Page 67 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
She andThanewould’ve made a striking couple.Painwould have complemented his darkness, whileAurorasometimes felt she outshone his beauty.Notwith her own beauty.Butwith the golden light and muted colors that made up everything about her.
“I give you credit.Deathis furious for what you have done toManere.Yourpoor mother has been summoned.Hethinks she can undo it.”PainhandedAuroraa pair of gloves. “Niceclothing.Didyou put on every piece you own?”
“You said dress warm.”Shelooked down at her mismatched clothing. “HopefullyIstill look like a maiden in distress.”
“You’re sureThaneis safe?”
“Not evenFatecan undo a wish.Especiallyone made by me.”Fatewas a little bitter that he had lost the stars.Theywould listen to him sometimes.Spyon other gods and report back.Buthe could not command a wish.
“How long will they all sleep?”
“Just untilIreap the soul of the queen.SoifIfail…”
“Thane never wakes.Sorrowwill killDeathand my father.Probablyyours too?”
Aurora shrugged, pulling on the gloves. “Iwon’t be here to care.”
“Lucky you.Itwill take us almost a day to walk there.Oncethere you cannot tell the queen who you are.She’sold, and her sight isn’t the best.Andsince the sun has not shone inCassefor hundreds of years, she may have forgotten what you look like,”Painsaid, pulling on her own gloves.
“We have to walk?Wecan’t just go?”
“It’s a fairy tale.Nothingis ever easy.”
“Of course not.Let’sgo.”
* * *
The coldness hitAurorafirst.Thenthe stark emptiness of the world around her.Thetrees were gray and bare of any leaves.Thesun’s warm rays did not penetrate the heavy clouds that hung over them.Noliving thing could be found.Therewas no way to tell where the sky started and the earth began.Ithad a dizzying effect.
“Gods below,Ihate fairy tales.”Theair was so cold it held frost crystals that glimmered in the white light.
“This one is the worst.Theone about the sleeping girl isn’t as bad.Ifyou don’t mind dragons.”Pain’swords came out in frozen puffs. “Weneed to keep moving or we’ll freeze.Thereis nothing worse than being a frozen immortal,”Painjoked.
“Oh,Idon’t know, having the god you love cursed by a bitter former lover isn’t the best feeling.”Aurorafell into step withPain.Theirboots squeaked in the snow.Therewas nothing for miles.Nocastle.Novillage.Nothingbut the gray sky that bled into the white ground. “Ican’t even wish to be warmer.”
“How does it feel to be a powerless god like the rest of us?”Painasked.
“Powerless?Areyou telling me you have no special power?Youdon’t own a golden scissors to cut the threads that your father weaves?Ora pen to rewrite the book ofLove?”Aurorateased.Thanewas a reaper.Shecould grant wishes.Notall gods had a power.Butas the daughter ofFateandLove,AuroraassumedPainhad something.
“No,”Painsaid. “Iam whatIam.”
Aurora blew warmth back into her hands. “IfIdidn’t need my eyes,I’dgive you the secrets of the sea.”
“What does that even mean?”Thewind tore atPain’swords.
“I don’t know.It’sa secret.Butthe cost isIcannot lie.”WhenAurorawas born, her mother told her she had hidden the secrets of the sea in her eyes.Theywould be safe there so long asAuroradidn’t lose an eye.
“No, thank you.Irather enjoy lying.Iguess that is my power.”Painpulled at the collar of her jacket.
“OneIhope you are not using on me,”Auroramumbled.Thecoldness seemed to worsen with each step they took.Ithurt to breathe, to blink, to move.She’dbe lucky to survive the coldness.Thiswas the type of cold that cut through flesh and settled deep into her bones.AurorapulledThane’scoat tighter around her, letting his scent fill some of the emptiness.
They trudged on through the snow, neither saying a word.Aurora’sfeet were freezing by the time they came to the outer wall of ice.
“This is whereIhave to leave you.”Painlooked at the wall. “Behindthat wall, you will findQueenSoveand her seven guards.Youbetter pray the king will see through all your clothing and decide to rescue you.I’llmeet you right here once you have completed the task.”
Aurora looked at the wall of ice. “Ibetter pray?Whatif he doesn’t?”
Pain shrugged. “ThenIguess you’ll learn how bad it is to be a frozen immortal.”
