by Jen McConnel
Her eyes were wide and innocent. “Why not?”
I wanted to trust her, but I still wasn’t sure. I ground my teeth and hedged. “I think Marcus’s patron is a little too connected to Hecate. I might be in danger.”
“We would never let anything happen to you!”
“I know you wouldn’t.”
“But neither would Marcus.” She looked like I’d smacked her.
I shook my head. “I don’t know. I just know that I shouldn’t be here.” I didn’t think now was the time to explain to her how I’d met her brother, although I realized she’d never really introduced us; did she already know everything? I stared at her, trying to read her mind, but I couldn’t think straight over the buzzing in my ears. Weary, I pressed my hands to my eyes. “This was a mistake.”
There was a loud crack from the cairns, and my eyes shot open. Before I could react, Izzy had shouted her brother’s name and taken off running toward the stones. A red glow lit up the sky, and it looked like it was coming from the cairn where Marcus had been meeting with Cerridwen. For a moment, I hesitated. If something was happening out there, maybe it would be better if I used this as a distraction to escape. I tried the car door again, but it was locked. I knew I could have jimmied the lock with a simple spell, but I looked over my shoulder at the glowing cairns again.
“I hope I don’t regret this,” I muttered as I took off after Izzy. I drew on Red magic as I ran, and when I skidded to a stop in front of the largest cairn, red sparks were dancing up and down my arms. The ringing in my ears had turned into a dull throb, and I clenched my jaw, trying to force the headache away. Based on how much my head already hurt, I was on the edge of one killer migraine. With my arms up defensively, I crept into the cairn.
Izzy stood in the center of the stones, circling like a confused cat. The cairn was empty, except for her. Marcus and his patron were nowhere to be seen. Wary of a trap, I moved forward. I looked at the stones surrounding me and fought back images of mass burials behind the rock.
“Where is he?” Izzy’s voice shook, but she didn’t stop pacing. I wanted to laugh; she was acting like her brother might materialize out of the stones, but the panic on her face was real. Whatever had happened, Izzy hadn’t known about it.
Someone behind me spoke softly. “He’s gone.”
Her voice hadn’t changed, but I hadn’t been expecting to hear it anytime soon. I jumped and spun around, wondering if this was a trick. Izzy stared at the shimmering image of Persephone, spellbound.
“What do you mean?”
The goddess smiled. “Where’s your sense of formality, Darlena? Or haven’t you missed me?” She spread her hands at her sides, as if waiting for me to embrace her.
I dipped my head slightly, but I didn’t move forward. “I have. I’ve never felt so alone.” My voice broke, and I drew in a ragged breath, struggling for control. I met Persephone’s eye. “I didn’t think I could reach you here.”
She gestured to Izzy, who was still gaping silently. “The young one told you that you could. Why didn’t you believe her?”
I shrugged. “I guess I didn’t think it was possible. You hadn’t shown up until now.”
The goddess frowned. “You sound like you blame me for that. Surely you have learned of the geography that binds the gods.”
My anger surged, simmering close to the surface. “It might have been nice if someone had thought to tell me before I traveled halfway around the world!” A blast of Red magic shot off of me, uncontrolled, and smashed into the stones beside us. Izzy gave a startled yelp and took a step back.
“I’m sorry,” I hurried to tell her, trying to extinguish the red sparks on my arms, but she just stared at me, frightened. I sighed. “I’m sorry,” I said again, this time to Persephone, “but it really wasn’t fair not to tell me that I wouldn’t have help here in Scotland.”
The goddess glared at me. “Perhaps I would have, if you had thought to discuss your plans with me. But I cannot offer you assistance if you insist on keeping things from me.”
“I’ve been keeping things from you? What about you? What else haven’t you told me?”
“Darlena, you have no right to be angry with me. You undertook this quest. It was not I who sent you after the other Red.”
Sullenly, I looked away from her. I wanted to ask her how she knew what I was doing in Scotland, but she kept talking before I had a chance.
“You have found him, but has he proved to be any great help? Would it not be better for you to return with me to continue your training?”
I didn’t like her tone; it was as if she were sure I’d agree with her, no matter what she said. “Wait a minute. You just said that you didn’t have anything to do with me being here. I didn’t tell you anything. So explain to me why you suddenly seem to know so much.”
Izzy let out a frightened squeak. “You shouldn’t fight with her!”
I ignored the girl and faced Persephone with my hands on my hips. “Well?”
She sighed. “I have been watching out for you, Darlena. Have you forgotten my assistance last fall?”
“But then you went back to the Underworld for the winter, and you didn’t try to stay in touch. What right do you have to keep spying on me?” My stomach churned, and I realized I was angry that the goddess had abandoned me. It felt almost too good to be true to be talking to her now, and I couldn’t bring myself to tell her how much I’d missed her.
“Just because I was with my lord does not mean I gave up on you, child. Of course I have been watching you. There is much at stake, and much you could change.”
I snapped at her. “But you have no responsibility to me. You aren’t my patron. I don’t have a patron anymore, and if I did, why do you think it would be you?”
Izzy inhaled sharply, but then everything went still. My words hung in the silence for a moment, and Persephone’s face fell. She actually looked hurt.
“Darlena,” she finally said, “just because you are not my sworn Witch does not mean you are not important. I recognize your power, even if you don’t, and I know that you want to find balance. You matter to me, Darlena Agara, whether you want to or not.”
Surprised, I dropped my arms to my side. “You aren’t just following me to make me swear to you?”
“I am not like some of the other Red gods, Darlena. I will not force you.”
I sighed in defeat. “I’m sorry.” I rubbed my forehead. “I just don’t know who to trust anymore. First Rochelle, and then—”
Persephone interrupted me gently. “Your time in the Underworld was short. There is still much for you to learn, and you know that you will always find sanctuary in my husband’s realm.”
I looked up and stared at her, feeling defeated. “What good is any of it?”
Her eyes hardened. “What do you mean?”
“It’s like chasing smoke. Hecate hasn’t shown herself since last fall. Well, not really,” I amended, remembering the woman on the plane and the creepy presence I’d felt in the vaults. “I’m not even so sure I remember why I’m fighting her.”
Persephone froze, her face like a mask. “Must I remind you of the blood she has caused? You of all people know how dangerous she is. Think of what she did to your friend.”
I flinched. “But I haven’t done anything to stop her. Look at this winter! Even nature isn’t right anymore. Chaos is running rampant, just like Hecate wants. What good am I?”
The goddess took a step closer to me, but I backed away. She held out her hands, palms up. “Darlena, there is more at work than you realize.”
“Then maybe you should tell her.” Izzy’s calm voice was a surprise; I’d almost forgotten that she was standing there the whole time. “And maybe,” she continued sharply, “then you can tell me what my brother has to do with all this, and where I can find him.”
Persephone glanced at the girl with pity. “He will play a much larger role than you think, child.”
Izzy was quiet for a moment. Then she looke
d up, with tears in her eyes, and asked, “Is it too late for him?”
The goddess paused, considering. “I am not sure. You might do well to ask your patron.”
Izzy nodded, her face puzzled.
I watched their exchange, perplexed. “Wherever Marcus is, he’s with his patron. He probably went willingly.”
“I would not be so sure.” Persephone’s words shocked me to the core, and Izzy started to weep.
I whirled to face the goddess. “You need to tell us what you know. Everything,” I added sharply.
Persephone raised an eyebrow. “Have you forgotten, Darlena, that you are speaking to a goddess? To the one who saved you? The one to whom you owe allegiance, yet you refuse to swear it?” She grew larger with each word until her head and shoulders rose above the mound of stones.
Trying not to show my fear, I stared up at her. “Maybe you’re right. But how can I swear my allegiance when I know you’ve been keeping things from me?”
Her breath hissed like steam. “There are things that I am not sure of yet.”
“Such as?”
In an instant, she was human-sized again, looking me in the eye. “I believe there is much more at work than the usual lust for chaos exhibited by the Red gods, and I believe you and the other Red will play a major part in the events to come.”
I waited silently, trying to process what she’d said. Did that mean Marcus would help me after all?
Persephone paused, her head tipped to one side. “How much do you know of the creation of man?”
“Which time?” Izzy interjected, then blushed when the goddess looked at her and nodded.
“Exactly.”
I looked at Izzy, and then I turned to the goddess. “I don’t understand.” It seemed like Izzy and Persephone were on the same page, but I was still miles behind.
Izzy spoke first. “Throughout mythology, whenever humans are created, it seems like the gods always decide they want a do-over at some point.”
I frowned, remembering an old story I’d learned before enrolling at Trinity. “Like Noah and the flood?”
Persephone snorted. “That unoriginal tale was just echoing the times the gods destroyed their handiwork, again and again. But yes, like Noah and the flood.”
Izzy chimed in. “Each time, the human race is made of stronger stuff, and each time the gods start over, it’s because they feel like their creations don’t respect them. But because the gods use better materials, it’s become harder and harder to shake the etch-a-sketch.”
“But that’s just mythology. How does this affect us?” I had a nightmarish suspicion, but it was too horrible to voice. Even though I knew there was truth behind the old myths, I couldn’t bear to believe that something so awful could happen again.
Persephone looked down at her hands. “I fear that some of my Red sisters and brothers have again grown discontent with humanity. They want, as the child said, a do-over.”
I sat down on the ground, stunned. “So that means that Hecate … ”
“Wants to use you to destroy the earth.”
Her words hung in the air like a curse. None of us spoke for a moment. My stomach roiled furiously, and the pounding in my head increased. I was going to be sick if we didn’t leave the cairns. I put my head between my knees and forced myself to breathe evenly. It wasn’t just the buzzing in my ears that was making me nauseous; it was the fact that Persephone had confirmed my worst fear.
Finally, Izzy spoke. “But what I don’t get is why destroy the whole world? I mean, every time the stories say the gods started over, it was just one region, one group of people who got wiped out.”
Realization dawned in my mind. “The world has changed, Izzy. Before, getting rid of one pesky community was enough to restore balance. Now, the world is too interconnected. To get a true do-over, everything has to be destroyed.” And the easiest way to do that was to let chaos take over. Had this been Hecate’s plan all along, ever since she showed up in my living room last summer? I staggered to my feet, breathing heavily. I was sick of being a pawn for that crazy goddess. There had to be a way to stop her.
Izzy shivered. “So we’re talking about the end of the world.”
“Not if I can help it.” I spoke fiercely, but my words felt hollow.
Persephone looked at me for a long minute, her face unreadable. “And how would you stop this?”
I drew a deep breath, my mind racing. It landed on Loki’s strange bargain, and I shuddered. “What if there was a way to bind a god?”
I glanced between the stunned faces in front of me.
Finally, Persephone spoke. “Even if such a thing were possible, I do not think I could sanction it. You forget, Darlena, that I am also a god.” Her voice shook with passion, and I realized I had to tread carefully.
“I’m not talking about binding you! Just Hecate.”
Izzy looked at me like I’d gone crazy. “What good would that do?”
I floundered. “Maybe if she weren’t free to use her power, we could bargain with her.”
Persephone laughed harshly. “You would dare to bargain with such a powerful goddess? She would twist her words so that she still had the power to do as she pleased, and you can be sure that she’d be after you the minute her bonds were cut.”
“But she’s already after me, isn’t she? Even though Rochelle is dead, I don’t think Hecate will stop trying to kill me. So how does this change anything?”
The goddess paused, considering. “She hasn’t come after you since the fall. Perhaps you are no longer her target.”
I sighed, realizing I’d better come clean. “You haven’t been watching everything. She’s tried to kill me twice since I got to Scotland.”
Izzy gasped, and I watched as realization dawned over her. “That’s why you contacted me and Marcus, isn’t it? You wanted help.”
I nodded. “I thought that two Reds together would be able to face her.”
The girl raised her eyebrow. “And a Blue?”
I shrugged uncomfortably. “I was trying to find a way to get Marcus to listen to me.” Her face crumpled in anger, and I hurried to add, “That was before I met you! As soon as we met, I realized that I liked you—”
Izzy crossed her arms over her chest and interrupted me. “You liked me enough to drag me into this mess, right?”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
She didn’t say anything, and Persephone cleared her throat. “I did not realize she had been actively hunting you since we parted, Darlena. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to intercede.”
I glanced at her, surprised at her apology. “It’s okay. I’ve managed to survive so far. But I don’t think binding her could possibly make her hate me more.”
The goddess nodded slowly. “You have a point. But I still don’t think it is possible to confine a god. If it were, it would have been done before now.”
But it has been done. If Loki was trapped, wasn’t that proof that the gods could be caged? “Leave that to me.” I hoped I sounded more confident than I felt. “If I can find a way, I think it may be our best option.”
Izzy spoke up quietly. “But to catch Hecate, you’d have to face her, right?”
I cringed. I hadn’t really thought about that part.
Glancing at Persephone, Izzy continued. “So there’s a chance that she’d kill you before you could control her. And then we’d be even worse off than we are now.”
I put my hands up. “But what other choice do we have? I had hoped Marcus would help me, but he won’t be helping anyone now.”
Tears welled up in Izzy’s eyes, and I realized I’d been too harsh. I reached out to put my hand on her shoulder, but she backed away.
“Since you mention him,” she sniffed, “how are we going to get him back?”
Persephone and I exchanged a glance. I clearly had a very different idea of what had happened to Marcus than Izzy had, but I couldn’t help but feel relieved that Izzy was still talking about “we.” Maybe she’d forgive m
e for using her to get to her brother.
“What do you think has happened to your brother?” Persephone spoke gently, and Izzy stopped crying.
“Why, he’s been taken!”
“Izzy, he was here with his patron. She wouldn’t harm him.” I meant to match the goddess’s tone, but my words were still sharp.
Izzy shook her head frantically. “She wouldn’t harm him, but don’t you see?”
We looked at her blankly.
“Hecate must have him!”
Her words rang with certainty, but I wasn’t so sure.
“Why would she want him?”
Izzy frowned. “The reason you said! You were counting on his help.”
I snorted. “But he wasn’t going to help me.” Exasperated, I realized I had conjured up Red magic again, and I forced myself to let it go. “He’d already told me he didn’t want to have anything to do with me.”
“Maybe he changed his mind.” She looked so determined, but I knew better.
“Izzy, has Marcus ever changed his mind about anything?”
She frowned stubbornly and didn’t answer my question. “He brought you here! I’m sure he wanted to help.”
Persephone spoke gently. “If we can, we will look for Marcus. I will keep my ears open among the gods and see what I can discover. But you two,” she glared sternly at me, “need to work on a plan. I’m still not sure I agree with you trying to bind Hecate, but until you think of something else, I suggest you start working on spells to see what might work.” Her form started to shimmer like smoke, and I realized she was leaving. “Just remember, Hecate is not acting alone. Confining her may be a start, but it might not be enough.” She faded until she was translucent.
“How can I contact you again? I don’t want to do this alone.”
She smiled sadly. “It is still the winter. Any place of death will let you reach across to my husband’s domain.”
Izzy’s eyes grew wide. “I completely forgot about Hades!” She shivered.
Persephone chuckled. “Don’t worry, child. My husband is on friendly terms with your friend. He finds her amusing.”
She faded, her laughter still ringing in the cold air, and I shivered. True, I liked Hades, but did I really want a god like that to find me “amusing”? I sat down, drained. Izzy knelt on the cold ground beside me and sighed.
