Page 59 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Why is it warm?”Shegladly pulled it on.
“Because.”Hesmiled sadly. “Ioften accompanyThaneinto the mortal world.Thereis less to explain ifIdon’t look as dead asIam.”
“Oh.”Auroracould feel his longing and sadness. “Butnot easier for you?”
“No.Comeon, we don’t have all night.Whichway?”
“Um.”Auroralooked both ways.Herbody sung with a lightness she had never felt before.Herblood burned as it raced through her body. “Thisway?”
They walked in silence for a bit. “Whatdid you trade your soul for that you must serveThaneforever?”
Cadel looked at her. “Thanedidn’t tell you?”
“No.AndInever asked.”
“Love.”
Aurora thought it would have been something more deadly or dangerous. “Love?ButDeathcan’t give you that.”
“I know that now.Whyare you so surprised?”
Aurora shrugged, pulling his jacket tighter. “Thanesaid you were a commander for some mortal king’s guard.Iwould’ve thought you’d ask for glory or… not love.”Shebumped her shoulder into his.
“It wasn’t love per se.”Cadelblew out a breath. “Iwas young and very stupid.Ithought ifIhad enough gold,Icould buy her love.Sothat is whatIasked for.Enoughgold and riches to buy her love.”
“But—”Lovecould not be bought, wished, or bargained for.
“I know.”Cadelraised his hand.
“Did she love you?”
“No.Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough gold to make her love me.Sheloved the gold but not me.AndIdidn’t realize that until that pretty bastardThaneshowed up to collect my soul.Shefell at his feet, begging for him to take her instead.”
“You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself.Heis a god,”Aurorateased.Cadelwas handsome enough, ifAurorawere into mortal men.Unlikeher father orSorrow,Auroradidn’t understand the attraction to mortal men.Butthen again,Thanewas her lover.
“That did not help,”Cadelshot back. “Ihated him.Fordays,Idid nothing but wallow in self-pity for someone who never loved me.ThenThaneshowed up with a bottle of whiskey.Hewas just as lonely asIwas.Hehad lost the woman he loved too, or shouldIsay the god he loved.Forthree days, we drank so much whiskey that whenIwoke up,Iwas still drunk.Whenwe finally sobered up,Thanegave me the choice to go to the underworld or serve him.Andbeing that he is such a pretty bastard,Istayed.”
“He is pretty, isn’t he?”Thedark shadow of the small village came into view. “Whenwe fight does he…?”Aurorastopped herself from asking the question she often feared the answer to.Thanewas beautiful even for a god.Hecould have any god in the underworld or the heavens.Hewould also be able to tempt mortals from their husbands and wives. “Nevermind.”
“He drinks.Andfeels sorry for himself.Herarely leaves his room.Andhis mother often worries so much his room looks like a springtime garden.”
Aurora linked her arm into his and laid her head on his shoulder.Ifanyone saw them, they would think they were two lovers on a late-night stroll.Orwere sneaking back into the village. “Thankyou.”
“For what?”
“For saying that.Evenif it is a lie.”
“It’s not.He’sworried about you.He’salways worried about you.”
Aurora lifted her head as they got closer to the village.Theneed pulled her in the direction of the soul. “I’mscaredI’llmess this up.Orthat it will hurt.Orany of the other unknowns.”Theystopped in front of a house just on the edge of the village.Thelower windows of the home were dark.Buta warm glow came from an upstairs room.
Cadel stepped in front of her. “Lookat me.I’dbe worried if you weren’t.EvenThanehates this part.Takea deep breath and focus on nothing other than the soul.I’llstand guard, but do it quickly.Wedon’t need any witnesses.”
Aurora nodded, inhaling the darkness, letting it fill her lungs and body.Sheknocked on the door.Asher knuckles hit the wood, something in her shifted.Hersight was suddenly clearer.Shecould hear everything, the whispers in the house and the sounds of insect wings.Shadowsebbed and flowed around her fingertips.
It was time.
“Go away,” a voice called from the other side of the door.
