by Kristen Day
“Natasha?”
“I’m here, dear,” she answered tenderly. I didn’t miss the smile in her voice.
“I did it,” I breathed in relief. She chuckled and helped me sit upright as I drank from the glass of water Liam had handed her. It felt amazing to my throat, which had swallowed at least two gallons of black soot. I pulled up my shirt to inspect the stab wound in my stomach, only to realize that it had closed and was only a tender pink scar. The scratches down my arms and legs were also in the process of healing.
“How’d that happen?” I said under my breath. The answer came to a screeching halt just inside the doorway as Willow let out a squeal and she throttled herself towards me.
“Oh Stasia! You made it!” She held on to me tightly. “I was so worried! Did you go over the waterfall? Did you complete your essence?”
“I did it,” I grinned weakly. “I also met my mother.”
“That’s what Phoebe said!” She jumped up and down and hugged me again, as my thoughts went to my other roommates.
“So they’re okay?” I asked, hopeful that Carmen had returned to normal once she had awakened in her body.
She nodded solemnly, but Liam frowned in frustration and gave me the somber news, “Phoebe’s fine - she’s resting in another room. But Carmen is...troubled.” My heart squeezed as I remembered her blank, lifeless eyes staring into the distance.
“I don’t know what happened. Something got her and wouldn’t let go,” I voiced my thoughts.
“She’s in there somewhere. We’ll find her,” Natasha smiled encouragingly. “Ricker flew in to be with her, but she’s still not talking.” If both Liam and Natasha were here, did that mean…?
“What day is it? What time is it?” I shrieked as I jumped off the table. “I need to get to Finn!”
“Take it easy, Stasia,” Natasha grabbed my arm and steadied me before I fell against a cabinet. “You’ve made it back just in time. It’s only 11:00pm.”
“11:00?!” I shrieked again, “That’s not just in time! I’ll never make it!” Tears began to build behind my eyes and my legs started to shake.
“You underestimate me, Anastasia,” Natasha grinned at me with a twinkle in her eye. “You should never underestimate a witch.”
“Never,” I promised her, and secured the pomegranate in my left hand.
Chapter 40
Before changing into a pair of clean jeans and a black hoodie, I did what I could to scrub off the black soot from the Underworld as Natasha brought me up to speed on Phoebe’s condition. She was perfectly healthy except for a touch of exhaustion and anxiety. Natasha had worked up an herbal remedy that would keep her in a deep sleep until her body and mind were able to recover. She wanted to be careful with Phoebe’s state of mind, considering the condition of Carmen’s. Willow and Ricker were tending to her, but she was still unresponsive. Willow was working her healing magic and Liam was working on a couple remedies to try, so Natasha remained optimistic; but I had the feeling that she was only trying to prevent me from worrying.
She led me out to the grand parlor and turned to face me abruptly, “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” I declared.
“Then close your eyes.” I did as she instructed. Without a word, she placed her hands in mine. I began to feel a modest spinning sensation as a cool wind blew up around us. I peeked out of one curious eye and instantly wished I hadn’t. The air wasn’t blowing or spinning. We were. A continuous blur of colors wrapped around us and the ground beneath our feet was no more. I closed my eyes and held onto Natasha for dear life. For the sake of my nerves, I was glad when I felt solid ground beneath my feet and Natasha released my hands.
“We have arrived,” she announced joyfully. I cautiously peeked out of one eye and glanced around timidly before opening the other. We stood on a rocky beach full of boulders; the largest of which were taking the full force of the ocean’s fury. The sea spray showered over us and I tilted my face up, welcoming its cooling mist. The proximity to the ocean felt like coming home. It filled me with the reassurance and happiness that I had greatly missed while in the Underworld.
As a smile spread across my face, I felt a trace of warm darkness wrap around me and my heart stopped. Finn.
“As long as you’re with me we shouldn’t have a problem getting into the coliseum, but we may have to improvise in order to get you close enough to Finn.” I patted my jacket pocket where I had hidden the pomegranate and nodded in agreement.
I followed her up the rocky beach towards a large cliff that towered high into the night sky. Unsure as to how we were going to scale the massive rock face, I was extremely relieved when I spotted what looked to be a tunnel. It was an unassuming arched entrance about ten feet wide and eight feet tall.
“This is the back entrance,” Natasha whispered to me; her eyes fixed up ahead of us. The back entrance? What I thought had been a rock face was actually the back side of the coliseum that I had seen in my vision. As we made our way through the dim tunnel, we began to hear voices up ahead and Natasha whispered to me over her shoulder.
“I think your best bet is to stay on this main level. I’m allowed one visit before the fight starts. You’ll follow me to his room, but the security will be extremely heavy, so you’ll need to make sure you are not seen. They will keep him there until the beginning of the fight,” she glanced down at her watch, “which is in fifteen minutes. He’ll be escorted to a platform, where he’ll wait for the signal to enter the arena.”
“Okay.” Knowing what was at stake, I had to deliberately calm down my frantic thoughts and shaking legs.
“Once on the platform, he’ll be alone for only a couple of minutes. That might be your only chance.” She took my hands in hers, “Good luck, dear. And remember, if you are unable to convince him, do not feel guilty about his sacrifice. My son’s happiness is all that matters to me; not the Prime position, not the Underworld, not even the Sons. He loves you. You make him happy.” Tears collected in her bright blue eyes.
“Thank you so much, Natasha,” I hugged her fiercely, “for everything.”
“Time to go,” she smiled, as she smoothed out her clothes and took a deep breath. I nodded as I began to follow her down the tunnel. We veered to the left, and I could just make out a larger room up ahead. Natasha put her hand up to signal for me to stop, so I pressed my body against the rock wall and looked on in silence as she continued. Two men dressed in black suits stepped forward, seemingly out of nowhere. They nodded respectfully to her.
“Welcome, Natasha,” one of the men greeted her. “Finn is awaiting your arrival.”
“Thank you,” she obliged. The two men stepped aside and I leaned forward slightly in order to see Natasha open a thick wooden door, slip inside and close it behind her. I leaned back against the wall and scanned the tunnel for any nook or cranny that would fit a person. I couldn’t very well lean up against the wall while they escorted him out to the arena.
Several yards away, there was a crack in the wall where I thought I might be able to squeeze myself into. Wryly, I thought the fact that I hadn’t eaten in at least twelve hours should help. As if on cue, my stomach rumbled loudly. The acoustics within the stone tunnel were not conducive to someone who did not want to be seen or heard. I inspected the crack in the wall and decided I could fit. I turned sideways and shimmied my body inside. It was extremely uncomfortable, considering that several stones were sticking into my back and legs, but it worked.
After about five minutes crammed into the crack of the wall, I had begun to develop a fear of small spaces. I held my breath as I heard a click and then soft footsteps coming down the hall. Natasha padded by, tears streaming down her face. As silence fell over the tunnel once again, my stomach became one big ball of nerves and my forehead broke out in a cold sweat. I closed my eyes and tried to take several deep breaths, but it did little to calm me. I had no idea how I intended to pull this off. Even if I somehow made it to the platform, I had only minutes to convince him not
to deny everything he’d worked for up to this point.
“Let’s do this,” the sound of Finn’s voice created an explosion of emotions that rocked me to the core. Tears sprung to my eyes, as it took everything I had not to run to him and throw my arms around him. As their footsteps echoed off the tunnel walls, adrenaline began to pump through my veins and all of my already heightened senses became alerted. The world stopped once I caught a glimpse of his handsome face as he walked by with the two men in black suits. They were explaining to him what would happen next.
“…your axes are in the arena and you will wait until given the signal to enter…”
I shimmied back out of my crack in the wall and instantly took a deep breath. I made a mental note not to make a habit out of hiding in cracked walls. I looked back towards the direction they had come to make sure the coast was clear. Then I crouched down and followed the sound of their voices. As we rounded a corner I began to hear the crowd above. The rhythmic pulse of their stomping feet matched my own beating heart and I felt each stomp deep within as it sent pulses through my body. Their chanting voices reminded me of my vision as a blast of light filled the corridor. I peeked around the wall to see Finn’s dark figure standing alone on a black raised platform; the sounds of the arena beckoning to him from only feet away. Wearing black shorts and no shirt, he matched the image I had seen. His hands were at his sides, wrapped in his signature leather gloves. The immense sound became deafening as the crowd became more impatient. Knowing that I didn’t have much time, I decided to move.
I looked around quickly to make sure that no one else was around, and then stepped around the corner towards the platform. Right before I got to the three small steps leading up to him, a loud horn sounded from the arena and Finn began to walk into the arena. With my heart in my chest I leapt up the steps; missing one and crashing down onto my knees.
“Finn!” I shouted out to him, but the sound of the crowd drowned out my cries. I watched in quiet horror as another figure began to walk towards Finn from the other side of the arena. Maddox. Also wearing black shorts, his strong chest tensed with each step he took. I scrambled to my feet and pressed my back to the wall, peering out of the doorway. The height of the arena was dizzying, and it was packed to capacity with cheering Sons. The bright lights I had seen in my vision were shining down onto the black circle Maddox and Finn now stood in. They halted their steps and silently nodded their heads at each other respectfully.
Maddox’s dark face was serious and menacing as he fixed his eyes on Finn’s. They looked very similar, although Maddox’s features were slightly harsher. His blue eyes flashed as another horn sounded and the crowd erupted. Confusion swept over me as I tried to figure out why Finn hadn’t stopped the fight yet. Was he waiting until he killed Maddox? My thoughts were interrupted by a shrill bell that signaled the beginning of the fight. They immediately knelt in a defensive stance and began to circle one another. Finn was the first to lunge at Maddox; immediately connecting his punch to Maddox’s jaw. Unphased, Maddox punched Finn in the stomach; pulling his head down and kneeing him in the chest. With a pained expression, Finn straightened and lunged again. Punch after punch was thrown until they were both bleeding and bruised. Maddox’s left eye had swollen almost completely shut and Finn’s lip was gushing blood. I realized that they both healed extremely fast, which must be part of the difficulty of the fight. Finn connected one last punch, sending blood flying from Maddox’s nose. I cringed as he fell to the ground and then immediately hopped back up to his feet.
The horn sounded once again and they both stopped, stepping away from each other. I jumped when the shrill bell sounded two more times, and then watched as they lunged for their weapons with quiet speed; Finn holding his double blade axe, the diamonds and black onyx on the handle glinting in the lights. Maddox gripped a sword with a thick, curved blade and my heart began to beat wildly. Finn expertly swung the double blade axe around his head and body, causing Maddox to follow its every movement in preparation for when he swung it at him. Both experts at their weapons, it was more like watching a dance than a fight. Their movements were fluid and precise, each darting out of the way at the last moment. Every swing of Maddox’s blade, every lunge he made stirred a terror in me that wouldn’t let go.
It took all of my effort to keep my legs from running out there to protect him, although I was fully aware I was ill equipped to do so - and that was an understatement. Finally, after ten minutes of agonizing tension, the horn sounded again and they stepped away from each other. Finn’s face and body were already beginning to heal from the first round, but I could tell that the fight was taking a toll on him. Maddox was favoring his left leg, but kept his eyes on Finn the entire time.
Suddenly, something began to push up through the earth around the black circle where they stood. Three more circles broke through the earth, each containing hundreds of spikes at least a foot tall; the tips menacingly sharp. It would only take one missed step to result in one of them becoming impaled. A terrified sob rose from my chest and I clutched my stomach, suddenly feeling nauseous. The bell sounded three more times and when I tried to look away, I couldn’t. They began to circle each other again and I remember thinking how much I just wanted it to end. No matter the outcome, it was torture to watch the person you love get beaten to death.
As they swung their weapons, Finn’s axe connected with Maddox’s blade; sending the sword flying out of the circle. Finn swiftly swept Maddox’s legs out from under him, causing him to crash down; his head missing the spikes of the first circle by an inch. Finn jumped on top of him, but surprisingly he set down his axe. He began to untie his gloves, using them to tie up Maddox’s arms and legs. The crowd mumbled as they attempted to figure out what Finn was doing, and why he hadn’t ended Maddox’s life already. From my position I could also see Maddox yelling something at Finn, and Finn simply shaking his head at him solemnly.
The crowd quieted automatically as Finn stood and looked up at them. My heart plummeted as I knew what he intended to do next. He put his hands up and began to address the audience.
“Sons, ancestors, and friends; you’ve come here tonight to witness the crowning of a new Prime. However, I have made a decision to-“
“Finn! No!” Before I could stop myself, I was running. I heard a collective gasp from the crowd as they saw me, and Finn turned. When his gaze met mine I felt his darkness reach out to me and embrace me. His face turned from determined to shocked in under a second, as he stared at me in silence. I stopped just before the first row of spikes and caught Maddox staring wide eyed at me.
“Please don’t! You can’t do this! You can’t give everything up!”
Without a word he walked out of the circle, through the spikes and came to a stop in front of me. In his eyes I saw the desperation that motivated him, the love that drove him, and the honor that bound him to his destiny.
“Pasha,” he whispered in astonishment.
“I know what you’re planning to do and…” the tears began to fall, “I can’t let you do it. We’ll find another way!” I pleaded with him, but he simply smiled.
“This is the only way. Once I am bound to Nadia, you will be lost to me forever.”
“If you do this, you will lose everything!”
“But I will gain the one thing that I can’t live without.” He took my hand and gently kissed it. Then he quickly turned and walked back to the circle where Maddox was thrashing around, cursing at him. Finn addressed the audience again, “My destiny is my own to accept or deny. And on this night I choose-“
“Finn, please!” I produced the pomegranate from my pocket, realizing that there was no other way. As I held it up in my palm the crowd gasped, and Finn’s face turned to horror. I spoke only to him, “Fulfill your destiny. We will be together in the Underworld.”
“Stasia don’t!” No sooner than his words were out, I brought the fruit to my mouth and sunk my teeth into it as my mother’s words echoed in my mind: ‘Listen to your he
art and decide what you are willing to sacrifice, my dear Pasha’. I watched in slow motion as he ran out of the circle towards me. A forceful wind blew me backwards and then everything went black.
Chapter 41
A light breeze flowed over my skin and ruffled my hair. The soft ground beneath me smelled of spices and herbs. I slowly opened my eyes and lifted myself up to my hands and knees. I was lying in a sort of garden. Sweet mint, basil, and paprika plants had been flattened beneath my weight.
“You surprise me, young goddess.”
I twisted around, landing hard on my bottom. Persephone was sitting Indian-style mere feet away from me. I took several deep breaths and then tucked my legs beneath me. We were currently in the middle of an expansive garden flanked by a magnificent golden mansion. I put my head in my hands and allowed myself to cry. The fear and stress of the last twenty four hours exploded within me, slowly draining into the soil that supported me.
“I couldn’t let him do it. I love him,” I continued to sob.
A demonic laugh wafted up from our right, and I looked over to see Nadia making her way up the path towards us. I began to stand; feeling way too vulnerable sitting down, but Persephone grabbed my arm and held me where I was.
“Stupid, stupid Stasia,” she chuckled again and put her hands on her hips. “You think you’ve done something noble, but all you’ve accomplished is trapping yourself in the Underworld, allowing Finn and I to live out the life we are meant to have.” She winked at me, “I’ll tell him hi for you.”
This time I stood, fully intending to tackle her when Persephone also stood. “Silence, Nadia.”
Nadia furrowed her brow, “I’m just telling her what she should already know.”
“What matters to me is that Finn fulfills his destiny - because for every evil being like you, we will need a great leader like him!” I spat at her.
“Ugh, really?” she raised an eyebrow. “Give me a break. Who do you think you are? You’re no martyr. Why don’t you just stay down here with my mother and leave the real leadership to the ones who can handle it.”
