Page 123 of Courting War
Hopeless Goddess of War
VOLCANIC PRISON, CITY OF THE GODS
It was strange how much loving felt like dying.
And how much worse losing love felt than getting stabbed in the gut. Theo much preferred the gut wound. At least that would heal. This never would. She’d only get better at managing it.
Grief was a lifelong journey.
A lifelong punishment.
Kellyn wasn’t dead yet, but what hope was there? Unlike Andromache, Theo had support from the other gods, and it still wasn’t enough.
Trapped and facing devastation, chained with her powers bound, time whipped and dragged into braids of sand emptying from an hourglass. Theo was lost in it, and she didn’t want to be found. Misery coiled around her soul and sank its fangs deep inside of her.
The pain spilled out of her in broken sobs and wrenching screams.
It was unbearable, so she curled into a ball of rage, sorrow, and fear.
The ground was cold against her cheek, and her heart stumbled in her chest as she awaited the most painful day of her life. The igneous rocks hummed, and lava poured down the sides like angry waterfalls. Theo was stuck in a prison cell with no windows or doors, and no optimism. She wasn’t foolish enough to believe she was powerful or special enough to change fate. So she languished. There was nothing else to do, the only way in or out of her cell was through magic, and while Theo had her divinity back, the only magic she possessed were fragments of healing. Only enough to fix the torture Nefeli inflicted on her.
“I’ve never known you to give up so easily.” Havyn solidified beside her sister, her voice softer and kinder than Theo had ever heard. “Shhh, it’s going to be okay.” Death touched War’s back as she sobbed.
“What is there to do?” Theo breathed. “Andromache didn’t have a single god standing beside her. I had five, and the outcome was the same. It will never be enough.”
“And that’s it?” Havyn scrunched her nose, her features dancing with unease. “No bargaining? No fighting? No defying the impossible.”
“That’s why it’s called impossible.”
“Nothing is truly impossible, only fairly improbable.”
“Havyn, I can’t do this right now.”
Havyn sighed and leaned back against the wall, watching her sister sob. When bored, she conjured a book and began to read. Her presence was both a boon and an assault, but ultimately Theo appreciated the attempt at comfort.
“You mentioned a bargain. Is there one?” Theo’s voice was hoarse.
“No.”
Theo scoffed. “So you’re unwilling to make a deal with me?”
Havyn bit her lip and glanced up at the volcanic ceiling. “Not unwilling, unable. Mother declared that we couldn’t aid you in any way.”
“Then what’s the point, Havyn?” Theo made a frustrated gesture with her hands. “What’s the point of any of it?”
“You have so many options available to you, Thee.” Haven wiggled her obsidian eyebrows. “Strings and strings of them.”
“Then give me one.”
“I cannot.” Havyn grinned. “You have a visitor.” She waved her hand, and the rock wall shifted, allowing Cecile to walk through it.
Havyn stood and crossed paths with Emmett and Cecile. She placed a loving squeeze on the girl’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. It will all work out as it is meant to.” Havyn’s eyes traced the shaking form of her sister. “Before I go, let me just say one thing, War: don’t allow him to die without telling him you love him.”
The wall closed behind Havyn’s retreating form, and Theo finally raised her head. “How is he?” Theo’s words were raw from having screamed and cried for hours.
“Better than you.” Emmett knelt next to Theo. “How are you?”
“I don’t think I’ll survive this.”
