Page 154 of Summer of Sacrifice

AGATHA

The clanging of swords sounded almost like music in the drawn-out time. Magic shot across the sky in slow arcs of falling stars.

She watched as Winnie, Sorscha, and Seleste stood with their arms raised, their combined magic glowing coral around her before they followed her.

One foot in front of the other. Grimm swooped past her again, brushing his skeletal finger across her cheek.

One foot in front of the other.

Her eyes locked on Athania.

Agatha’s heart beat like a drum against her ribs, keeping time with her steps. When she had almost reached the cliff’s base, she turned to look at her Sisters. A tear slipped slowly down Winnie’s cheek, and she nodded encouragingly.

One foot in front of the other.

Sorscha had fear in her eyes.

One foot in front of the other.

Seleste was all full up with a wrath Aggie had never seen from her Sister Summer.

Agatha paused, looking at her beautiful Sisters. Then she turned back to face the cliff and the monster that used to be her friend. To the one responsible for so much pain and despair, sacrifice and death.

Athania

Morgana

Sybil

Chresedia

Grief bid her killing calm to bow to it, her knees buckling.

A multitude against her.

No, Grimm shot through the bond. You are not alone, Agatha.

But only she could end this.

Shake this fucking realm, little witch.

Fists clenched at her sides, Agatha strode forward, toward the moment she’d been waiting a millenia for.

Her Sisters behind her, Grimm circling above her, Agatha tipped her face to the eclipsing sun and spread her arms wide. Chresedia had begun to do the same, atop her rock. Grimm’s time-slowing was lifting, but it didn’t matter. Not anymore. She was in position. She was ready.

Magic lifted her to the summit, and she landed directly in front of Athania.

The vile, fallen goddess brought her chin down to look at Agatha. A deviant smile stretched across her face. “Aren’t you bored with all this yet?” she crooned.

To Athania, this was yet another eclipse. Yet another chance to try and take Thanasim and Asteria’s power and return to The Void.

Standing in front of her, Agatha saw countless memories of this woman. As Athania, as Sybil, as Chresedia. And all she felt was pity, momentarily masking her rage.

“I was wrong about you,” Agatha said calmly, her magic poised. “You want to blame me for every wretched thing that has happened to you, but I’ll tell you what is my fault.”

One of Athania’s dark brows rose cockily.

“It is my fault that I trusted you. It is my fault that I let you in. It is my fault that you have wreaked such havoc.”

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