Page 75 of Right Hand Of The Reaper
The twins were looking at another one. “What colour dress is she wearing?”
Rayne turned to me with a puzzled look in his eyes. “Black.”
“With pale blue piping,” Rafe added.
Gods, it wasn’t just me in the picture. “You’re in them too.”
“What?” Magnus asked.
“Look at them. The red dress matches your eyes, the blue one Atticus’ hair, there’s one over there with the twins colouring too. In that one over there she’s in amber like Hades’ eyes.” I walked to the other end of the gallery. “In this one she’s wearing gold.”
“Like me,” Thane said softly.
“So, who is this then?” Atticus called from behind me. The portrait at the end of the collection was slightly different to the others. There was a sadness about her eyes, a haunted look in her expression and she didn’t smile. Her hair was hidden beneath a gable hood, but the artist had painted a few wisps of white escaping at the sides. Her dress was black with a red underskirt and red velvet sleeves. It was beautiful, and the artist had caught the shimmer of the fabric. And, while the dress matched Magnus’ colouring, I knew this referred to someone else. The red was brighter, more like a scarlet and the black was so dense, it was like shadows wrapped in night.
“I don’t know,” I replied, but there was something familiar about it, something that tugged at a memory, but I couldn’t quite grasp it. I reached my hand out, a sudden urge crawling under my skin to touch the painting. As soon as my fingers brushed against the canvas images burst in the forefront of my mind.
Red eyes.
Wisps of darkness.
A dark smile.
Broad shoulders.
They flashed one after the other until my vision turned black, and a sharp pain sliced through my skull.
There were shouts all around me, but I couldn’t make sense of them. There was too much pain. I heard a scream. Felt hands around my face.
Then there was nothing.
“This is crazy! We can’t!” I shouted, my heart racing.
“My love, we must. It’s the only way,” he replied, his eyes dark and full of fear.
“What if it doesn’t work?” I couldn’t bear it if I lost him forever. He was my greatest love, the other half of my soul.
He gripped the sides of my face. “It has too. Otherwise, we will be apart forever." He trailed a thumb along my cheek. “I can’t lose you.”
Rapid thuds beat on the door. “Open up in the name of the King!”
“It’s now or never, my love.” He gripped my hands and dragged me towards the altar.
“Wait,” I said before crashing my lips to his and pouring everything I felt into our kiss. Tears streamed down my face as he kissed me back, just as desperately.
Fists pummelled on the door again, and we broke apart.
“Don’t cry for me,” he said as he wiped away my tears. “You’ll find your way back to me and then we will be together again.”
“Yes,” I replied before taking a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
He passed me the Diadem and whispered some words that I didn’t understand. Then I faded into nothing and settled among the stars.
Chapter Thirty
Roux
Icametowitha jolt and a gasp.
