by Tara Brown
Glory gives me a sarcastic smile. I cock an eyebrow and sigh. Glory takes my hand and Wyatt’s and pulls us into the house. We walk down the hallway that we walked down last time. She opens a door I never went into before. We go down a flight of stairs, and as we get lower and lower, I start to shake. There is something in the basement that is making me shiver and vibrate. When we get to the bottom, she pulls us down a shimmering tunnel. It’s carved of rock and has torches every now and then, lighting the way.
She pulls us to a huge room, I can see the torch light from the hallway sparkling in the room. The vibration in my jaw is making my teeth rattle.
The witches form a circle around us. Glory is in the middle with us. She takes our hands and places something cold in them. I can’t see in the faint light, but it feels like glass or crystal. Like the kind of crystals Willow always had.
She holds our hands and starts to chant. Lights fill the room around us as the crystals start to glow bright red. The dark shapes of the witches around us chant louder the crystals’ light changes to pink, blue, and green. It’s like watching fireworks almost. The rock in my hand starts to heat up. I wince as it burns me. I feel something pulling in my arm, like someone is taking out one of my veins. I cry out but it is lost in the chanting and swaying of the witches. Wyatt makes a face; I can barely see it in the light show. I know something inside of my heart snaps. I scream as I feel a burning I have never felt before. I look down and hot, molten silver pours from my chest. It trails down my stomach, burning its path. It makes a puddle on the ground below. I am screaming and my knees are almost buckling. Tears have blinded me and made a kaleidoscope in my eyes with the colors.
I don’t know how long it takes, or if I even stay awake for it all. I know when it stops, it’s sudden. It’s a sudden, jolting stop. One minute my heart and soul are on fire and then the next I am fine. I am standing there with a pile of dust in my burnt hand. Glory takes it and blows the dust away. She does the same to Wyatt. She clasps our hands together and looks at me, “Forgive me.” She drops into an instant puddle of daisies. I start to cry.
Not just because another witch has died but that there is so much. My heart is bursting, and I can’t hear the cries or moans or feelings of my sisters. I look at Wyatt and he is all I see. He is bigger than any emotion or description.
He is everything.
He smiles at me. “I remember you.”
Fallen
His hand intertwines with mine as we walk through the garden gate. The earth witches look stunned.
“It’s broken?”
I look at the dark haired witch, “I killed the queen.”
She looks sickened by it, “You murdered the queen of the fae? The most harmless of creatures in the world?”
I nod.
She raises her eyebrows, “Wow. That’s harsh, sin eater.”
Wyatt looks down on me, “Doesn’t change the fact the white stag spoke to her.”
I scowl, “He wasn’t a stag when he talked to me.”
The witch sighs, “So they are all flowers?”
I nod, “Just like you all, they turn to flowers when they die.”
The witch looks around the field at the other witches. The form a circle, holding hands in the field. The sun shines down on them. It looks like Shakespeare in the park. The dresses are so old fashioned. Wyatt and I step back.
They look to the sky, as they chant everything grows brighter and lusher. The garden, which I already felt was lovely, is incredible. Flowers bloom everywhere and trees stand taller and straighter. The whole place comes to life. Birds chirp, and insects buzz about. It’s like summer arrives in a matter of seconds and we get to watch it.
I see a cloud moving quickly towards us. It’s white and massive. When it gets closer I gasp. It’s the flowers of the fallen.
The witches, holding hands still, walk to the gate. They leave and stand on the shores of the river and the ocean. They chanted and the most amazing thing I have ever seen occurs. Each flower joins a small group. They form a person and then the person fills in with sparkles, and then they are standing there as if nothing ever changed.
The queen of the fae, with her cake hair and creepy white eyes, looks for me the moment she is alive again. She points at me, “You are a betrayer of your own kind.”
I shake my head, still in the gates of the garden.
She walks past the chanting witches but something happens. The gate slams shut, keeping her out. She grabs the bars and screams at me, “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?”
I jump, seeing her white eyes turn evil.
Wyatt grimaces, “The garden just locked out the queen of the fae.”
I smile, “Her heart is not pure. It’s probably why she never left, she knew there was a risk she might not ever get back in.”
He smirks at her, “Funny how the garden accepts you and not her.”
She is raging and screaming, but the gate is made of something stronger than any magic she has. It is made of belief.
When the gate opens, I am a bit scared, but it’s not her that comes through. It is all the other fae. She stands there weeping as they file past her, leaving her outside of the gates. I imagine they feel the way Gill did, grateful she was dead.
She looks weak and defeated but angry, in a way I know I will pay for later, when she turns and walks from the gate. The nixie snub her, not even looking at her when they walk up the shores to the gate in their jerky way of moving. When they cross through the gate, they walk normally. They don’t jerk or float and their dresses lie limp like normal dresses.
The redhead comes to me, “Thank you, sin eater.”
I shake my head, “What did I do?”
She smiles brightly, “You saved them. You saved our people.”
The earth witches walk through the gates too. The nixie and earth witches speak, as if it is a normal occurrence. The redhead kisses my cheek and walks past me to the forest path.
Wyatt pulls me through the gate. I spread my wings and fly us back to the castle.
When we land, he looks at me, “That was crazy.”
I laugh, “So crazy.”
Constantine comes to the door as we walk up to it. He looks at Wyatt, “You will remember everything you have been asked to forget and forget everything you were made to believe.”
Wyatt drops to his knee, taking a sharp inhale.
Constantine gives me a defeated smile, “You will remember everything you have ever been asked to forget and forget everything you have been made to remember.”
My eyes close as stabbing pain fills my head. I drop to my knees too, but I cry out. I grab my head as the images of five lives fill me. I cannot hear them any more, and I cannot feel them, but I remember my soul sisters. I remember each of their lives. I remember every second I spent being tortured and murdered. The pain is there, searing my flesh as even the tiniest details fill my head.
It is a horrible flash of agony, and then as if it was a cloud passing over, it is gone. My eyes open and I am me again. I am Rayne. I am not any of them. My feelings are my own and my heart is empty of the heavy weight it has lugged around. I look at Wyatt, smiling at him. He is the boy, leaning against the light post, giving me that shitty grin. He makes my stomach flip and flop and flutter. Everything else is gone.
I remember being a child with Willow. I remember every act I have committed as myself and no other.
I look at Constantine and smile. My attraction to him is undeniable, but my heart doesn’t have him in it at all, except as a friend.
I know he sees it. He winces and turns and walks away.
“Thank you.”
He waves a hand and vanishes.
My heart doesn’t break. I turn and smile at Wyatt, “Hi.”
He looks lost for a second, “Maggie, Ellie, and Rayne.”
I smile wider. He shakes his head, “There is so much.” He lifts my hand and kisses the back of it.
Gill walks up to me, “I wish you to take me and Mona home.” I scowl, �
��What?”
He nods, “I have to go to my people. I am the ruler now. Mona will be my queen.”
I look at Mona. She nods, “We have to. He felt the moment you fixed the gate. He knew he had to go home. This way, we can be together forever. I will be immortal in the gates.”
I swallow hard, “But, what if I can’t come in?”
She shakes her head, “You will always be welcome.”
Gill looks at me and he knows what I mean. He gives me a desperate look. I offer them my hands, “I don’t know if I can fly two people.”
Mona pulls her hand back, “Take him first and then come back for me.”
I nod. I fly him to the gate. It’s a long, hard journey. There is no joy in my choice.
When I land him on the riverbank, he hugs me. I moan when I smell him. He chuckles, “I will take care of her.”
I look up at him, “I know you will. You have to protect her at all costs. She is all I have left that’s real, besides Wyatt.”
He runs a hand down my face, “If I can aid you, sin eater, I will do whatever I can. But keeping her safe within the gates is my main focus.”
I smile, “Good. If I fail, never open them again.”
He nods and turns to the gate that appears. It opens and when he walks through, I feel myself lose a small piece of my heart.
I jump up and fly back to the castle. Tears slip down my cheeks as I land in the courtyard. Stella’s eyes dart from Mona in the courtyard to the stables where hundreds of her finest are kept. They would eat Mona in a heartbeat.
Mona looks excited. My heart is crumbling and she is excited.
She takes my hand and hugs me tightly. I jump into the air, “Did you say goodbye to everyone?”
She sighs, “I did. Constantine cried I think. It was weird. Michelle was a complete bitch. Wyatt acted like he couldn’t give a shit, and Stella made me promise to find a way to get her inside. Maria cried and Tom nodded at me.”
I laugh and the flying becomes a little easier. “I am going to miss you.” I mutter.
She squeezes tighter, “Me too.”
I can’t look down so I have to wait until we have landed on the riverbank before I can look at her. “If you need me, tell the dead. They will come for me, and I will come for you. Just whisper it. My sisters feel like you are their sister. It is the only thing we agree on. Tell the dead in a whisper on the wind, and I will be at the gate as fast as I can fly here.”
Her eyes fill with tears, “Rayne…”
I shake my head, “Never trust them all. Just because they’re in the gates doesn’t mean they would get back in if they ever left. I watched as the gates closed on the queen. She is alive again. She may have those who are loyal to her in those gates. Trust me and Gill. And even Gill has to think of his people. He may have to put you second to them.”
Her eyes widen, “Why are you trying to scare me? Why can’t you just be happy?”
Tears fill my eyes, “I am so happy for you. But I’m scared for you the way I’m scared for me. I trust you—in this whole world of people, I trust you and the dead. That’s it.”
Her lower lip quivers, “I trust you too.”
“I love you.”
She wraps her arms around me, “I love you too.” She pushes off and takes off for the gates. They open and she vanishes. My heart crumbles. I jump into the air and just flying myself back to England is hard. There is no joy in me at all. When my feet touch down on the cobblestone, I have to drag my weepy self into the castle. Stella meets me at the door. She wraps her arms around me, “I know we will never be true sisters, but you will always be like one to me.”
I cry for no reason into her shirt.
She pats me on the back, “Mona will be safe, be grateful for that.”
I sniff, “I know. I wish you could go there and be safe too.”
She nods against my cheek, “Me too.” She pulls me back, “Constantine told me what he did, to your memory.”
I flinch, “It wasn’t mine. It was Ellie’s and Maggie’s.”
She shakes her head, “I didn’t know. I’m sorry I judged you.”
I kiss her cheek, “You didn’t. The memories are not mine and the transgression wasn’t done to me.”
She laughs, “You still talk like them sometimes.”
I laugh, “It’s like a habit. It’s for the best though, I sound like an idiot when I talk like me. Rayne, the hippie’s kid.”
She wraps an arm around my neck, “Come on, I like it when you act like a sunflower.”
I laugh, “It’s flower child.”
Michelle is sulking on the couch. I stand with my back to the fire and toast my buns. She gives me a look, “Why does she get to be a fairy princess?”
I laugh and look at Stella who rolls her eyes.
Wyatt comes in and sits down on the couch. He pats the seat next to him. I shake my head.
Michelle scowls, “I’m serious, it’s so not fair. I didn’t know I could trade my soul for stuff like that.”
I laugh harder, “Stop being a baby. Mona fell in love with him and he fell in love with her. They never planned it or used magic or schemed.”
Wyatt points at her, “Your problem is that you think you’re entitled to things you don’t work for.”
Michelle gets up and runs from the room. I sigh but it’s Stella who goes after her.
Wyatt walks to me, wrapping himself around me. I take a deep breath of him and savor it.
“You’re weak, you need to eat.”
I nod, “I know. I just don’t want it to get to you.”
He pulls back, “Rayne, if you don’t eat, you won’t be strong enough to fight the antichrist. That’s the important thing, saving the world.”
“I know.”
Maria comes into the room with a tray of drinks. I take one, “Thank you.”
She shakes her head, “I only wish it were your real food.”
I give her a look, “Want me to cleanse you of your evil?”
She nods and hands Wyatt the tray. Gently, I take her face in my hands and press my lips against hers. Nothing but love and kindness and goodness comes out. It has no flavor. I would starve if I had to eat off of her. I push her back, “You are sin free, Maria.”
She shakes her head, “No. I think bad thoughts about Constantine regularly.”
He walks into the living room as she says it. He scowls, “Why is it always the one you love the most, who betrays you the worst.”
Maria gasps, “You no meant to hear that.”
He laughs, “I deserve every bad thought you have, fair Maria.”
She is flushed and upset when she snatches the tray and leaves the room.
I smile at him, “I bet that stung.”
He shakes his head, “My heart hasn’t been the kind that damages easily for centuries.” He sits, always looking regal. “How are the fae?”
“Good. The king and queen are likely to be seated at their throne now, the vile thing Gill called a mother is in exile. The nixie and earth witches were hanging out beyond the gate like old cronies.”
His eyes narrow, “The vile thing he called mother is likely to be joining forces behind your back.”
Wyatt nods, “I agree. She has probably gone to the antichrist.”
He winces, “The nixie and the earth witches, friends again in celebration, huh?”
“Yup.”
He shakes his head, “That’s not good. That’s what caused the last witch wars, sides being taken.”
I give him a look, “What?”
He nods and Wyatt looks like he is deep in thought, “Maybe the air and fire witches won’t know.”
Constantine starts to laugh, it’s his bitter laugh. Wyatt joins him. I missed the joke apparently, ‘cause I am confused.
“The world is ruined and a huge chunk of the population is dead. The rest are displaced and dying. Who cares what the witches do? What power do they have now?”
Wyatt slaps his hand across my lips. It hurts the way
he presses his hand. Constantine looks around the room.
I am super lost.
Constantine gives Wyatt a nod after a minute. Wyatt looks at me, “The air witches have been watching us. They think you are loyal to them, the angel faction.”
I scowl, but before I can say anything, Wyatt puts his fingers to my lips, “Let’s not have thoughts or feelings about anything that doesn’t involve us.”
“Will the angels come back?” I ask through his fingers.
He nods, “Michael will lead an army of angels with the savior against the antichrist who will also have his followers.”
“Michael?”
He sighs, “I liked it better when you at least had some of the memories of the other girls—Michael the archangel.”
I give Constantine a look, “So he will fight with us?”
Constantine’s eyes sparkle, “If we fight for the right side. Otherwise, we could end up with a three-way war. Or a witch war that will weaken us.”
“Who will be on the antichrist’s side?”
Constantine’s eyes sparkle even more, like he is laughing inwardly. “Lucifer, of course. He and the other fallen.”
I scowl, “But Lucifer is dead.”
Wyatt gives me a look, “The angel Lucifer is dead, now Lucifer the devil will rise. He will build an army and fight alongside his antichrist, and try to kill you.”
“WHAT? WHY DOESN’T ANYONE TELL ME THIS SHIT?”
“Everyone knows that Lucifer the devil breeds the antichrist.”
Constantine points at Wyatt, “Everyone! It’s common knowledge. Think of all the Hollywood productions.”
I scowl, “I thought when we killed him, he died.”
Wyatt gives me a comical look, “He’s an angel. He may choose his form when he dies.”
Something about that makes sense. I remember a conversation somewhere, somehow about that. I lift a hand to my face, “He may choose to be a devil? So killing him was really actually freeing him to try to kill me again?”
Wyatt nods and looks at Constantine who smiles, “Yes. However, if you had not killed him, you would be dead by your birthday. Now you may live as long as you wish. If you kill the antichrist, if he kills you, obviously you won’t live.”
