by Linsey Hall
The sun beat down mercilessly and sand stretched out in all directions. Sand whipped on the wind, making Kitty turn into smoke for protection. Behind Vivienne loomed a huge city, ornate and whimsical.
Vivienne squeezed her arms. “Good luck.”
She disappeared, leaving Sofia and Kitty standing in the middle of the desert.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Sofia stared at the great city looming before her, hope and dread welling within her. This was it. If she was wrong, she could be trapped here forever—without Malcolm.
The city was far away, but enormous. Sections of shimmering gray stone walls dotted the periphery, but parts were missing, as if they’d fallen. The buildings that peeped above the walls were beautiful and fantastical, turrets and spirals. It was gorgeous—such a contrast to the desert outside.
“Come on, Kitty.” She set off across the sand, shedding her jacket as she walked. It was hotter than the jungle. Stifling, with the sun beating down mercilessly.
The wind began to pick up. It howled and shrieked, blasting in her ears and picking up sand that hurtled through the air like minuscule bullets.
Kitty turned to smoke and Sofia tried to conjure a pair of goggles and a handkerchief for her mouth. It didn’t work. Like the High Witch’s afterworld, her magic was blocked here.
So she squinted and pulled her shirt up over her mouth, then moved forward. Her skin stung wherever the sand hit her. She pushed on, fighting the wind and heat and sand. It was as if the desert were trying to keep her from reaching Mnemosynia.
When the wind hurtled even faster, pushing her back a step for every two that she took, fear started to claw at her.
She was making almost no progress—the city was still desperately far away. Her eyes burned and sand was getting in her mouth. In her smoke form, Kitty pressed against her, trying to give her strength, but it wasn’t enough.
Sofia stumbled to her knees. The hot sand burned. Gasping and choking on the grit, she scrambled up and pushed onward. She fell every ten yards, probably more often. Any idea of distance was eclipsed by the sand that now blocked her vision.
Her hope was dwindling when a figure appeared before her. Through the hurtling sand, she could make out a tall person dressed in white. Any other details were obscured by sand and the grit in her eyes.
“Sofia Viera, turn back now. Aetherwalk from this place.” The woman’s voice radiated power. Sofia’s skin tingled with it.
“No.” The words scratched her sand-coated throat. “Malcolm is in there.”
“You do not know that. You are not meant to be in Mnemosynia. Only the dead tread there.”
“I have to find him, and this is the last place I know to look.” She continued to push her way through the sand, which had become even more difficult to walk through. As if it were sucking her down.
“The journey will only become more difficult. Impossible. You can aetherwalk away and live a happy life. Continuing on means certain death.”
Sofia had nearly reached her on trembling legs. “Who are you?”
“Mnemosyne. The Titaness for whom this place was named.”
A Greek Titaness, of course. Not a goddess, at all. Even more powerful than a goddess. Through burning eyes, Sofia could make out her dark hair, piled high on her head in an elaborate configuration, and a white dress that looked like something carved on a classical statue.
“I’m going to find him,” she gasped as she pushed past Mnemosyne.
“So be it, though it spells your doom.”
Sofia shivered as the words rushed over her. She looked at Kitty. “You can aetherwalk to Aurora. She’ll take care of you.”
Kitty hissed at her, then continued on, stalwart by her side. Thank fates she could take her smoke form and be safe from the sand. If only she were that lucky.
Endless moments passed as she made her way, praying she was going in the right direction. The sand was so thick in the air that she couldn’t see more than a few feet ahead of her.
When the warmth of Malcolm’s presence hit her, she jerked. She was close enough that their bond allowed her to feel him.
This was the right direction. It had to be. She would make it.
The earth below her trembled and surged, sand shifting and parting. Figures crawled up from the ground, but to Sofia’s nearly blind eyes, they weren’t remotely human looking. Rather, they looked to be made of sand and rock.
One grabbed her ankle and she kicked, trying to break free. She tried to draw her wand from the aether, but her magic was still blocked.
“Fuck!” She tore at the sand figure’s hands, but they were made of stone. Kitty jumped on him, but could do no damage to his stone body.
No longer able to hold her shirt in front of her face, sand began to choke her, filling her lungs. Her fingertips bled from where she dug into the sand man’s hands, but she couldn’t make him budge. A shriek tore from her lungs as he began to pull her into the sand.
Suddenly, a surge of magical power filled her, warm and strong.
Malcolm. He must be able to feel her and was giving her what strength he had. She grasped it like a lifeline, drawing her wand from the aether and sending lightning at the sand man who held her.
He fell back, releasing her ankle. She scrambled to her feet, digging her way out of the sand, and ran. More sand men clawed at her, dragging her down. Gasping and choking, she used her wand, throwing them back with the force of her lightning, but they were unending.
“Go back. Aetherwalk away.” Mnemosyne’s voice sounded through the roar of the wind.
“No,” Sofia choked, blasting another attacker. She’d been right. Malcolm was here and she could feel him.
But her power was waning, which meant his must be too. After he’d sacrificed himself at Bruxa’s Eye, she had no doubt he’d fuel her with as much power as he had until he’d run completely dry. What would happen to him then?
She shook the thought away, fighting onward. He would be okay. He had to be. But would she? Her breath was now almost gone. She hacked and coughed as she crawled along the sand, no longer able to rise to her feet. Kitty had turned herself corporeal and was tugging at her sweater with small teeth.
“No,” she gasped. “Turn back, Kitty.”
Her body felt heavy, her mind leaden. Through near-blind eyes she could see the open gates of Mnemosynia. No need to close them if outsiders went through this. She wouldn’t make it.
Kitty pulled her onward and Sofia clawed at the sand, dragging herself inch by inch along its burning surface. Every breath burned on its way in and tore at her as she coughed it out. She was strangling on sand, drowning in it as it filled her lungs. There was too much in the air.
But she was so close. Only feet now. With a last surge of strength, she collapsed on the threshold of Mnemosynia. Kitty curled up beside her, licking her hand to try to revive her. Sofia blinked burning, teary eyes and saw Malcolm, collapsed on the other side of the gate.
She tried to sob, but was too weak to do so. He’d given her all his power. But that was what kept his immortal soul alive and in Mnemosynia. Without it, he would fade away.
Was he fading even now? His big form lay collapsed on the ground. She reached toward him, weeping.
This was what Aleia had prophesied. Her death, strangling in the sand. She hadn’t escaped it after all. And now Malcolm’s soul would perish as well.
“I told you to turn back.” Mnemosyne’s voice boomed. “But you did not.”
“Couldn’t,” Sofia gasped.
“Wouldn’t. There is a difference. You could have left Malcolm, but you would rather have choked to death on sand.”
Sofia had nothing to say to that. Physically, she couldn’t say anything. Through her grief and pain, she recognized that it was true. But it hurt too much to say the words that would confirm it. And what did it matter? Mnemosyne was the Titaness of memory and this place was named for her. She knew all. Sofia didn’t need to confirm it.
“I suppose it changes the situation,”
Mnemosyne said.
What?
Warmth suffused Sofia’s cold limbs. Slowly, her breathing became easier and her lungs began to clear. She still hurt, but eventually she was able to drag herself to her knees. Mnemosyne had healed her?
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Malcolm sit up. She clambered to her feet, her legs still leaden from exhaustion. Kitty stood beside her.
“Malcolm!”
“Sofia.” Relief echoed in his voice. “I felt you. But you were in danger.”
He was at her side in an instant, sweeping her into his arms. He felt as whole and vibrant as he had been in life, his arms strong and real. Not ghostlike as his mother had been nor faded from giving her all his power. Warmth filled her.
“You gave me all your power,” she said. “You were fading when I got here.”
“I had to.” His gaze burned with conviction, and he pressed a hard kiss to her mouth.
Joy surged in her chest. He felt so strong and warm and real. This was worth any cost.
She leaned back and looked up at him, cupping his face in her hands. His golden eyes were bright with unshed tears, his gaze devouring her. He looked so handsome and familiar that she felt hot tears begin to pour down her cheeks.
“Why are you here? You should be on earth, alive.” Anguish resonated in his voice.
“I had to find you. Vivienne brought me here.”
“You need to leave. More than anything, I want to be with you. But this is a half-life, just a waypoint. You need to live. You need to go.”
“I’m not leaving you.” She gripped his shoulders. “I don’t care what’s here. I love you, and I’m not leaving.”
“But you—”
“Silence,” Mnemosyne’s voice resonated with power.
Sofia whipped around to look at her, dread sinking her heart. The sight of Malcolm had made her completely forget about Mnemosyne.
She was even more beautiful than Sofia had realized, regal and elegant. Only now did Sofia see where they stood—in a beautiful courtyard that was paved with the same glimmering gray stone that made up the walls. Colorful flowers bloomed everywhere, in beds and pots. Two-story buildings with balconies surrounded the courtyard and fountains burbled in the middle.
Beautiful.
“Malcolm the warlock and Sofia the Bruxa. One of you should be here, but the other should not,” she said.
“I’m sorry I broke the rules, but I want to stay with Malcolm. Please,” Sofia begged.
“I know. I saw what you went through to get here. Do you know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice?”
“The Greek myth?” Malcolm asked.
“Yes. But as with all myths, it was true.”
Sofia nodded. “Orpheus went to Hades to try to save Eurydice when she died. He was allowed to lead her from Hades, but she would only make it out if he didn’t look back at her.” Sofia could see how it was a bit similar to her circumstance.
“Yes. And you are a bit like Orpheus. Coming to the afterworld to find your beloved.” A small smile curved her mouth.
“If you let us leave, I swear I won’t look back at Malcolm,” Sofia said.
Mnemosyne shook her head slowly and Sofia’s heart dropped. “No. That will not happen. You don’t want that. You see, Plato had it right in his version of the story. Orpheus never really had a chance to save Eurydice. He was a coward, unwilling to die to be with his beloved. He mocked the gods by attempting to steal her rather than by having the courage to join her.”
“I can’t say I wouldn’t try to break Malcolm out if I could. I’d do anything to be with him.”
Mnemosyne nodded. “I know. You faced death to be with him, as he died to save you. And then he gave you all of his power through the bond you share. He would have faded to the unknown.”
Sofia swallowed hard, fear still beating in her chest. Could Mnemosyne do that to them? Make it so that their souls faded into nothing?
“Your commitment—your love—is rare. You have done what Orpheus should have.”
Sofia gripped Malcolm’s hand.
“Malcolm is here because his soul refused to leave you. He should have been sent to the sorcerer’s afterworld, but his soul refused to be parted from yours. So it lingered as a reincarnate. And you are here because you refused to leave Malcolm. But I can’t allow a still-living Mythean to stay in Mnemosynia. And after I healed you both, you are still alive.”
Sofia nodded, not daring to hope but unable to help herself.
“Therefore, I am going to let you both leave.”
Sofia gasped. Malcolm’s hand tightened in hers.
“Malcolm, you no longer bear the warlock’s curse. As your mentor Corrier told you, the greatest sacrifice will break the curse. You made that sacrifice. And because Sofia came to find you, I’ve decided to give you both a second chance at love.”
“Thank you.” Malcolm’s voice was rough. “But how did you—”
“Know? I know everything about the reincarnates in Mnemosynia.” She tapped her temple. “My mind is vast and memory is my gift. My curse.”
As a Titaness and the primary goddess of memory, it would be.
“So we can be together?” Sofia asked, her heart galloping as if it would break free of her chest. “Without fate conspiring against us?”
“Yes. You can.”
“Oh, fates, thank you,” Sofia said. She wanted to hug Mnemosyne, but resisted. The Titaness didn’t seem like the type.
“Thank you,” Malcolm said.
Mnemosyne inclined her head. “And as a gift to celebrate what I presume is your coming union, I thought you would like to know that the fourteen friends you lost in the battle of Bruxa’s Eye were all given the option of reincarnation as a reward for their bravery in fighting the High Witches.” Mnemosyne scowled. “They really were a blight upon the earth. Better that they are gone.”
“And?” Sofia asked.
“They all chose their afterworlds. Fortunately, they all subscribed to belief systems with afterworlds that they found favorable. Each one chose that over reincarnation. They all seemed happy. They’ll be joining old friends and family.”
Relief washed through Sofia. “Thank you so much. It does help to hear that.”
“Indeed.” She ran her hands over her skirt, smoothing the unlined fabric. “Now, it is time for you to go.”
She waved her hands at them and Sofia felt the aether drag her away.
A second later, Malcolm stood with Sofia in the middle of Bruxa’s eye. Damage was everywhere. Mud and debris in the street, storefronts damaged. The whole front street on the wharf had been demolished, but dozens of Mytheans were working on it, clearing away the debris. The building that he’d blown up was a gaping hole in the street.
“Bloody hell,” he breathed. He looked down at himself, then at Sofia. They were both solid and whole. “We’re alive.”
Sofia nodded and flung her arms around his shoulders. “Thank fates.” She laughed. “And Mnemosyne.”
“No, thank you. Thank you for coming for me. I could see the sand from the gates, though I couldn’t see you. But I could feel you. I know what you went through.” He pulled her to him and kissed her hard. “Thank you for coming for me.”
“How could I not, after what you did for me? You sacrificed yourself for me. For my village. I can never thank you enough.”
“I owed it to your village after what I’d done. Taking the dagger was idiotic. And to protect you, I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“Don’t you dare. I’ll never forget what it felt like to watch you die.”
He pulled her close and kissed her forehead, then pulled away and looked around at the damage to Bruxa’s Eye. “And we’ll fix this.”
“We will. But for now, let’s go to my home. We’ll help clean tomorrow. For now, I just want to look at you.”
He leaned down and kissed her, then swooped her up into his arms. She laughed, then wrapped her arms around his neck. He made his way into her house, then upstairs
to the dry part. Thank fates this part of the house had escaped the water.
He set her on the bed, then knelt down before her.
“I made a mistake, Sofia. I never should have chosen power over you. I love you. I’ve loved you for centuries, I was just too stupid and stubborn to realize it.”
She leaned over and kissed him, drawing him up to sit next to her. “You were stupid and stubborn, but you’ve more than proven yourself.” She kissed him again as if she couldn’t get enough, holding her face near his. “And I love you. I know that now. I was just fighting it because I was scared. But I think maybe we’ve always loved each other and that the battle—and your death—were part of fate’s curse.”
“But now we have forever, with nothing standing in our way. We’ll rebuild your city. You’re free of the High Witches. You can do anything. We can live here or in Scotland. Anywhere. Felix and Aurora spend half the year on holiday traveling around in a big motor home. We can do that if you like.”
She grinned and pressed her lips. It sent a burst of warmth through him.
“I know I want to be here part of the time. But then, let’s just see.”
“Excellent.”
She reached up and played with the hair at the base of his neck. The gentle touch—and the knowledge that there would be more—felt like heaven. There’d been no time for touches like these before. And she’d been too angry and afraid to touch him like this.
“I swear, Sofia, I’ll make you trust me again. I’ll make it all up to you.”
“I do trust you. After what you’ve done, how could I not? Things are going to be great from here on out. I’m free of the High Witches and we’re free of your curse. And I’d say that your sacrifice more than makes up for whatever happened in the past.” She grabbed his shirt, then pulled him down on the bed on top of her. “But I can think of a way you could continue to make it up to me.”
He grinned and kissed her, running his palm down her side to her hip. “I’d be delighted to.”
EPILOGUE
Malcolm’s Home in Glencoe
December 23rd
“I’d say it turned out all right, what do you say, Kitty?” Sofia looked down at Kitty, who wore a festive red bow around her neck.
