Page 28 of Curse of Darkness
Thiago’s voice whispers in my memories. “I would wait for you in the Darkness.”
The primordial Darkness that existed before this world was even formed.
The Darkness that lies trapped in the Underworld, which Kato—the god of Death—guards.
Everything inside me shrivels into a small, hard knot.
I can barely breathe.
“I have your husband’s body,” the Mother of Night says gently, offering me the amulet. “Kato has his soul. This is a soul-trap. If you venture into the Underworld, you may be able to trap Thiago’s soul within it, long enough to bring it back to his body. Open it in his presence and it will trap his soul inside. If you combine the two of them and then wield the power of this Hallow, you may be able to restore him to you. Resurrect Thiago, kill his father and reap the fragments of Death’s soul from within him. Your husband will rise as Death. You only have one chance to kill the Horned One, Vi. You are theleanabh an dan, the Daughter of Destiny. Your mere presence twists fate.” And then she leans closer. “So yes, I knew Thiago would die, Vi. But I also knew there was a possibility you could bring him back.”
7
Bleak silence rings through the council chamber as I tell the others what the Mother of Night said. The amulet hangs around my neck, strangely cool against my skin.
Eris is the first to speak, slamming her hands on the table. “No.No. You do not understand what you’re suggesting. He would not want this. Thiago would not want this.”
I run a tired hand over my brow. “Then what do I do, Eris? Do I let the Horned One overrun the world? Do I go to him by myself and try to… to kill him?”
The idea’s so fucking ludicrous, a tired little laugh escapes me.
“And you don’t think that bitch is playing with your mind again?” she demands. “She wants to befreed, Iskvien. She’s an Old One. She’s the enemy, the one who—”
“Threw herself between me and the Horned One,” I point out, “at great cost to herself. I know what she is. I know what the stories say.” The whole world feels like it settles on my shoulders. “She said he’s my only hope to defeat the Horned One.”
Silence falls across the council chambers, shattering in its stillness.
“You would have to find the Gates to the Underworld,” Thalia says softly. “And manage to either steal past Kato or beg him to allow Thiago’s soul to be freed.”
Then Finn rocks forward, setting all four legs of his chair on the ground. “I’ve been to the Gates of the Underworld. I can take you.”
Incredulousness steals through me.
One by one, the little pieces are falling into place.
“Are you doing this?” I send the thought to the Mother of Night.
There is no reply.
“When didyougo to the mouth of the Underworld?” Eris demands.
There’s enough tension between them for his gaze to be cool as it meets hers. “That’s none of your business. Suffice it to say I’ve been there.” He blows out a breath as he turns to me. “I’ll take you, Vi. I can take you as far as the opening.”
“What about Amaya?” He’s been at her side night and day, protecting her.
“I can stay with Amaya,” Thalia says quickly. “Between Grimm and me, she’ll be safe Vi. And if you don’t go, and the Horned One comes south for us then it’s not as though we have the strength to fight him. Not without Thiago. As much as this is a risk, we have to take it. Before it’s too late.” She bites her lip and meets my eyes. “Because, while Lucere seems to think there were two other Darkyn out there, my sources lost them over a year ago. Conveniently, around the same time Malakhai went missing from view for several months.”
I get what she’s telling me: Maybe there are only two Darkyn walking this world now.
Malakhai.
And Amaya.
I cannot describe the chill that runs through me.
A chair scrapes across the floor.
Eris’s jaw locks as she slowly pushes to her feet. “I can’t. I can’t say yes to this. Have you heard what you’re suggesting?”
