Page 77 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Aurora sunk to the ground, shattering.Herpieces scattered around her in glittery shards.Sobsracked her body.Thestars above her shuddered in the sky.Theyreached for her, wishingFatewould let them comfort her.Butthe air between them chilled.Aurorano longer wanted to be here withThane.Shedidn’t want to feel her heart breaking.Shewanted to melt into the stone and cease to exist.Justdisappear, like the stars did each night.ForgetThane.Forgetthe hateful wordsThanesaid.Forgetthe souls she reaped and the dark mark they left on her.
And she would.Shecalled a star from the night sky, and it perched on her finger. “Sorry, little one.”Aurorastroked it softly, causing the star to turn into a golden apple.Itsskin was bright in the low light of the moon.IwishI…
“Careful, pet,”Moonwarned. “Ifyou take a bite of a golden apple, you will forget everything.”
“I know whatI’mdoing,Mother.Youheard him.”
“I heard a very angry god say some very stupid things.Thingsthat you should be used to hearing from that wicked mouth of his.Thisis just the curse,Aurora.Nowget up.”
“I’m done,Mother.Ican’t live with this curse.”EachtimeThanebroke her heart, she could feel his sadness as he spoke the hateful words.Therewas none of that this time.Andhe had never wished her away.
“He will regret everything tomorrow.Iguarantee in a few days’ time,Thanewill be begging you to come back.Doyou remember last time?Hel’steeth, that boy sent you so many flowers we had to add a room.Hismother is to blame for that.Shethinks flowers are the way to a god’s heart.Heshould have sent jewels and drops fromJupiter.Comehome with me.Spendsome time with your father.Hemisses you.”
Aurora ran her thumb over the thin skin of the apple.Itwas aForgetfulApple, the only way to forget love. “Why,Mother?Weare gods.Whydoes this hurt?”
Moon sat down next toAurora, pulling her closer. “Ohpet, it shouldn’t.Yourheartbreak isFate’sfault.He’sa spiteful god.Hehates your father andDeathfor no other reason than he’s male.”Shepressed kisses on the top ofAurora’shead. “Butdo not do this.Ifyou take a bite, you’ll forget everyone.Me.Yourfather.Whoyou are.”Moonpulled away, holdingAuroraat arm’s length. “Andit will change nothing.Youwill still loveThane.”
Aurora pulled away. “ButIwon’t remember that love.”
“Yes, you will.You’llremember scraps of him and this life.Youwill not hear your true name when it is spoken.Orbe allowed to speak of this life, no matter how hard you try.Andthat will slowly tear you apart.Isthat what you want?”
“Yes,”Aurorayelled.Thane’swords still cut into her skin.Hishatred coated her mouth and throat. “I’mtired,Mother, tired of fighting for a god who doesn’t want me.Whowon’t fight for me.Iwant to live like a mortal without the heaviness of life’s burden.”Auroraheld the apple to her lips.
“Fine.Takethe bite.Forgetall of this.Butwhen you ask forThane’skiss, the spell will be broken.”
Aurora held the apple at eye level. “ThenIhave nothing to fear becauseI’llnever ask.”Auroratook a bite.Thejuice ran down her chin as the magic took effect.Thefloor shifted, and the walls bowed in before fading away.
Her sight grew dim.Shereached for something to break her fall. “Letme forget.”
Moon caughtAurora, laying her head in her lap. “Closeyour eyes and rest, my sweet daughter.”Moon’ssilver tears touchedAurora’smouth, washing away the stardust.Theblush of a new morning faded fromAurora’scheeks. “Ihope you find what you are looking for in your next life.”
AsAurora’sfinal tear fell, a different darkness greeted her.
PARTIII
THE AFTER LIFE
“After all, we did meet once upon a dream.”
–PrincePhillip,SleepingBeauty
CHAPTER38
AURORA
The sound of theMoonFestivalrushed aroundAurora.Sheknew now she was a god.Nota mortal girl namedElla.Sheshook the pain that radiated up her arm.PunchingThanein his pretty face should have made her feel better.Butit didn’t, nor did it fix anything. “Ishould kill you for what you said to me.”Thememories fell into place like grains of sand after a wave.Nieve.Thedark soul of a frozen queen.Thelast wordsThanesaid to her. “Why,Thane?”
“Why what?”Thanespat on the ground, touching his bloodied lip. “Youhit me?”
“You broke my heart.”Auroralooked at him pressing the back of his hand to his bottom lip. “Yousaid you wished you’d never met me.Ifelt your hatred.”Herhead spun in confusion.Ella’stime withThanedidn’t mingle well with hers.Ella’sThanewas sweet and kind.HerThanewas a god.
“I know whatIsaid.Don’tremind me.”Thanelooked at the blood on his hand.
Aurora tried to sort through her thoughts.Theones before she wasEllaand the ones while she wasElla.Theyall sat like oil on water. “Ohgods below,Mr.McCoy.Dammit,Thane, why would you wish me away?”Shefought to keep the pain from her voice.Thesehad beenElla’sfriends.
“I was angry.”Thanescrubbed his face. “Aurora,I’msorry.WhatcanIdo to fix this?Us?”
“I don’t know.”Ithurt being this close to him and yet so far from him.Ella’smemories were still so fresh.Thenight in the old mill.Theflowers.Hisdrunken confession.Butso were hers.Theanger she felt, the heat of his words.
