Chapter 28 #3
“You are the first to offer yourself as a replacement for my servant. I believe that deserves a reward, and you were correct. There are some things that need to change. You will not live forever. Your life will be longer than most, but not unlike what it would have been with your sorceress heritage, and others will not be able to kill you on contact. And your only commissions will be from me and a select few. I will give them my mark so you know it is trustworthy.”
As though on command, a black mark appeared on Finley’s right wrist: a raven.
“You see this, and you will know it comes from me.”
It felt like a weight was lifted off Finley’s shoulders. This was a far better bargain than she’d dared to hope or dream of. Her new duty would still be difficult but one she could bear.
“Thank you, Goddess.” Finley gave her a bow. “And I must ask one last thing. What about Ai?”
She knew she was pushing things by asking for any favors. But if Stula wanted Finley to be bonded to her, it was something she was going to have to get used to.
The goddess was quiet for another moment and kept that ethereal and disconcerting stillness. Her face was still gentle yet unreadable. “My child, you already have all you need. I trust you will discover the answer. Now, to close the rift, and I have your first assignment.”
They raced through the spirit realm and jumped back out of the rift into Luana’s Mountain.
“You’re back!” Myra exclaimed. Her arms were raised skyward, trying to contain the spirits and close the opening to Stula’s realm.
She went to embrace Finley, but her eyes went wide at her new appearance.
“Finley, your hair! And… Stula!” Myra stooped into a low bow and the spirits went out of her control.
They screeched and swarmed and circled around the sky. “My lady. It is an honor.”
Stula approached Myra with the warmest expression, bearing a true smile that Finley was seeing for the first time.
She crouched to Myra’s level and cupped her chin in a gentle hand.
“My daughter, you do not bow to me.” The pair of them stood, and Stula held Myra’s hands in hers.
“You have done well, and I have something that belongs to you.” The necklace vanished from Finley’s neck and appeared in Stula’s hand.
She placed it back around Myra’s neck where it belonged. “But I need your help.”
Magic and steel clashed all around as their allies tried to fight against Amelia.
The spirits that had been summoned from Stula’s realm circled around the weakening sorceress.
While she held unimaginable power, her efforts in opening the rift had diminished her.
She knelt on the ground and stretched out her arms in attempts to get strength from the spirits, but it wasn’t working.
Killllllll. Tear apart.
Whatever it was that now resided inside Finley emerged in her mind, and the desire to kill filled her being.
She could feel her skin and hair turning again like it had in Stula’s realm.
But now it had purpose. She had an aim. The moment Finley arrived back inside the mountain, her body had transformed into the banshee Stula had made her, and she floated into the air to locate her prey.
Kill.
Finley opened her mouth and let out a cry. It was unlike any sound she had ever made before, a low moan that echoed across the mountain walls. The cry sounded like sorrow and anger rolled into one. It was the sound of death approaching.
For a moment, the fighting stopped, and all eyes turned toward the rift and the small group gathered there.
Stula and Myra had joined hands, and the ancient book from the castle now was held by Myra.
Finley didn’t know how it got there, but she assumed Stula could get it to appear out of nowhere if she desired.
She was a goddess after all. Together, they chanted something Finley didn’t understand and the shadows and spirits trembled and spun.
Different parts of Finley were torn. One side wanted to join them in closing the rift.
The other wanted to obey this new monster inside and see what it could do to her first assignment.
A thrill of excitement ran through her at the thought.
When Stula told her who it was that needed to die, Finley couldn’t help but be excited.
Terrible, yes. But whatever this new power was had taken over and it was ready.
She turned toward them, and Stula gave her a nod. Yes, she could go.
Killllllll.
Finley soared over them all with only her victim as her focus. Past Eira and Cadeyrn, Alvis, and flew past Aytigin, who circled over them all. Even past Amelia whose strength was draining with each moment. Then there she was, cowering in a corner.
Mariah.
Finley let out another unearthly cry, eliciting a scream from Mariah.
She lowered herself to the ground and landed on two graceful feet in front of her aunt.
The one who’d cursed her because of a party invitation all those years ago.
With her new powers, Finley could see Mariah’s entire past. The way she had mistreated people…
children in particular. The way she craved and manipulated power.
Even how she treated her daughter, with control and cruelty.
It didn’t excuse all Amelia had done, but it certainly explained a lot.
“Hello, Aunt Mariah. I think it’s time you went to sleep now.”