by Kailin Gow
“Thank you,” he said, and it sounded curiously formal coming from such a young boy. He looked at Scarlett, smiled to himself as if in celebration of some private joke, and then disappeared as quickly as he had come.
“We should go after him,” Aphrodite said. “He’ll only go and get into trouble again.”
“After you have undone what you did,” Hephaestus insisted.
Aphrodite sighed and waved a hand vaguely in the direction of Cruces, Tavian and Scarlett. “There, it’s done, are you happy now?”
“Our son is himself, your curse is gone, and your earlier one is broken,” Hephaestus said. “How could I not be?” He nodded to Scarlett. “Farewell, and thank you, all of you.”
He vanished, leaving Aphrodite there. The goddess looked at Scarlett, then at Cruces, before smiling to herself just momentarily. “Yes, I suppose I should say thank you. I have my son back at least. I wish you well, my dear, trying to sort this one out.”
She didn’t say more than that but vanished after Hephaestus. Scarlett found herself wondering what Aphrodite had meant. More than that, she found herself wondering if the goddess had truly removed her curse. How would she know? Would it just be a matter of what she felt?
Well, what did she feel? The all-encompassing love for Tavian was gone. Of that much, Scarlett was certain. Yet there was still something there when she looked at him, and Cruces… Scarlett had felt her attraction to him even when the curse was still in place. What did that mean? Did it mean that it was him she loved? Yet what Aphrodite had done to her had left Scarlett free to express what she felt for Tavian, and she wasn’t willing to give that away completely simply because she was herself again. In any case, how did she know what either of the men really felt? How much of that had been because of Aphrodite?
It seemed that getting rid of the curse had not solved everything. Scarlett sighed as she understood Aphrodite’s parting words. Her life was going to get complex indeed before it became simple again. On the other hand, at least now, she could be certain that whatever she felt was her own feelings and not some spell. That was something.
Now she just had to work out exactly what she did feel.
Epilogue
Scarlett sat at home that night alone except for the servants at her parents’ London house. Both Cruces and Tavian had tried to insist that Scarlett should not be alone given the potential danger posed by Lydia, but as Scarlett had pointed out, the only way to make absolutely sure that Lydia could not get near her would be to remain under their watch every hour of the day. Scarlett was not prepared to do that.
For one thing, she needed a certain amount of space in which to think about how things had turned out thanks to the various spells she had been under. She had felt love. It had been forced on her by immortal powers, but it had been love nonetheless, so deep and consuming that it had left no time for anything else. It had reduced Scarlett to something less than herself, making her into one of those foolish girls she so disliked having to spend time around at parties and functions.
Scarlett was not sure that she wanted to feel like that again, even as she knew that somewhere under her denial, feelings lurked in a knot that was almost impossible to sort out. Cruces, Tavian… there was even a small, lingering thread of grief for Rothschild’s passing, despite the fact that all the love she had felt for him came from the bow. Though maybe that was just that they had been connected so strongly. Honestly, who would willingly welcome love like that?
“Love can be difficult, can’t it?”
Scarlett looked up to see Hephaestus standing in the drawing room of her home. She had not seen him arrive, which suggested that he had done so without any kind of spectacle. Scarlett found herself looking around for Aphrodite, worried that something had gone wrong, or that the immortals intended something else unpleasant for her.
“Relax,” Hephaestus said. “My wife is not here. She has what she wants and so has no further interest in you for now.”
“But you do?” Scarlett asked.
Hephaestus smiled. “It merely occurred to me that we did not truly reward our champion for bringing back Cupid’s bow. Oh, Aphrodite removed her curse, but merely taking away something that she had already inflicted hardly counts as a reward.”
Hephaestus wanted to reward her? Scarlett’s hopes rose as she started to consider what she might be able to ask for. Would the Greek god be able to tell her where Gordon was? Would he be able to return Cecilia? Would he…
“Remember that we cannot intervene in mortal affairs,” Hephaestus said. “Still, the gift I have in mind is one you might find useful.”
He held out a hand and the air above it seemed to shimmer. A golden goblet appeared, falling into Hephaestus’ outstretched hand.
“I don’t understand,” Scarlett admitted. She could feel the power coming from the object, but even so, why would she need a golden cup.
“Any liquid placed in this cup turns into ambrosia,” Hephaestus explained. “Drink from it, and you will be an immortal.”
“But that’s…” For several seconds, Scarlett was simply lost for words. She had done no more than find one object, yet here Hephaestus was, offering her eternal life. “It’s too much. I don’t deserve it.”
“You returned my son’s immortality,” Hephaestus said. “This seems like the most fitting way to repay that.”
Scarlett’s brow furrowed. “So why did you not simply use the cup to make Cupid immortal again when his bow was taken? You could have done that, surely?”
“I could,” Hephaestus agreed, “but then would my son have been the same? He would have been immortal, but he would not have had his powers.”
“I’ve been on the receiving end of some of those powers through the bow,” Scarlett pointed out.
“True, but do you think what he does is all bad? Do you think Zeus would have allowed him to continue this long if that were the case? Cupid and my wife play many tricks, but love… love is vital. Love is powerful. Humans need it almost as much as they need air to breathe, even if they do not know it. It is something to be cherished and protected.”
“Yet you and Aphrodite still argue,” Scarlett pointed out.
Hephaestus spread his hands. “I did not say that love made things perfect. I did not even say it made them easy. Yet I can tell you that, for all Aphrodite and I have between us, I will never regret my love for her. But that is for another day. What do you plan to do with my gift, Scarlett? Will you drink from it at once? Both of the young men vying for your affections have the potential to live a long, long time.”
Scarlett thought carefully. It was true that Cruces had lived thousands of years already, and the fey appeared to be effectively immortal, so Tavian might do the same. To match them, drinking from the cup seemed like the natural thing to do, yet she did not. Not yet. Being human was enough for Scarlett right then.
“That is good enough for now,” the immortal said. “Living this long is not always ideal. The cup is yours to keep in any case. I trust that you will use it wisely, and judge the right moment to drink from it for yourself. Now, I must go. No doubt my son is up to something.”
Scarlett started to thank Hephaestus, but the Greek god was gone, leaving the cup hanging in midair just long enough for Scarlett to catch it and place it carefully on the mantelpiece. The quest for the bow was over at least.
Too many things weren’t though. Gordon was still missing, and Rothschild was no longer around to tell them where he had been taken. Cecilia was somewhere in the lands of the fey. The Order still clearly wanted the Devices, and Scarlett was in personal danger now. She did not think that Lydia would stop easily. She might even learn how to control the shadows that had almost overwhelmed her in the cave. That would be a frightening thought.
Though somehow, it was also a comforting one. It meant that Scarlett’s life was not about to become anything normal in the near future. It meant that she would have the adventure of trying to deal with things most young women her age could not be
gin to comprehend. She also had to work out where Cruces and Tavian fit into her life, if they did at all.
All in all, it looked like there were going to be plenty of adventures ahead for her.
****
Steampunk Scarlett’s adventures continues in
Book 3 of Steampunk Scarlett
Ethereal Devices
2012
From Bestselling Author Kailin Gow comes
FADE
"My name is Celestra Caine. I am seventeen years old, which makes me a senior at Richmond High. I never thought this would happen to me, but it has… I’m one of those people you see every day, go to school with, remember seeing at the supermarket or the mall, and then one day you don’t hear about them any longer. They’re gone, and eventually, you forget them."
From Bestselling Author Kailin Gow comes
DESIRE
A Dystopian world where everyone’s future is planned out for them at age 18…whether it is what a person desires or not. Kama is about to turn 18 and she thinks her Life’s Plan will turn out like her boyfriend’s and friend’s – as they desired. But when she glimpse a young man who can communicate with her with his thoughts and knows her name…a young man with burning blue eyes and raven hair, who is dressed like no other in her world, she is left to question her Life’s Plan and her destiny.
Excerpt from Kailin Gow’s Dystopian Series
DESIRE
Book 1
kailin gow
Prologue
Perfection. That was how best to described the day. Blue skies with the hint of lilac and buttercream, fat fluffy white clouds gliding by added to the beautiful day. It was the perfect way to end a sunny school day. With my hand nestled warmly in Liam’s, I walked at his side, my face tilted up to the sun, my nostrils breathing in the fresh air that smelled like Spring lavenders and fresh linen. The fragrant air made me think of Spring formals, garden parties, and outdoor barbeques. The day could not be more enjoyable if it’d been planned that way. If I had not grown up anywhere else besides the state of Arcadia, I would have thought this was the way it always was everywhere.
School had gone well, tests and exams had been passed with flying colors and the birds seemed to be singing perfectly. Like every day in Arcadia.
As we approached Nellie’s Diner, I caught a glimpse of myself in a store window and was pleased with the reflection I saw. My long blonde hair cascaded down my back, freshly brushed and tidy. The lustrous locks fluttered in the breeze in a way that always made Liam smile, and it all added a bounce to my step.
That morning I’d chosen to wear my pale green smock dress, the one that he always complimented me on.
“That dress sure does make those hazel eyes of yours pop,” he’d always say.
Always told I was a pretty girl, I never really believed it until Liam and I began dating in high school. At his side I felt beautiful. Was it his striking features that enhanced my sense of beauty or was it simply the look of adoration I saw in his eyes every time he looked at me that made me feel so beautiful?
“How’d you do on your math test?” he asked.
Though I’d always managed to get good grades, I never failed to get nervous and edgy when test time came around. “I think it went well,” I said, smiling at him and adoring him all the more for the concern he always showed for me and my studies.
“I think I pretty much aced that History exam this morning,” he said with pride.
He was so handsome, his fair curls so angelic. It never failed to amaze me how sweet, kind and generous he could be. A guy as handsome as Liam could easily break a thousand hearts, yet he was thoughtful and considerate in the way he treated every woman he met, and he was particularly attentive, loving and caring with me.
“Maybe my Life’s Plan should have been to become a history professor,” he added as he opened the door to the diner, his bright blue eyes twinkling with laughter and amusement.
I shared his hope and promise, and questioned what my own Life’s Plan would be. With my eighteenth birthday quickly approaching, I would know all too soon. It was as though I had been waiting all my life to find out what my Life Plan would be. All of us under the age of eighteen waited with anxiety and anticipation to find out what our Life’s Plan held: our profession, who we would marry, where we would live, and how many children we would have. It would all be written in our Life’s Plan.
“Kama! Liam,” Sarah called from across the crowded diner. “Hey, you love birds, over here.”
I couldn’t count the number of eyes that watched us as we made our way to our table. We’d been voted the best-looking couple in school for two years, and some even said we were the most attractive couple in town. Some claimed I had pale violet highlights that shined in the bright summer sun, though I can’t say I ever really noticed them myself. Some even hinted at the added degree of elegant glamour my recently fashioned bangs gave me. Others were envious of what they call my porcelain skin.
It was all flattering, but it was also incredibly embarrassing. I felt scrutinized and watched all the time. Added to this was the expectation that Liam and I would soon marry. The thought both pleased and pressured me. I’d known Liam since I could remember, but the pressure to marry was sometimes difficult to swallow. I wanted to do this on my own terms, not by everyone’s expectations.
“After you.” Liam gestured to the booth.
“Have you been waiting long?” I asked Sarah as I slid in.
“Just long enough to down one of these.” She held up a tall, long glass of soda then turned to Liam. “You know, I was thinking, next week we could do the party down by the lake if the weather holds up.”
“I’m famished. Have you ordered yet?”
“Two mini burgers with coleslaw and a mammoth burger with fries for Liam.”
“Thanks,” Liam said, obviously anticipating the great meal to come.
“So, what do you think? Sarah asked him.
“I had thought about that, too. Streamers on the trees, flowers everywhere, and maybe even a live band? Or we could do something elegant and classy at my place. The grounds are beautiful this time of year with everything in bloom.”
“I think she would really love that.”
“I just love how you guys go about planning my birthday party as if I wasn’t even there.”
“It’s as close to a surprise party as we can get. You always guess what we’re up to anyway.” Sarah pointed her straw at me for emphasis.
“But the night of my birthday is the same as the Arcades last game of the season.”
“That’s if they make it to the finals.” Liam seemed unconcerned with the turn out of the evening.
“They always make it,” Sarah added.
“Even if they do, everybody’s going to want to come celebrate Kama’s birthday.”
It was just like Liam to be so optimistic. I suddenly thought of the secret wedding plans I’d conjured up for us. As annoying as the pressure to marry could sometimes be, the thought that marrying Liam might not be in my Life’s Plan often scared me to death.
“That’s pushing it a bit, don’t you think?” I knew I was popular at school, but for the student body to skip the Arcades’ victory party for my eighteenth birthday wasn’t likely to happen.
“Look,” Sarah said with finality. “The game is at two, will probably end before five, everyone will celebrate ‘til seven and then they can all slide on over to our party for eight. Voila. It’s all settled and everyone is happy.”
I tried to concentrate on what she was saying, but I felt every sense in my body awaken to something I’d never felt before. It was electric, almost painful. Was this what closing in on my eighteenth birthday felt like?
No, it was more than just that. I stared out the window, looking for the source of my sudden distraction. The feeling intensified until the conversation between Sarah and Liam was completely blotted out and all that existed was that odd sensation.
“Kama, did you hear what I said?”
I pulled my gaze away with difficulty and concentrated on Sarah who wove a lilac colored sheet of paper at me
I knew what it meant and instantly felt that jolt of envy. Having turned eighteen a few weeks back, she’d finally received her Life’s Plan.
“I finally got word from the Committee. Can you believe it? I hold in my hand my Life’s Plan.”
“And you managed to hold that bit of information back this long?” I said, teasing her.
“I love you and want this birthday to be special for you, but now that everything is practically settled, we can talk about moi.”
“So, what does the future hold for toi?”
Before she could answer, the waitress arrived with our order.
“Everything looks delicious as usual. Thank you,” Sarah said with a quick, polite but dismissive smile. She was eager to tell us about her Life’s Plan and it showed.
Beaming with pride, she pulled out her electronic pad, inserted the small chip she’d received from the Committee and turned the screen to Liam and me.
Ignoring the plate of hot food before me, I read through the introduction, though I basically knew it all. She came from the affluent Diamond Suburbs, was the only child to Mick and Fay Murray who both happened to work on the very Committee she’d just received notice from.
“Okay, so you guys already know that part,” Sarah said as she guided the page further down. “Here’s the interesting part.”
