Epilogue 2
ROSINA
Iwas careful not to draw his attention when I arrived.
I couldn’t risk reacting too quickly and anything happening to my baby as a result.
So when I saw Dez on that bridge, I watched him for a moment.
Dez held him like there was a fuse tied around his blanket, unsure of whether to cradle him in his arms or hold him with outstretched hands.
Dez. I saw such great things for him, and it truthfully broke my heart to include him in my curse.
Thankfully, he showed far more restraint than most of his chosen brothers. Though, I expected nothing less. I taught him that, taught him the true meaning of kindness and how much this world needed it.
How could he betray me like this? How could he stand there, holding my child, and go through with Ryuk’s plan?
He doesn’t have a choice, I tried to convince myself.
I knew Ryuk, or at least I thought I had.
I knew the lengths he would go to get what he wanted, and I knew that he would have killed Dez if he even tried to refuse.
But that didn’t soothe the ache I felt in my heart when Minerva came to me and told me of what Ryuk had ordered them to do.
She was the only true friend I had left, and when the stars gifted her the vision of my fate, I was willing to accept mine with open arms. But I would kill every fucking person here before allowing the stars to take my baby, too.
As if he could sense my presence, Dez stilled suddenly and twisted around in my direction. Slowly, like I was approaching a rabid animal, I stepped onto the bridge and into the light of the fire blazing around us.
“Rosina,” Dez whispered, his voice trembling as fiercely as his arms were.
“Give me my child, Dez. Don’t make me hurt you.”
The light shining in my eyes grew brighter, illuminating his body and the child in his arms. When I saw the little black lines that covered the side of my baby’s face, my breath fell shakily from my lips. What has he done to you, my love?
“I’m s-sorry, Rosina… I… He told me I had to. If I didn’t—”
“I know,” I told him, extending my arms out cautiously, trying to keep my gaze locked with his. “Give me my child.”
A tear slipped down Dez’s cheek, and I noticed one of his hands grab something from his hip before raising an obsidian blade. It took every ounce of restraint to keep my breathing even.
“Ryuk thought that you would try to compel me. He got into my head, Rosina… I don’t—If I don’t do this—”
“I can help you, Dez. Okay?” I stepped closer and was relieved when Dez remained in his position. “Let me help. Don’t make me kill you, Dez. You’re like a son to me. I love you.”
More tears fell from his eyes as he looked down at the child in his arms and back up at me. “What do I do?”
“Take him out of the blanket, and hand him to me.”
Dez froze, but his chest rose and fell in heavy pants. He was scared—as he should be. But he feared the wrong god. My rage burned far brighter than Ryuk’s.
“Hand me my child, Dez.”
He removed him from the blanket, passing him to me with shaking hands, and the second I held my son, my heart could finally beat again. Even the fire around us seemed to rise, cracking and spitting embers that surrounded the three of us.
My baby… I’m here baby, I wanted to tell him. I’m going to keep you safe. Mommy will fix this.
“Kaiden is looking for you. He’s going to be here soon, and—”
“This won’t take long, Dez,” I interrupted him, then placed my hand on the bundled blanket still in his arms.
As the light in my eyes shone again, I glamoured the blanket to appear as if it still held my baby, wrapped up and still as death. Dez gasped in horror when he looked down at the facade, and the reality of what he was ordered to do poured from his face in agony.
“Oh, gods… Rosina… I was… I was going to…”
“Shhh.” I pulled Dez toward me and pressed my forehead against his.
Dez… I thought we could build a world that was different from the last one. I thought we could do it right this time, and Dez showed me the potential that it had to be great. They’re going to snuff that light from you, Dez. That’s what they do here. I’m so sorry…
“He’s safe. I’m going to keep him safe. But you have to do as I say.”
Dez looked at me, lips trembling as he regained control of his emotions. “Okay.”
“Kaiden is near. I’ll only be gone a few seconds, and I need you to convince him that you did your part. Can you do that?”
Dez sniffed, but nodded his head. “Y-Yes.”
“Good.” I stole a glance at the baby in my arms, feeling small cracks forming in my heart. “There is someone I need to find. And when I return—”
“He’s going to kill you,” Dez blurted out. “You can’t return, Rosina. You have to—”
“This must be done, Dez.” I swallowed back the tears threatening to fall from my eyes.
“Minerva said this was the only way to keep him safe. To everyone here, this child no longer lives. I have to ask you to bear the weight of this secret, Dez. Let him have a chance. I’ll make sure that Ryuk can’t get to him, and that he will never come back.
It’s best that way. This world is too cruel, too unforgiving, and unworthy of him. ”
When my gaze lifted to Dez again, the blue in his eyes looked so pale as they stared back at me.
“I’m sorry,” he cried. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I should have done something—”
“You are,” I reminded him.
Then, I cradled my son to my chest and walked past Dez, nearing the rift that separated our two worlds.
I waited until I stepped through it, and I was safe from any prying ears to whisper to him.
“My sweet boy… You won’t remember these words, but I pray to the stars that you keep them in your heart. ”
I walked toward the gate that I knew would be here and lifted a hand, allowing my magic to flow through the wards and open it. I was surprised they held after all this time.
“The stars showed Minerva something else. Something that will grant me enough peace knowing I can’t be here to protect you any longer.”
Before approaching the castle, I added one more thing to the wards. Ryuk would never enter this home again. Even if he came looking, these gates would remain locked to him, and my boy would be safe from his wrath.
“Your father will do everything in his power to rid his world of every source of light, until all they know is the death that comes at his hand, but you are not him. You are not the destruction they thought you would be. And I know that I’m leaving you, and this world feels dark, but light will find you.
And when she does, the sun will shine again. And you will feel its warmth.”
I dropped to my knees clutching him to my chest as my own sobs broke free. How could I say goodbye? How could I leave him?
“Rosina?” a familiar voice called, descending the steps of the castle. “Oh my gods…” Mara looked down at the baby in my arms. “Is he…”
“He’s mine,” I told her. “Mara, there is something I must ask of you…”
She didn’t say anything, but understanding reflected back in her eyes.
Then, I lowered him from my chest and looked at him once more. “Forgive me, Tristan. Please forgive what I must do…”
I closed my eyes and called for a small piece of my light before placing a kiss on his head. It took little effort to transfer it into his little body, so that a piece of me might live with him forever. It was all I could do.
“I love you.”
I could hardly look at him as I passed him to Mara, forcing myself to turn away even as my heart scratched at my chest to turn around. But this was the only way. Ryuk had to believe he had won, or Tristan would never be safe.
Please protect him, I thought, willing my prayers to the stars that no longer shone here. They had given up on this wasteland the second we destroyed it. But my pleas weren’t to them or to Mara.
They were to the light I knew would bring Tristan home and give him the life that I couldn’t. To the queen that would change her destiny, and burn away the darkness once and for all. The true prophecy.
For one lights the path… and one ends it all.