“More importantly,” Morpheus said as he reached for my hand, “What she has done to you. What you don’t know is... the brew she’s provided to you as you experienced shadows and dreams.” Morpheus exhaled slowly. “It prevented any sliver of the past, any piece of a memory from revealing itself to you. As she has done to all the reincarnations.”
Me. My dad. My whole life had been an entire lie. The lives of the past—Celena, Leora and Winnie—had been a previous version of myself. I belonged to them, just as they belonged to me. All in all—we shared a bond with Hades, God of the Underworld. Or as I knew him— Darce.
Morpheus brushed a finger over my cheek as he stared into my eyes.
“All this time, waiting,” he spoke softly. In my mind, an image of a beautiful, golden-haired Goddess picking wildflowers came to light. And he, the God shrouded in darkness walked beside her, offering his hand. As they stared at one another, there was happiness. Love.
“He’s been waiting for you.”
Slowly, the image of the golden-haired woman transformed into me. My brunette hair shimmering in the sunlight as Darce lifted a hand; ruby pomegranate seeds lay in his palm. I brought my gaze to Morpheus as I suddenly remembered the sweet sensation of taking the seeds into my mouth. I could feel the heat of Darce’s body near mine, wrapped in large fur blankets. I could feel my heart tear into pieces as I was pulled away from him on the winding staircase, leading back up towards the human realm.
Back to Demeter.
“You remember,” He said with a nod as he brushed this thumb over my cheek. “What you saw is the truth, Summer.”
Shimmering starlight and sun filtered through large windows with billowing curtains, as sun-kissed Gods and Goddesses giggled over poured wine. Mount Olympus; the home of the rest of the Greek deities. My mother’s home. I squeezed my eyes shut as I lifted my hand to his.
“But I’m not her,” I replied softly. “I could never be enough for him.”
“You’re wrong,” he said. “You’re more than enough. You’re different... as you should be. You are one with her soul, but you are your own.”
“And the Fates?” I asked softly. “Is it true...? I’m the last?”
Morpheus stared at me; his eyes softened as he silently nodded. I was the last. Darce’s last chance in reuniting with his long-lost love. He had so much to lose.
“W-What do I do?”
Morpheus grazed his cool lips against my forehead. I leaned back just enough to catch his black gaze.
“Go to him,” he murmured and gestured towards the door with his chin. “Go.”
I could hear a pain lodged deep within him; as if releasing me back to Darce was one of the hardest things for him to do.
“And do what?” I asked, tilting my head curiously.
“Tell him you know. Tell him the truth.”
The truth. A flash of an image filled my mind again: Darce sitting on a large stone throne as I, Persephone, walked to him. She wore a silver, glistening gown, adorned with a golden diadem and jewels. His eyes were filled with the greatest measure of pride as she took her rightful place beside him—equal in their ruling over the Underworld. Was this her way of reminding me that I too, held this power? I too, was the Queen of the Underworld? If I were Persephone, and she was me... we held the power to save Darce.
I pushed myself up to my feet and glanced back at Morpheus. He did not move or acknowledge me, avoiding my gaze completely.
“Thank you,” I managed softly. He grunted with a small nod. His wings, tucked behind his back, grew limp. I slowly turned on my heel, only catching his curious gaze for a brief moment before I strolled to the door.
Winding through the hallways, I went in search of Darce.
I had to find him. With each step, I felt a new memory surge forward. The time Darce had appeared to me in the fields. The night of our marriage. The way his smooth skin felt beneath my fingertips. We were all finally united—my mind was open to their memories. Our memories now. Like Darce, we took on a different name and face; but we were all still Persephone.
I felt good, for the first time in a long time. My mind was clear. The shadows in the room had lifted and their faces stared back at me, welcoming me as if I had been a long lost friend. Celena, Leora, Winnie, me and Persephone. Five different women, but all of us sharing the same soul. I could still remember our painful and tragic deaths, as if they had only just happened yesterday.
I wouldn’t allow my last life to end on my mother’s terms. Not this time.
Just as I began to walk past a cracked open door, I could hear the faint sounds of voices talking from inside.
“She’ll never remember, Darce.”
I recognized Minthe’s haughty voice right away. It was hard to miss. I paused and inched closer, mindful of the crack. I could see inside, but just barely. I slid my hand to my mouth to muffle my breathing as I leaned in for a closer look, desperate to catch their conversation.
I could see him at his desk, but his back was to me. Minthe leaned on the desk in front of him, curiously positioned between his legs. She leaned forward, tugging on the collar of his black jacket and twisted the fabric around her fist. Darce didn’t budge, but I knew he was annoyed.
The one arm I could see, he was flexing his fist open and close. I had half a mind to burst in and interrupt the whole thing, but something stopped me. Maybe it was because I was curious about what he’d say while I wasn’t around. Or maybe, I was just afraid.
“You’re fighting a battle you won’t win,” she said. “Demeter has made it so. What you need now is a Queen who knows you—knows you for who you are. Who will love and appreciate you for the man you are!”
My gut knotted with jealousy. She could never love him, not the way I did.
“And you think that’s you?” Darce responded, his cool voice casual and almost mocking.
“I know it’s me,” Minthe said, sliding her one finger over the length of his neck. Her ruby red lips grazed over his ear. “I know what you need. I know your desires.”
I imagined ripping her hair out, one chunk at a time, until her scalp was completely barren. Or bleeding. Either one really.
“I don’t think you do.”
“I think I do,” she scoffed. “I’m no fool, my love. You may think you’re so clever, using me to cover up the fact that you found Persephone.”
Her accusation rallied him out of his chair, fists balled at his sides. His shoulders and back were tense, rigid with anger. They stood toe-to-toe, but Minthe did not back down. She leaned backwards onto the desk, the smile on her face dangerous and daring.
“Oh yes, your queen has returned,” Minthe laughed, her tone cruel and teasing, “ Who else would you bring to the Underworld?” She curled her lip, scoffing.
“Minthe.” Her name, once spoken, was a warning.
“And of course... her poor mother is looking for her.”
My mother? So she was looking for me. And that meant surely she knew where I was.
“Summer is my guest.”
“Or prisoner. However you look at it.” Minthe said. “But her mother is determined to get her daughter back from you.”
To be returned? To die? To be forced away from Darce again? Either way, I couldn’t let my mother take me away. Not after everything I had learned from Morpheus’s dreams. She wasn’t who she said she was, at all. What else had she lied about? What else hadn’t she told me?
Minthe pushed her way past Darce, moving closer to the door. He turned around, watching her carefully. I could see his face clearly. He was trying his best to control himself, but I could see how fragile the facade really was. I knew now the pain that lied beneath the surface.
“You know you have a choice, Darce,” she purred. “Return her to her mother. Break the bond. The Underworld will finally go back to the way it should be. The way it was always intended to be.”
“Or?” Darce growled. “Do you truly think you can tell me—”
“What to do?” She ask
ed, giggling. “Why, of course, Darce. Of course I do.” Minthe took a step towards Darce as she flicked a finger against his chest.
“If you do not return her to Demeter yourself... I’ll do the honor of plunging a knife into her heart and storing her soul in a jar. She would be gone for good.” Minthe took her fist and drove a fake knife into his chest, right where his heart was. He flinched. “There won’t be anymore second chances. Her death will be on your hands.”
Little did she know, her words were true. I wouldn’t have another chance. I had already had a few of them. Me and my stupid mortality. I wanted to plunge a knife into her heart. This was my life, another chance to make things right. There was a reason I met Darce, not just now, but every time before. It wasn’t because he looked for me, it was because we were meant to be. Tied together by something stronger than a seed. My mother tried to separate us, but we always found a way back to each other. I saw that with Winnie. Every lifetime had proven how much I loved him, how much he loved me. Not just Persephone, but the woman I became in each cycle.
The seed was the red thread, this was our fate. Our story. I would be damned if Minthe or my mother ended it all because of jealousy.
“That’s enough!” A strange and powerful sense of courage filled me as I pushed the door open. “You don’t get to make those decisions.”.
Darce’s eyes were wide with shock as he gazed at me.
“Summer?”
I wrinkled my nose as I glared at Minthe. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
She laughed, arching as she pressed a hand to her lips.
“Do you hear your little human, Darce?” She asked amusedly. Darce raised a brow, waiting to see what else I would do. So I held onto the determination that had taken over. Challenge accepted.
“You could never be Darce’s queen,” I retorted, shaking my head. “No matter what you threaten to do to him. Not as long as I’m around.”
“Who do you think you are?” Minthe scoffed, curling a strand of her hair around her finger as though the entire conversation bored her. “You’re just a little mortal, human. Don’t forget that.”
That may be, but I knew—I understood I was more. I understood there was something more hidden within me, as it had with all my reincarnations. Something that had always been there, but had remained silent. Until now.
“I’m the Goddess of Spring.” And as I said it aloud for the first time, I could actually feel the power in me breaking free of whatever held it in check. “And you, Minthe, belong back in the water where spirits like you belong.”
Darce’s eyes grew wide as the conviction of my words finally dawned on him. The look of disbelief on his face made me want to say it again, but louder. I wanted to reassure him that I had meant it, so he would know it was real.
“Don’t pretend, human, it’s very unbecoming,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You’ll never be a Goddess.”
“You know who I am,” I hissed. I looked for Darce’s approval, and the corners of his lips curled into a small smile. He nodded slowly, acknowledging every word.
“So go tell my mother,” I continued, crossing my arms, “Tell Zeus. Tell everyone on Olympus for all I care. Let them know I’m not going anywhere. I won’t be leaving him again. Bound or not, this is where I belong.”
Minthe laughed and slid her hand to her hips.
“I don’t think you realize how powerful they are, mortal.”
“I have a name,” I snapped. “It’s Summer. Or is it ‘Royal Highness’ being that I’m the true Queen, right? Titles and such.” I added a sassy shrug for good measure. Two could play this game.
“My Lady,” Darce corrected with a mischievous smirk. I found myself smiling in response.
“I don’t think you realize that I’m a force to be reckoned with,” I continued, “So, either you take your empty threats and crawl back into the waterhole where you belong, or run to my mother. Go tell Zeus. Tell them I’ll be waiting.”
“We’ll be waiting,” Darce interjected, lazily slipping his hands into his pockets. It was such a casual move for him to make, yet so typical. Minthe glared darkly between the two of us.
“You know that I don’t make empty threats, Darce.”
“It’s ‘My Lord.’ Not Darce,” I corrected. Only I was allowed to call him that. She clenched her fists and shook her head.
“You are making a grave mistake,” she hissed between her teeth, seething.
I didn’t understand where this untapped confidence had come from, but perhaps I had learned something as I had experienced Celena’s exuberant personality. So as Minthe approached me, fury trailing behind her like fire, I stood my ground. She paused only for a split second, if only to have the last word.
“You’re a fool... and you will pay.” Her breath was hot against my ear and I leaned away.
“Takes one to know one, right?”
And maybe I was a fool. I had played right into Darce’s hands back at the hospital. Worse still, I had believed my mother’s lies for so long that I missed out on so much of who I really was. I hadn’t seen the truth when it was sitting right in front of me. So if that made me a fool, then Minthe was the same; because she underestimated me.
If there was a price for my mistakes, then I would face them head on.
Chapter 26
Minthe left in a huff, storming out of the room, as though she were on a warpath. I supposed in hindsight, she was.
I was relieved, but also incredibly nervous to be alone with him. Everything had changed between us the second I knew the truth. The moment I had seen all the women before me; the women who in some strange way, were me. Did he feel the change in the air, too? The electricity between us thickened with every breath. Darce stared at me, mesmerized from across the room. We both remained silent as we faced one another. I wondered what he was thinking. Did he understand the brevity of the situation?
“You do realize what you’ve done,” Darce said softly, jerking his chin towards the door behind me.
“I do.”
He pursed his lips and nodded, acknowledging me. I wanted to reach out to him. I wanted to burst with everything, but I knew I needed to keep myself in check. His dark gaze lifted back to mine as he let out a sigh.
“Is it true then? You... remember?”
“Some,” I confessed. “It’s more like…images. The way they saw things...”
His eyes grew wide. Another wave of realization must have dawned on him.
“You saw them then, Leora?” He added. “Celena, Winnie…?”
“I saw,” I remarked. “I saw what happened to them. To all of them—to me.”
Darce’s brow creased in confusion. But slowly he came to, the puzzle having been solved. “Of course, Morpheus.”
“Yes,” I admitted. After a brief pause, I continued. “I couldn’t let you give up the Underworld. Not for me.”
“What would you have had me do instead? Did you want me to break the bond?” He paused and shook his head. “I can’t—” his voice cracked. It was the first time I had ever seen him so vulnerable.
Truth be told, I hadn’t thought about it. Would I have wanted him to break the bond? No. Did I want him to lose his realm? No.
“Which is why I did... what I did,” I explained, gesturing towards the door. This made the decision my own. I had protected Darce from having to make a choice he shouldn’t have to make. I protected my friends.
“You couldn’t give into her,” I said, shaking my head. “I... After knowing what I do. You couldn’t. I wasn’t going to let you.”
My body began to tremble.
A deep wave of emotion roared to life within me. I could feel the pain I had once felt before, a long time ago, when I had been parted from him. I could not allow anymore pain to stand between us. A tear rolled down my cheek. Relief. Underneath it all, I was relieved. I knew him as he knew me—many faces, many lifetimes. And here I was, finally home again.
Home!
When my name was Winnie, when
my face was Celena’s and my life belonged to Leora—I had loved him. Those feelings had never gone away. They grew more fervent with each passing season. My stomach twisted and turned at the idea of not being with him—not being near him. My chin began to tremble as I shook my head again.
“I won’t let you go…not again.” He replied sharply. Darce crossed the room in a flash, reaching for my shoulders.
I ran to him.
The second we collided, we were tangled together. His lips slanted harshly over mine, stealing any breath I had left in me. He was everywhere; in every part of myself. I could only think one thing as we kissed and it ran through my mind like a mantra.
Finally, I thought. Finally!
His hand cupped the back of my head as I moaned his name against his lips. My fingers dug into his shoulders as I clung onto him tightly. I never wanted to let go. I never wanted to be without him. I loved him. I loved him.
“I’ve got you,” He growled beside my ear as he pressed a kiss against my neck. “I’ve got you, Summer...”
I tugged at my sweater, pulling it over my head. Darce chuckled against my hair as I eagerly tried to escape my clothing. I craved to be touched by him. Just as the others had been before me. While I had seen their memories and their shared intimate moments with him, I was still Summer. Unexperienced. Virgin. It was just me and Darce.
This time would be different; ours.
I felt his lips brush over the tops of my breasts; his hands cupping my bra. It sent a thrill down my spine, igniting every inch of me. My hands set out to discover his body. He was rock solid, and yet smooth and warm. As I had once tried to paint him, I wondered what it would be like to touch him; to touch his warm, smooth skin. My fingers skirted underneath his shirt, and he sighed my name against my skin.
“Later,” he said softly as he carefully moved my hands away from his torso.
I whimpered as he took a step back. I didn’t want later. I wanted now. I wanted everything. But instead, Darce took my hand and guided me towards the door. Only, the door never came. The same sensation from the time in Athens, as Darce had somehow teleported us from one end of the country to the other, washed over the two of us. Darkness wrapped around us like a cool breeze, creating brightly-colored sparks as Darce walked. Suddenly, we were in my room. And as Darce turned back to face me, I raised my brow.
Blinding Night Page 24
