Page 94 of Witch's Fate

A woman in a cloak walked out of one of the houses. She was as faded as the cottages. Sofia ran to her, anticipation and fear and hope all fighting in her breast.

“Excuse me!” she called.

The woman glanced up, startled. She was so pale that Sofia couldn’t determine the color of her clothes or eyes or the hair under her cap. “An outworlder?”

Sofia guessed that was their word for Mythean from earth. “Yes. Could you tell me, where is Malcolm the warlock? He would have arrived yesterday.”

Confusion flashed across the woman’s face. “Malcolm? No, he’s not here. I would know.”

Fear and panic welled in Sofia’s chest, like acid eating away at the hope that had bloomed there. “What? How would you know? Maybe he’s elsewhere and you haven’t seen him.””

“I’m his mother. We always know when a member of our family has arrived.” She shook her head, disgusted. “But perhaps its better he didn’t come here when he died. He’s not living up to his potential as a warlock, is what I hear.”

Sofia stumbled back, horrified. His mother didn’t care about him. Not at all, from the look on her face. But that’s how sorcerers from his clan were. They all aspired to be warlocks, so they trained the emotion out of themselves in preparation. His mother was only concerned with his reputation and whether or not he’d fulfilled their expectations.

“You’re sure?” Sofia breathed.

“Of course I’m sure.”

“But then where could he be?”

His mother shrugged. “He was never much of a wulver, so I doubt he’s there. If anything, it sounds like his soul wouldn’t leave earth. Perhaps he’s waiting to be reincarnated. That’s usually why souls don’t show up in their afterworld after death. Something ties them to earth and they refuse to leave.”

Sofia stepped back blindly, shaking her head.

“Go on with you, now.” His mother shooed her hands. “Outworlders shouldn’t be here.”

Sofia spun blindly and returned to her friend.

Reincarnated? But that could take centuries.

But did that mean he wasn’t trapped in this afterworld for an eternity? He might live again. His soul hadn’t been able to leave earth.

What did this mean?

She glanced up at Vivienne, whose brow was crumpled in confusion. At the sight of her, the memory hit Sofia.

“Mnemosynia. You’ve been there,” Sofia said.

“Oh, shit,” Vivienne said. “He’s not here, is he? You think his soul is going to be reincarnated.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” It felt right. Or she was grasping at straws. She didn’t know, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to give up. She was going to chase clues of him until she found him. “Take me there.”

“Whoa, that place is different. There are rules. It’s only for the souls of reincarnates who are waiting to be reborn.”

Sofia shook her head, frantic. “That’s why I have to go there. If he’s not here, then there’s a good chance he’s waiting to be reincarnated. You have to take me.”

“Sofia, it’s not a normal afterworld. It’s special. Until recently, it was an awful place. A labyrinth of misery. It only became Mnemosynia and a place for reincarnates once Sylvi and Logan destroyed the sickness in the labyrinth. Now it’s overseen by various gods. We can’t just break in. We’re not souls waiting to be reincarnated—I don’t know what happens to live Mytheans.”

“Just take me then. Drop me off and go.”

“I can only take you to the desert outside of Mnemosynia. The souls are within the city walls. You mightnot be able to get back. You might not even be able to get inside the city to find Malcolm.”

“I don’t care.” Tears stung her eyes.

Vivienne’s brow creased. She was torn, weakening. Sofia grabbed her jacket lapels. “Please, Vivienne. Just drop me off and go. Your skills are so valuable to the university. They won’t punish you. Tell them I threatened you. I am stronger than you. Tell them you had to or I would have killed you.”

“Would you?”

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