Lothar grinned. “I carry the magic of a long-dead weather warden. Magic that my father swears we will need, when the Light and Dark go to war. He said the ancestral magic he just gave me will help the Light survive the freeze.”
“The freeze?”
“Yes, we need to get off this island and back to the Middle World in time to fight Darion.”
“And in order to do so I need to find a key?”
Lothar shrugged. “That’s what they said. Now, let’s see what it is that Tyr has left for you.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tyr’s shrine was light and airy. It really did capture her father’s essence. The white marble floors and pale gold walls were reminiscent of Tyr’s wings. However, what caught Holly’s attention was the mural taking up the long side wall. Each warrior shrine had a mural, but this one was personal. It was painful. And it was glaring.
Holly ran a finger over the bright paint that played out the story of the previous Light Fae warrior’s demise.
It was the heart-wrenching end of the one person who loved her—without question—and his brothers in battle. Mount Pelee had been spitting up ash and steam for nearly a week while the Light tried to reason with the Dark. However, the magmas felt it was time to pad their numbers, so they enlisted a djinn to awaken the volcano. Tyr, Ragnar, and Eckland had been sent to the Caribbean to stop the disaster. It should have been an easy fight for the warriors. Sadly, they never returned to the Middle World, and Holly’s life had fallen to pieces around her.
The djinn that the magmas had used was a sneaky coward who brought part of the Mountain down on the warriors after peace had been agreed upon. Tyr, Eckland, and Ragnar were buried under thousands of pounds of volcanic rock as lava flowed without concern, igniting every flammable thing, living or not, in its path to the sea. Taking the lives of the nearly thirty thousand residents of Saint-Pierre. It led to one of the largest swarms of magmas in the history of the Fae.
Holly couldn’t help but see the face of her siblings and those of Rowan’s now-elite warriors. The pain of loss had been palpable and in that pain, an almost tangible thread had been woven around Lothar, Kale, Uriah, Cree, Bain, and Rowan, and somehow, even though Tyr had raised and loved her, she stood outside of that webbing of support and strength.
“I know you never felt it, but there was never a moment where a single one of us questioned your belonging,” Lothar whispered as he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“You reading me again, mister?”
Lothar pressed a kiss to the exposed column of her neck. “I love you, Holly. I don’t have to try and read you to feel what you’re feeling.”
She turned in his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck. Lifting up on her tiptoes, she pressed a kiss to his lips. Slowly she deepened it, letting her body relax and react to the contact before she pulled back and smiled at him. Stepping back and grabbing his hand, she pulled him towards the exit. “Let’s get in that temple so we can get home.”
“You ready to face the Middle World, and what lies within it?”
She nodded, feeling a new strength she didn’t fully understand but would embrace. Lothar brought words of love and encouragement from a realm beyond to the physical one they now stood in. Her father wanted more of her, because he loved and believed in her, and, with Lothar at her side, she was prepared to do all she could to get him back home before the Dark descended on the Light.
“We need to find the key,” she said. Turning in a circle, she scanned the room. Her eyes were instantly drawn to a shelf of weapons, jewelry, and trinkets. Her brow arched and a smile stretched her lips.
“What is it?” Lothar asked as he followed her to the shelves.
Holly picked up a heavy, metal chain. Hanging from the chain was a gold pendant with a Hawk peering out from a holly tree.
“Do you recognize it?” Holly asked.
Oh, he recognized it. It was one part of Tyr’s crest. The other three pieces lay on the shelf. The crest represented Tyr’s children and Rowan’s tree took up the corner opposite where Holly’s piece would fit. Bain’s pieces sat next to Rowan’s and below Holly’s piece there was a unique flourishing pattern over a blade. And finally, the top corner was a single feather.
“You think that’s the key?” Lothar asked.
“I think putting the pieces together creates the key.”
Grabbing all four pieces, Holly began assembling the crest. Once all four pieces were in place, the six-inch pendant began to glow as it took a new shape and changed into a gold skeleton key.
Lothar kissed Holly hard before grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the shrine, towards the steps of the Temple. They slowed at the top step and approached the door. With a deep breath, Holly inserted the key into the keyhole. With wide eyes, she smiled as the lock clicked and the door pushed open with little force.
“You did it, Hols.”
She let the breath free from her lungs and stepped inside. The room was low lit from the glow of candles that lined the aisle leading up to an altar.
The stone table glistened in the yellow light as the flames flickered over the polished top. Behind it stood three tall statues. The Fates. Each ten-foot woman was carved of the same marble as the altar and each wore a long robe. Rounding the altar, Holly stopped mere feet from the foot of the statues and peered up at them. Starting with Atropos, she took in the details. The eldest of the three had withered features and frail-looking hands that held a pair of golden shears. Next, she looked over to Lechesis, who also showed age in her statue’s face. She held her famous measuring rod also in gold and sparkling in the light. Finally, on the other side of Lechesis, stood Clotho with her distaff and spindle, weaving the thread of life. The Fates towered over them. Their powers glimmered in gold against their white marble bodies.
“Hmm,” Holly said as she pushed her honey curls behind her ears. “They’re impressive even in statue form. I can’t imagine how they appeared in real life.”
Lothar cleared his throat and pulled Holly’s attention to him. Hovering above the altar sat the Fates in question. Cross-legged, with their robes flowing around them, the three sisters studied both Lothar and Holly.
“She found the key,” Clotho said with a crooked smile.
“Of course she did. I set it so in her destiny. Put the shears away, Atropos,” Lechesis chided.
With a flick, the shears puffed out of sight in a flourish of sparkling air.
“You know the Fae fates are no longer in our hands,” Atropos admonished.
“The Immortal Three and the Immortal Four only carry them to their final resting place.”
“A job that was once ours,” Clotho added.
“We still see their path, weave the thread of their life, and you, Atropos, influence when that thread is severed. We are still a part of the life that breathes in all worlds. We have just been pushed aside to let free will prevail.” Lechesis kept her blue, opaque eyes on Holly as she spoke.
“Well, the daughters born of our powers have been meddling.”
“They have and the consequences are looming. Now, Holly, are you ready to return to the Middle World?”
Holly looked from the almost-bickering sisters to Lothar, who had furrowed his brow and tilted his head in the direction of the sisters. Turning back to Lechesis, since she was the one who posed the question, Holly nodded. “Yes.”
“Are you sure? You and Lothar can live out your lives on this island… there are no guarantees of a happy ending here or in the Middle World.”
“I understand, but my father’s words ring through me and he wants me home… where I am needed.”
“You will be tested, and it will at times be painful. Are you ready for this?”
Holly nodded and stepped forward.
Lechesis smiled as she clapped her hands and rubbed them together. “Good.” She then looked to Lothar. “Do not interfere; this is her trial, a test she must endure alone.”
With
those words, the Fates flashed out of sight and Holly was suddenly strapped to the altar.
Lechesis reappeared next to Holly, smiling down at her. “The test of fate and fear requires a blood sacrifice. Are you willing to give your blood?”
“Yes,” Holly’s voice was strong and clear when she spoke, and still Lothar felt panic well inside of him as the Fate brought a blade to Holly’s outstretched arms.
Lothar found Holly’s eyes; the clear lavender depths calmed him as she sent strength and confidence through them.
Lechesis lifted her gaze to Lothar. “Once her blood touches the altar, her consciousness will be pulled from this place. You may stay by her side but do not touch her or the table.”
“Wait,” Lothar said quickly as he leaned over Holly and kissed her softly. “You get through this and get back to me. You got that? I need you to come back.”
She smiled and nodded. “I promise.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Mist… freaking mist again. Holly took a cautious step through the thick, grey wall and found herself back in the Middle World. A familiar meadow stretched out in front of her. Only, rather than the vibrant color of spring grass, she was met with blackened earth and the pungent smell of charred life. Noticing a group of Fae ahead of her, Holly made her way towards the five figures.
Bain, Uriah, Kale, and Cree stood around a crouched Rowan. On the ground lay the body of her mother. Blood seeped through a gaping hole in Esperanza’s chest.
“What happened?” Holly breathed, bringing the group’s attention to her presence.
Bain whirled, a guttural growl roaring past his snarling lips. “You happened. You filthy bloodsucking leach!”
Uriah and Kale held Bain back as he lunged for Holly.
“Bain… what’s going on?”
“This is your fault, you shame our family. Leave, you’re not welcome. You’re not loved. You’re nothing to us.”
“You were never worthy of the love Tyr gave you. I should have let that elf father of yours take you.” Esperanza’s words were accompanied by a coughing fit that sent blood running from the corners of her cruel mouth.
“Shh, Mother.” Rowan held tight to Esperanza’s hands as she soothed the dying woman.
Tears pricked Holly’s eyes.
This is just a test—this isn’t real.
“Don’t kid yourself, Holly. They hate you. They don’t want you here.”
Holly turned to Lothar’s voice; a smirk of derision twitched in his full lips.
“Lothar? Don’t.”
“Don’t tell you the truth? Don’t tell you that you made the wrong choice all those years ago? Don’t remind you that you disappoint all who have ever cared for you? Just as you disappoint me.”
Holly sucked in a sharp breath, holding back the tears that gathered in her lavender eyes.
“Don’t say that. I love you, Lothar.”
Lothar shook his head. “Have you not learned that love isn’t enough?” He stepped past her to stand with his brothers. “Go… go back to the Human World—that’s where you belong now.”
“Lothar,” Holly said his name in a plea for him to stop.
“Go!” he roared.
Holly started to turn, started to run like she always had when things became too painful. But this time she couldn’t. No, she wouldn’t. She loved him. She loved them all.
“No,” she said as she turned and took a determined step towards him.
“Go,” he growled.
“No.” She stopped right in front of him and grasped his face. “I won’t run from you or any of the people I love ever again. You are stuck with me.” She slammed her lips to his and kissed him hard and thoroughly. A flash of light nearly blinded her through her closed lids.
****
“Holly? Earth to Holly—we don’t have time for your daydreaming.”
Holly’s eyes flicked open to see Rowan staring at her. “What?”
Rowan sighed. “Listen, I know you’re smart… but you’re not strong. I still think it was a bad idea for Cree to make you his second.”
“Wait… Lothar is his second.”
“That’s not funny, Holly.”
“What’s not funny?” Dread filled Holly’s stomach, churning and threatening to force the acid deep within up her throat.
Rowan expression softened. “He’s gone, hon. I know you loved him, but he turned on us.”
“He wouldn’t.”
“Holly, stop. You saw it for yourself. Now come. Cree and the others are waiting on us.”
Holly shook as she followed Rowan to Cree’s office. Four sets of unyielding eyes landed on her as they entered. Silence fell until she stood next to Cree and looked over a map of the Dark forest.
“You sure you can do this?” Kale asked.
Do what? Holly thought to herself as she nodded.
“This whole plan rides on your magic.” Bain studied her carefully as he spoke.
Holly smiled reassuringly as she said, “Let’s go over the plan one more time.”
****
Take Lothar down… how could she destroy the man she loved?
Holly stood on the edge of the forest. She was grateful that night hadn’t set in. The forest was dangerous enough in the light of day. Once night took over, the forest lit up with the lesser creatures who had basic instincts of survival. Rowan stood next to her. The others were out of sight, but she knew they hadn’t gone far. It didn’t take long for their target to appear in the thick forest.
An evil sneer lifted the corner of Lothar’s mouth. “Holly.” Her name was a hiss of his once-beautiful voice. “You should have stayed out of this.”
“Why are you doing this? Stop and come home.”
Lothar laughed. He tilted his head slightly as dark tendrils snaked out from his body and reached for her and Rowan. He licked his lips as his magic came closer to them. “I can taste it,” he groaned. Looking at Rowan, he said, “Your fear is delicious, dark, and fulfilling.” His eyes drifted back to Holly. “You on the other hand, need a lesson in emotions. Fear is all you should feel from me. Since you aren’t smart enough to understand this, let’s see if I can get a little pain from you.”
The tendril whipped in Rowan’s direction, wrapping around her like a boa constrictor, squeezing the air from her lungs.
“Lothar, stop!”
Lothar laughed. “Make me… that’s right, you can’t. You’ve never been strong enough to protect or save those you love.”
Kale and Uriah descended from the sky to attack Lothar, as Bain and Cree landed next to Rowan to claw at the dark aura that now surrounded her. The world around Holly fell into chaos as Lothar’s magic started to weave its way around Bain and Cree. Kale and Uriah were both fighting a losing battle as Lothar sidestepped and dodged every blow the warriors threw at him. Holly saw the death of those she loved coming at the hands of the man she loved. With a primordial scream, Holly pooled her magic and threw it at Lothar.
The tendrils of evil fell from Rowan and the others. Uriah was at Kale’s side, helping him up after Lothar had landed a devastating blow. Holly swiftly moved to Lothar, where he lay on the ground, clutching at his heart. Kneeling down, she brushed a wayward lock of hair from his face.
“What did you do?” he said accusingly.
“What I had to,” she whispered.
A tear fell from her lashes as she watched him take one final breath.
****
The world exploded around Holly. Lothar and the others disappeared, and she was back in the temple. The room was as it had been when she last saw it, except Lothar and Lechesis were nowhere to be seen.
“Hello?” Holly called out.
“There’s my baby girl.” Tyr’s voice came from the shadows followed by his tall, athletic frame. Light hair framed his face and tumbled over his shoulders. His face was as she always pictured it, handsome, a little rugged, with a smattering of light golden facial hair.
“Daddy.” Holly threw herself at the man bef
ore her. He may have been a dream, but she would take the opportunity to wrap her arms around a dream version of him any day.
Tyr pressed a kiss to the top of her head before squeezing her tight and laying his cheek against it.
“My Holly,” he whispered. “I knew you could do it.”
She lifted her face to look at him. “Is it over?”
Tyr nodded. “The Fates’ test is over, but we have a few things to discuss before you get to leave Limbo.”
“This is Limbo?” she asked, looking around them, “Lothar said he saw Ragnar and you in Limbo last night. He said it was all shades of gray and in clouds or something like clouds.”
Tyr chuckled. “That’s where his Limbo was. This is your Limbo.”
“It’s different for everyone?”
Tyr nodded. “Yes, based on your reason for entering. It matters not. We have much to discuss.”
“Are you ok?” she asked as they took seats at the Altar table.
Tyr smiled. “I am living in a different way. The Sisters are good to all who reside with them. My days are spent mostly with Ragnar and Eckland. I see others I had loved and lost while still living.”
Holly nodded. “I miss you every day.”
“And I you, baby girl.”
“I remember the last time I saw you.”
Tyr dipped his chin. “Your mother and I had a fight.”
“About me. You left angry. I distracted you; I could see it in your eyes.”
“Oh, Holly, no. No, don’t you dare head down that road.”
“I heard it all, you know.”
Tyr sighed. “I feared so. I have no answers for the woman your mother turned into. She was not like that when I fell in love with her. But regardless of what she says, you are my daughter. My death had nothing to do with you. I love you deeply.” He pounded his fist against his chest, over his heart. “Right here, this is where I keep you, your brother, and your sister.”
Holly felt a tear slip past her lashes. “What am I supposed to do now? Aside from get Lothar back to the Middle World where he belongs.”
Immortal Promise Page 12
