Page 221 of Lady of Ashes

“What is your name?”

“In this world? The Sorceress.”

“And in other worlds?”

The Sorceress shrugged a bony shoulder. “Depends on the world.” She moved closer to the bars once more, seeming to glide in front of them. “You smell like her.”

“Like who?”

“You never answered me. Do you like stories?”

“Only if they are true,” Scarlett answered.

“Truth is a matter of perspective, don’t you think?” the Sorceress countered. “Would you like to hear one about beginnings and endings, or one about two sisters?”

“What is the cost?” Sorin demanded before Scarlett could answer. Briar stood stoically on her other side, arms crossed and features impossible to read.

The Sorceress’s lips curled up. “I shall give her one at no cost. The other … We can negotiate if she wishes to hear it.”

“I would rather you just answer some questions,” Scarlett replied, trying to shrug off Sorin’s grip, but he held ?rm.

“Do not be rude,” the Sorceress chided lightly. “A story ?rst and then we can discuss a cost for the answers you seek.”

Scarlett sighed. “Fine. Which story would be more bene?cial to hear?”

“Who am I to decide such a thing?”

“Beginnings and endings,” Cassius said from behind Scarlett. She glanced back at him, but his entire focus was on the Sorceress before them. She turned back to the Sorceress and nodded for her to go ahead.

“In all things there must be balance,” she began. “Beginnings and endings. Light and dark. Fire and shadows.”

Scarlett stepped back into Sorin as the Sorceress went on.

“The worlds are no different. Beings emerged from the Chaos to create such a thing.”

“You speak of the gods?” Scarlett asked.

“Do not interrupt the story,” the Sorceress snapped, her tone so vicious, it had Sorin wrapping an arm around her waist and tugging her back farther from the cell. “They went to various parts of the stars, setting up their own kingdoms, maintaining balance. The Firsts created the Lessers, and from them the various worlds grew and prospered. Some grew faster than others. Some worlds were favored more than others.”

“The beginning,” Scarlett breathed.

“He was one of the Firsts.”

“He?” Scarlett asked, moving closer to her once more.

“There were six Firsts, but Beginning and Ending each have their roles to play. They became the most powerful, working together to keep the balance. Beginning created. Ending judged.”

“You speak of life and death,” Scarlett said quietly.

The Sorceress’s hands shot out, grasping the bars of the cell. She didn’t seem to notice the shirastone biting into her skin. “Stop interrupting,Lady.”

She stepped back from the bars, moving to the wall and dragging her hand along it once more. “With the aid of the other Firsts and Lessers, new beings were created and scattered among the worlds, but some were created and kept close. Some were loyal to Beginning. Some were loyal to Ending. But over time, Beginning began to crave something more. He had always favored her, always desired her.”

“He loved someone?” Scarlett asked, drifting closer still to the cell, ignoring Sorin’s low warning.

“What is love?” the Sorceress countered with a small shrug, not seeming to mind this particular interruption. Her slim hands gripped the cell bars once more. “Hewanted, but she did not, for she had already bound herself to another. Had already created with him, keeping their true heritage a secret. When he learned of this, rage consumed him. He summoned those loyal to him, waged war against the other. And so the balance tipped.”

“She had bound herself to death?” Scarlett asked. “You speak of Arius and Sera?na. And their children, Temural and Saylah.”

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