Page 96 of Witch's Fate

“Mnemosyne. The Titaness for whom this place was named.”

A Greek Titaness, of course. Not a goddess, at all. Even more powerful than a goddess. Through burning eyes, Sofia could make out her dark hair, piled high on her head in an elaborate configuration, and a white dress that looked like something carved on a classical statue.

“I’m going to find him,” she gasped as she pushed past Mnemosyne.

“So be it, though it spells your doom.”

Sofia shivered as the words rushed over her. She looked at Kitty. “You can aetherwalk to Aurora. She’ll take care of you.”

Kitty hissed at her, then continued on, stalwart by her side. Thank fates she could take her smoke form and be safe from the sand. If only she were that lucky.

Endless moments passed as she made her way, praying she was going in the right direction. The sand was so thick in the air that she couldn’t see more than a few feet ahead of her.

When the warmth of Malcolm’s presence hit her, she jerked. She was close enough that their bond allowed her tofeelhim.

This was the right direction. It had to be. She would make it.

The earth below her trembled and surged, sand shifting and parting. Figures crawled up from the ground, but to Sofia’s nearly blind eyes, they weren’t remotely human looking. Rather, they looked to be made of sand and rock.

One grabbed her ankle and she kicked, trying to break free. She tried to draw her wand from the aether, but her magic was still blocked.

“Fuck!” She tore at the sand figure’s hands, but they were made of stone. Kitty jumped on him, but could do no damage to his stone body.

No longer able to hold her shirt in front of her face, sand began to choke her, filling her lungs. Her fingertips bled from where she dug into the sand man’s hands, but she couldn’t make him budge. A shriek tore from her lungs as he began to pull her into the sand.

Suddenly, a surge of magical power filled her, warm and strong.

Malcolm. He must be able to feel her and was giving her what strength he had. She grasped it like a lifeline, drawing her wand from the aether and sending lightning at the sand man who held her.

He fell back, releasing her ankle. She scrambled to her feet, digging her way out of the sand, and ran. More sand men clawed at her, dragging her down. Gasping and choking, she used her wand, throwing them back with the force of her lightning, but they were unending.

“Go back. Aetherwalk away.” Mnemosyne’s voice sounded through the roar of the wind.

“No,” Sofia choked, blasting another attacker. She’d been right. Malcolm was here and she could feel him.

But her power was waning, which meant his must be too. After he’d sacrificed himself at Bruxa’s Eye, she had no doubt he’d fuel her with as much power as he had until he’d run completely dry. What would happen to him then?

She shook the thought away, fighting onward. He would be okay. Hehadto be. But would she? Her breath was now almost gone. She hacked and coughed as she crawled along the sand, no longer able to rise to her feet. Kitty had turned herself corporeal and was tugging at her sweater with small teeth.

“No,” she gasped. “Turn back, Kitty.”

Her body felt heavy, her mind leaden. Through near-blind eyes she could see the open gates of Mnemosynia. No need to close them if outsiders went through this. She wouldn’t make it.

Kitty pulled her onward and Sofia clawed at the sand, dragging herself inch by inch along its burning surface. Every breath burned on its way in and tore at her as she coughed it out. She was strangling on sand, drowning in it as it filled her lungs. There was too much in the air.

But she was so close. Only feet now. With a last surge of strength, she collapsed on the threshold of Mnemosynia. Kitty curled up beside her, licking her hand to try to revive her. Sofia blinked burning, teary eyes and saw Malcolm, collapsed on the other side of the gate.

She tried to sob, but was too weak to do so. He’d given her all his power. But that was what kept his immortal soul alive and in Mnemosynia. Without it, he would fade away.

Was he fading even now? His big form lay collapsed on the ground. She reached toward him, weeping.

This was what Aleia had prophesied. Her death, strangling in the sand. She hadn’t escaped it after all. And now Malcolm’s soul would perish as well.

“I told you to turn back.” Mnemosyne’s voice boomed. “But you did not.”

“Couldn’t,” Sofia gasped.

“Wouldn’t. There is a difference. You could have left Malcolm, but you would rather have choked to death on sand.”

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