Page 85 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Death lifted a dark brow. “Youdid not summon me.Ihave the last name.”Asmall piece of paper appeared betweenDeath’sdark-tipped fingers.Heheld it out toAurora.
Aurora stared at it.Herbreath was stuck in her throat as she reached for it.
“On second thought, what fun would that be?”Thepaper turned to ash.
“Dammit, give it to me,”Auroracried. “Thishas gone on long enough.”
“Wrong,”Deathhissed. “Icould play this game for another lifetime.Watchingyou and my beloved son tear each other apart.It’svery entertaining.Thingshave been a little dull.”Death’ssmile was sharp, and his silver eyes burned bright.
Aurora fought the tears that clogged her throat.Nottears of fear but of frustration.Frustrationthat she had no control over any of this.Herlife,Thane’s.Thosemortals she had grown to love. “Justgive me the name.”
“No,”Deathshot back.
“What?”Aurorapulled back.
“Are you also hard of hearing?Isaid no.”Deathpoured himself a shot of lightning.
“If you don’t give it to me, this never ends.”
Death smiled. “Iknow.Funnyhow that works.Ididn’t put a time on the dealImade with the mortal either.Icould demand you reap the soul today or in ten years.Imust confessIwas surprised you made it this far.Ithought that frozen queen would be the end of you.Buthere we are.Thelast is always the hardest.”
“Not if you don’t give it to me.”Aurorawas growing tired of this.Tiredof the sickness that sat at the base of her throat. “Tellme now.”
Death swallowed down the lightning. “First, how was your time with the mortals?”
“Miserable.Thisis not a social call.Thename.”Shedidn’t have all night to play this stupid game with him.Thesoul would have to be reaped before the sunrise in the mortal land.
“I have a better idea.Sinceyou figured out what it took to reap the queen’s soul,I’llgive you another riddle.”Deathstepped closer, his features shifting to the god he was.Hissilver eyes turned dark amber.Hisbeauty was almost mesmerizing, his voice low and bewitching. “Oncethere was a god who lost her memories.Shewished them away.Thesilly god found herself in the mortal realm.Thereshe found a boy and a girl, both wishing for the same thing: love.Thencame a mother and daughter, both with a heart big enough to love everyone.Butas curses go, one must die, and one heart must break.Whoit is onlyIknow.”
Aurora’s mind spun with all the options.Mrs.AandLillian.HadSissyorClarafound someone to love?
Death circled around her. “Canyou do it?Canyou cut the cord of the one who made a deal with me while you were here withThane?”
The sickness worked its way further up her throat.Itthreatened to spill out onto the floor.Shewondered what it would look like.Ifshe did, would it be black like death or red like heartbreak? “Ihate you.”
“Yes, most do.IamDeath.Iam the end.Noone likes the end.”Deathlooked to the sky again. “It’sgetting late.Goodluck, daughter ofLife, or shallIsay, bringer of heartache,”Deathtaunted before fading into the nothingness.
Aurora screamed to the sky before she fell to her knees.Shepressed her forehead to the cold tile, breathing through the sickness that coated her throat and mouth.Shegagged on it, swallowing it back down.Shewould not letDeathdo this to her.Shecould not.Auroralay down on the tile, letting the coolness seep through her clothing, making her numb to what she had to do.OneofElla’sloved ones would have to die.Andshe’d have to be the one to do it.
“Aurora?”Cadelcalled.
Aurora rolled over and looked up at the sky.Afew stars had slipped off to tell her secrets to any god who would listen. “Runoff, you stupid little cowards.AndwhenDeathknows your secrets, then what?Willyou be so bold?” she yelled. “Ishould lose just so you can feel what real pain is.”
“Why are you lying on the ground?”Cadelcame into view, looking down at her.
“BecauseIwas stupid and fell in love with a god.”Auroracould feel the tears run down her cheek.
“I know the feeling.Comeon.Iknow whereThanekeeps the whiskey.”
CHAPTER42
AURORA
Aurora watchedRivertonwhisk by the carriage window.Thecloser she got to the inn, a familiar warmth filled her.Shehad missed the bite ofClara’ssharp words and hearingSissy’svoice float across the kitchen.Shemissed pieces of this life.Ellahad thought this life difficult, butAuroranow understood its simplicity.Hardwas dealing with immortal beings that had a hundred lifetimes to invent new games in which only they could win.Hardwas having to choose between death and love.Hardwas being a god.
That’s what she was, a god, and that would not change.Thissoul was like the five others she had taken.Justa means to an end.Infact,Aurorahad warned them.Toldthem to stay away from the old womanDeathdisguised himself as.Theyhad brought this on themselves.Shecould not help them even if she didn’t need one of their souls.Sothis was on them.Nother.
Not to mention she was a god, and gods love no one but themselves.
