Chapter 17
Ara
“Dion!”I started shouting as soon as the house was in view. “Dion, where are you?”
I didn’t stop running until I burst through the door into Dion’s house. Several women were lounging on the couches where I’d sat with my friends not long ago.
They squealed, then scattered in a frenzy of gauzy peplos and petals, flowery crowns falling as they fled.
“Sorry!” I called. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I was looking for Dion, have you seen him?”
They were gone before I even finished asking. Frustrated, I cursed, then turned, nearly colliding with the god. I jumped, making a startled squeaking sound.
Dion laughed. “You act like it’s a surprise that you found me after all that screaming.”
“I thought maybe you left the island.”
“I wouldn’t be a very good host if I did that, now, would I?” he asked.
“I need help,” I said.
He frowned, an expression that made my stomach turn. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen anything other than a smile on the vivacious face.
“I can’t assist you. This is between you and Nyx,” he explained.
“I just need to know if you have stables here. Supplies for horses.”
His brow furrowed slightly, as if considering if my request was a violation. “Are you planning to flee? We’re on an island, you realize.”
“I know that. And no, I’m not going anywhere. I just need some things for taking care of a horse.”
He pressed his lips together and looked like he was thinking. Finally, after what felt like forever, he tilted his head. “Go through the other door. You’ll see the stables.”
I could have kissed him, but I caught myself, knowing that he’d take the gesture too far. Instead, I gave him a quick hug, something that was also probably too much considering his incessant flirting. “Thank you.”
I didn’t stick around long enough to allow him a snarky response. Instead, I was running again, hoping that by the time I found what I needed, Obsidian was still waiting for me.
To my relief, the pegasus was there when I returned, though I could swear he was glaring at me with annoyance. I slowed to a walk, trying to catch my breath. “You know, I’ve never seen anyone with as much of an expressive face as you.”
Obsidian shook his head.
When I stopped near him, I started to remove the items in the bag I’d filled, setting them all on the ground. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched for the reactions to each. As I suspected, Obsidian was carefully studying each thing as I set them on the ground.
When I produced an apple, his ears seemed to relax, pointing slightly forward. His tail swished and he lowered his head before taking a step closer.
I held the fruit in my open palm, then extended my arm, careful not to move too quickly. “Do you want this?”
He moved even closer, then quickly leaned down and grasped the apple with his lips, taking it from my hand. He backed up and I could hear the crunching of the fruit as he chewed.
As soon as he was finished, he looked at the bag expectantly. I dug inside and removed another apple, repeating the process of feeding the pegasus.
I had no idea how or why Dion had an entire crate of apples in his stable, but I was grateful they’d been in there when I went to look for a brush and some food. I expected hay or grains. The apples were a welcome treat.
After feeding him all six of the apples I’d brought with me, I showed him the empty bag. I could read the disappointment in his eyes.
“I’ll bring more later,” I promised.
Obsidian eyed me as if he wasn’t sure if he believed me. I was starting to feel a little strange for reading so much emotion and response in a horse, but this wasn’t a normal horse. His size alone would have been enough to classify him as special, but adding the wings was a whole other level. I had no idea what pegasuses were capable of or how much he could understand me. As far as I could tell, he was completely aware of every word I spoke.
I crouched and picked up a brush. “Would you like me to brush you?” I wanted nothing more than to get on with the tasks so I could return home, but I knew I couldn’t rush this. At least that’s what I kept reminding myself as I fought against the rising anxiety reminding me that the Fae King could be on his way to Athos right now.
Obsidian lowered his head, then stepped closer to me.
“I’ll take that as a yes, but if you want me to stop, you simply tell me, alright?” Internally, I was hoping he didn’t knock me down and trample me.
Slowly, I reached for his neck, then ran my hand along his hair. He was free of dirt and felt clean. I knew I’d made the correct choice to go right to the softer brush. I began carefully, going easy until I felt more confident to work to a more steady cadence.
His coat was already shiny and well cared for, but he seemed to appreciate the methodical motions of the brush. I took my time, brushing one whole side before moving to the other. He was patient and seemed relaxed while I brushed him.
Sweat rolled down my temple. I forgot just how much work this was and Obsidian was easily twice the size of the horses I was used to.
Finally, I finished. Stepping back so I could face him, I lifted the brush, then showed him I was setting it down on the ground. “All finished. Would you like me to attend to your mane?”
He nodded. An unmistakable, obvious nod.
“Great.” I picked up the comb and approached with caution. “I’m going to get started.”
My arms were aching, and I was starting to feel worn down from all the effort of caring for the massive horse, but I was determined to win him over.
Just as I finished his mane, Obsidian nuzzled me, nearly knocking me down. I startled, jumping back in surprise.
The pegasus’s eyes widened in response.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting that.” Worried I’d insulted him, I moved closer, then extended my hand. “You’re much larger than the horses we have in Athos. Far more beautiful and intelligent as well.”
He made an annoyed snort.
“I’m serious. I’m not trying to flatter you. You actually understand what I’m saying.” I waited, with my hand outstretched, nearly touching Obsidian’s muzzle.
After a few heartbeats, the pegasus leaned closer, brushing his muzzle against my palm. I stepped closer, then stroked him. “You’re a sweetheart, aren’t you?”
He snorted as if to disagree with me, but nuzzled closer. I laughed. “I like you too.”
Suddenly, he turned away from me and his ears flattened against his head.
“What is it?” My pulse kicked up in response to the perceived threat. “What did you hear?”
When he returned his attention to me, he lowered his head, then bent a front leg, almost like he was bowing.
It took me a moment to realize the intention. “You want me to ride you?” My heart was racing for another reason now. Climbing onto this creature was the plan the whole time, but now that I was faced with it, I was having doubts.
I wasn’t the most talented rider, and I’d be doing this without a saddle. He was so large, it was going to be difficult to even mount him. Then there was the whole aspect of the fact that he had wings. Was he intending to fly with me on his back?
He whinnied impatiently. I knew it was possible this was the only chance I’d get. Plus, I couldn’t risk insulting him.
“Thank you,” I said as I moved to his side. I set my hand on his back, then stilled. How was I supposed to get up there? I didn’t have a stool or anyone to give me a lift. A quick glance around let me know there weren’t even any large rocks or tree stumps. I wondered if Obsidian would follow me to the stables.
Then, an idea struck me.
It was insane. Absolutely impossible. Yet, what if I could make it happen?
Closing my eyes, I reached for that dark place within. The place where I found my magic in the past. Only this time, I wasn’t searching for mine. I wanted to borrow some of Ryvin’s.
I wasn’t sure if it would work being so far away, but I had used it when he wasn’t next to me with success. Taking steady breaths to keep myself calm, I rested one hand on Obsidian’s side. “I need a little help getting up, but I promise I’m not going to harm you.”
Closing my eyes, I reached deeper, calling Ryvin’s shadows to me, letting myself feel the magic building. It came like a soothing caress, and I opened my eyes to see the shadows wrapping around me in fluid, graceful spirals.
I nodded to them, encouraging them to create a cloud under my feet. The swirling gray and black shadows obliged, churning in a way that reminded me of waves as they wound together.
Obsidian nickered, tossing his head. His ears wiggled. I stroked his side, whispering calming words while I instructed the shadows to lift me.
To my surprise, I rose from the ground and was able to finally mount the pegasus. Weaving my hand into his main, I held fast. “Good boy, Obsidian. Good boy.”
The pegasus reared and I held on, having to call the shadows around me to keep me from falling. Thankfully, they were woven around me now, anchoring me to the massive steed.
As soon as Obsidian’s hoofs hit the ground, he took off, racing across the island. My eyes watered as the air blew past me, whipping my hair around my face. I could hardly make out where we were going at this speed and if not for the shadows, I wouldn’t still be holding on.
Obsidian shot into the air. I swallowed the scream I almost unleashed and fought to keep the shadows around me. The pegasus dipped and dove, spun and twisted. The movements so intense and unnecessary that I knew he was trying to throw me. Then, he tucked his wings to the side and we went into free fall, heading right for the rocky ground below.
I tugged on his mane. “Pull us up, Obsidian! Pull us up!”
The pegasus seemed unconcerned about our impending doom.
This was not how I died. I refused to let this be my end. Anger surged and I fought back, reaching into the depths where that dark spark that reveled in chaos lived. The part of me that wanted to rebel. The part of me that I never fully allowed myself to access.
With a roar, I let it out. I let it all explode like a flash of lightning. Shadows billowed around me, expanding into the sky like thunderclouds. I could feel the darkness in my veins, the familiar buzz of magic, the rush of power that I had held back.
Obsidian righted himself, his wings fully extending, catching us on a gust of wind, just before we’d have crashed to the ground. He flapped a few times, then landed, as if nothing strange happened.
I half-leaped, half-tumbled off his back, then distanced myself from the insane creature. Heart racing, I shoved my wind-blown hair away from my eyes and glared at Obsidian. “What was that for?”
The pegasus started eating some of the plants growing between the rocks where we’d landed, not even bothering to look up at me. Thunder rumbled in the distance and I looked skyward, taking in the heavy, dark clouds. We were about to get a whole lot of rain.
“How the fuck are you alive?” Nyx’s voice cut through the wind and thunder.
I turned to see her staring at me, an annoyed look on her face.
“You should be dead.” She gave Obsidian an angry, sidelong glance. “Even if you managed to mount him, he should have tossed you.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you,” I deadpanned.
“How did you survive?” she asked.
“I don’t see how that matters,” I countered. Any hope I’d had of being friendly with the goddess was gone. She wasn’t going easy on me. “What is the next task? I want to get the fuck off this island.”
She moved closer to me, then studied me with narrowed eyes. After several heartbeats, she retreated, then a wicked grin curved her lips. “You used magic.”
“So?”
“I won’t make the mistake of allowing you to do that again,” she replied.
“You’d take my magic?” I balled my hands into fists. “I did free you and help you regain yours.”
“You forget your place, child,” she hissed. “I am the one who determines your fate. If I say you must perform without magic, you will have your magic stripped.”
I glared at her. “All you gods are the same, aren’t you?”
“I wouldn’t worry about the gods just now. You’re here to prove to me that not all humans are the same. Your people are the ones who forgot about me. They allowed me to be buried and trapped under your city while they went about their lives. I gave you darkness, night, starlight… and how did your kind reward me? By using the cover of night to perform their misdeeds. By forgetting my name. By telling stories of my terrible power and ignoring all the gifts I bestowed.
“So answer me this, princess, are all humans the same? Because if that’s the case, I will simply end all of you right now.”
I swallowed hard, realizing that I’d pushed too far. In my anger, I did the same thing she accused the others of. I’d forgotten just how powerful she was. “We are not all the same.”
“Then prove it if you can.” She winked. “Don’t worry, when you fail, I’ll let you watch me destroy your people before I kill you.”