It held a man with dark features, dressed all in black, laying side-by-side with a beautiful woman.
They were holding hands. This must be Phaedros and his beloved consort, Dyuna.
Iyana was able to account for every lesser god and goddess except for Gana, who she now knew to be Kaz, and Elena, Goddess of Knowledge.
Kaz had told them the story of how Elena had gone missing so long ago, and now it made sense why she had been so emotional about it.
Maybe something within her remembered the unexpected loss of a sister.
For those two to be vacant made her confused why Altea and Yrza were currently sleeping. Iyana had seen both of them—Altea in the Everlands and Yrza in Nyr. How could they be sleeping yet still be in other places?
Towards the back of the cavern, there was a raised dais shrouded in shadows that Iyana hadn’t noticed before—the glass coffins had caught her attention first. Careful to keep her steps quiet, Iyana snuck towards the platform to see two more caskets. One held a man, and the other a woman.
The magic surrounding the two was much more potent, making Iyana surmise that this was Zaya and Khonos—Mother and Father of all the gods.
She cautiously climbed the stairs and approached Zaya’s resting place, laying her hand on top. Although the two empty coffins had lids lying next to them, there was no discernible edge or crack for her to open it.
“You can stop trying,” a female voice behind her said, making Iyana jump. “It won’t open for you.”
Turning, Iyana found a tall, gorgeous woman before her.
She had voluptuous curves draped within a golden gown and tan skin similar to Iyana’s own shade, but with an almost-blinding glow.
Luscious blonde hair was secured to her head with a crown composed of sunbeams. Predatory yellow eyes bored into Iyana, belying the friendly smile she was wearing.
Ciri—Goddess of Day.
Iyana dropped into a bow quickly, not wanting to offend the deity, and only rose when Ciri waved her hand in dismissal.
“My lady,” Iyana said. “Weren’t you just…” She gestured towards the glass coffins below, noting that now three were empty.
“Most of us sleep and wake as we see fit. Some more than others.” Ciri’s gaze glanced towards Phaedros as she said this. “But my mother and father have not awoken since Zaya created the first Aztia and Kanaliza.”
“Why?” Iyana glanced back toward the coffin behind her, then thought it better to keep her eyes on the awake goddess before her.
Ciri shrugged a golden shoulder. “We have tried waking them many times, but to no avail. They continue to slumber.”
“You said some wake more than others?”
“Altea wakes the most often due to her duties in the Everlands, but some of us simply bore of sleeping. Except for Phaedros. My brother chooses to be with his consort until she is able to wake.”
“What about Khollo?”
“He left this world many millennia ago.” Ciri narrowed her eyes, and Iyana realized she was running out of patience. This had all only raised more questions in her mind—especially about Khollo—but banishing the stars was what she needed to focus on.
“One more question, my lady, if you would?”
Ciri nodded her permission.
“How do I banish the stars again? Rigil is already murdering humans and taking some as slaves.”
The goddess frowned. “I’m aware. Unfortunately, only Zaya and the originals possess the information you seek. I cannot help you.”
Iyana deflated. This had all been a waste of time. They could have been focusing their efforts on research and never needed to separate from Talon and Zane.
“And,” Ciri continued, “since you cannot wake Zaya, you must ask the originals.”
“How?”
Yellow eyes sparkled with infinite mischief. “That is more than one question.”
Iyana bowed again. “I apologize, my lady. I am only trying to save your creation from utter destruction.”
A soft tinkle of laughter as warm as a ray of sun surrounded her. “Do not fret, Aztia. You will need to journey to the Everlands. But you must be cautious not to stay for too long. My sister can be greedy with souls who linger within her realm.”
The question of how Iyana was supposed to travel to the Everlands was on her lips, but she swallowed it back down. Ciri had already given her plenty of information, and she had a feeling the goddess’s generosity was short-lived.
“Thank you, my lady.”
She turned back towards the hallway where she had entered, then paused.
Iyana actually had no idea how she had gotten here, or how she was going to get back.
The stars may have been able to teleport, but she had never learned, nor tried to learn, that ability.
Panic gripped her, hot and fierce, thinking she’d be stuck within the sleeping gods’ realm for the rest of her life.
She’d be slowly forgotten by everyone she knew and loved.
Emmeric wouldn’t remember her. The absence of the bond within her chest suddenly hit her hard.
It had been easy to ignore while she figured out where she was, but now…
was she going to spend the rest of her life without his always steady presence?
Iyana had gotten used to having him near, knowing he’d always be there for her.
Suddenly, she realized she never wanted to go another day without him in her life.
“Come here, Aztia,” Ciri said gently. “Your Kanaliza worries for you. You should return to him.”
The goddess cupped Iyana’s face in her warm hands and placed a kiss on her brow.
Ciri’s glow increased until Iyana had to close her eyes against the light.
From one second to another, Iyana went from a sweltering heat to a biting cold.
Opening her eyes, she saw she was back in front of the large mystical tree, kneeling in the snow. A shiver overtook her body.
Iyana! She heard her name called in the distance; somewhere in the trees, but also within her mind. Iyana drew her cloak around her for warmth, happy she’d thought to hold on to it.
“Em,” she croaked. Her voice was weak, but she tugged against their restored bond thrumming within her to let him know she was back. Emmeric burst out of the tree line, his blue eyes wide and wild, finding her immediately.
He ran to her, sliding to a stop on his knees. Cradling her face in his hands, he looked deep into her gaze, then checked her body for any injuries.
“I’m okay,” she whispered.
“Gods, Mouse, you scared me so bad,” he said. Emmeric took in a shuddering breath and let it out slowly. She could feel his panic abating now that she had returned.
“Sorry.”
“What have I told you about touching magical things?”
Iyana’s lips twitched into a smile. “Next time a mind-altering mist takes over my body, I’ll make sure to remember your words of wisdom.”
“You infuriating woman,” Emmeric murmured. Then his lips were on hers, kissing her hard. Iyana kissed him back just as fiercely. They both needed the reminder that they were where they belonged—together.