Chapter 26 – Lamia #3
Turning, I see Em at the edge of the clearing. Our eyes connect, and I ask the silent question. What do I do?
The necklace is the path to my children. Giving it to the nymphs would mean losing everything I’ve worked so hard for. It would mean never seeing them again.
But could I live with myself if I walked away and let the gargoyles die?
Never.
“Don’t do this!” I say, knowing the spirits of these woods are fueling the magic that encloses the gargoyles in their wooden tomb.
“We don’t have a choice,” the nymph says, and I see the other naked women gathering in the woods around the circle.
My mind races. “Which god threatened you with this?”
She looks nervous. “Hera.”
Of course it was fucking Hera. My gaze goes back to the guys. The wood has reached their thighs.
Damn it, I’m running out of time.
“What can we do?” I ask Em.
She stares at me like I’m stupid. “Leave the gargoyles and save your children.”
I stiffen. “I can’t.”
“Why? They’re our enemies.”
I swallow, hard. “They aren’t mine.”
“They’re helping you to get what you want, but not because they care about you or your kids.”
“No—“
Her gaze goes to them. “You’re helping her to help yourselves, right?”
Darius is chopping at the wood, breathing hard. “We’re going to get out of this.”
Em looks back at me. “He can’t even lie about their goal.”
My stomach turns. “I can’t leave them to die.”
“I gave you my most precious possession so that you could save your children. Not to save gargoyles.”
I feel sick. “I’m so sorry.”
Her face goes blank and fire leaps to her fingertips. “If you can’t make this choice, I’ll make it for you.”
My heart races. “Em, what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to burn these woods to the ground.”
“No!” I shout. “They’re innocent!”
“No one that works with the gods is innocent,” she shouts.
Turning to one of the trees, she’s stopped by the voice of a nymph. “Don’t!”
Em looks back at the nymph. “Release the gargoyles and let her go, or I burn you all.”
The tree spirit stands as if frozen. “The gods may kill you. But I will kill you.”
I look between her and the gargoyles. Slowly, the wood begins to fall from their legs.
They chop and chop, then spring free when they can. When they reach my side a minute later, I don’t hesitate. I hand Ryker the necklace.
“Go back to the bar, and keep that safe.”
“And what are you going to do?” Ryker asks.
“Go,” I say again. “I’ll join you soon.”
“Are you sure?” Ryker asks.
“Yes, I have something to do first.”
I’m relieved when I feel the air from their wings. I turn and watch as they shoot into the sky. Silence descends on us. The fire from Em’s hand is casting the woods in an eerie light.
The nymph falls to her knees, and the sound of her tears cuts into my very soul.
I walk toward Em and the nymph, not knowing what to say.
Em speaks before I do. “The male gods would come down hard on Hera if she destroyed their fun. I doubt she’ll carry out on her threat.”
Nymphs loved to play naked in the woods. And they loved to come upon gods and get their pleasure from them. Pair that with the fact that their kind is rare…Em had a point about the fact that Hera’s threat was probably empty.
“What if Hera does come back to punish them?” I ask.
The nymph has lifted her tear-stained face to look between us.
Em smiles. “I can control fire. The fire won’t get far.”
I stare at Em, and relief washes through me. For a minute, I wasn’t sure if she would kill all of them. I knew what she was capable of, just as she knew what I was. But I also knew neither of us were as heartless as legends might imply.
“I’ll need to strengthen my powers first,” she says. “Before I face a god.”
I nod, already knowing what she must do. And knowing that the least I can do after all she’s done for me is keep her company, at least a little longer.
The fire fades from her hand. We turn and start back toward the road when the nymph catches Em’s hand. “Thank you.”
She shrugs.
“We’ve lived long enough to know that there is no limit to the god’s cruelty.” The nymph smiles. “But it’s a new thing to learn there is such kindness in monsters.”
“Well, now you know,” she says, her tone holding a slight edge.
We walk through the dark woods until we reach the road. Unable to help myself, I take her hand, squeezing it in my own. And we stand together, staring out at the quiet night, listening to the wind. Still feeling lonely, even together.
“Do you ever wish you were different?” she asks after a time.
I could lie. I could paint my world in brighter colors, but why bother? Em would see right through me.
“Every day,” I tell her.
“Do you ever think your existence was a mistake?”
My answer comes easily. “Yes.”
Her hand squeezes mine, and I can feel her pain radiating straight to me.
“But…lately I’ve realized something else.”
She turns to look at me, waiting.
“Life can’t always suck.”
Unexpectedly, she laughs. “You sure?”
I nod. “And when I get my children back, I’ll come and visit you.”
Her humor fades. “Children shouldn’t be around me.”
I smile reassuringly. “Me neither.”
But if my children come back, things will be different. They’ll be different. And so will I.
I have a goddess’s promise.
We look back at the road as we hear a car heading toward us, its lights bouncing on the road.
“It’s just nice sometimes to know I’m not alone.”
“Never,” I promise her.
I feel a strange nervousness that changes the air. The animals of the forest go silent, the wind no longer stirs, and something dangerous crackles around us.
Em’s free hand goes out, and she lifts one thumb.
The car moves closer, and my heart races. I picture a million things, but mostly I just hope that the car will drive right past.
It does, but already it slows and pulls over.
I want to turn around, to not see the face of the person who might soon be dead, but Em squeezes my hand harder, and I let her pull me to the car.
Tonight she gave me the most important thing she owned. The one source of light in her dark existence. This is the least I can do for her.
The passenger side door is pushed open.
In the driver’s seat is a man much older than what Em looks like. He smiles, his eyes roving over our bodies.
“You girls need a ride?”
“I do,” she says, her tone numb.
“And do you have any money?” Each word feels strangely violating.
“No, but I’m prepared to pay.”
His smile widens. “Then get in!”
She looks at me one last time, her eyes devoid of all emotion. Her hand squeezes mine, and then she releases me. She slides down and sits in the seat, the door closing behind her.
I watch them drive off, my stomach turning. Even though I got the necklace, I feel that I’ve done a terrible thing tonight.
As I walk back to the bar, the thought haunts me.
Em will have the man pull over somewhere dark and empty. And then she’ll kill him, gaining strength from his death. When she’s done, she’ll come back here and guard the trees.
Miserable. Empty. Without even her mother’s memories to comfort her.
I don’t think I’ve felt more like a monster in my life.