Page 85 of Sinister Hearts
Odin’s thick eyebrow lifted in shock, that I read him to filth. “Perhaps you are right. I could give a fuck less about a littlewitch. I want doomed souls to enslave as they are punished into oblivion. It brings me great joy.” Odin picked food from his teeth with his fingernail. “So, what will it be then?” I could see his patience wearing thin.
“Jaxon is not yours, he is mine.” My milky eyes challenged him.
“The stars have spoken, Odin, against our will.” El Micta stepped between me and Odin.
“You get four months in total, but two months with Jaxon and two months with me, that’s final!” I could see Odin’s displeasure by this offer.
“Fuck no, Faye, no!” Jax refused this agreement.
“Shut it, cowboy!” I bound Jax’s lips shut.
El Micta snickered at the action.
“Blasphemy!” Odin shouted.
“Then you get nothing! I would love to watch you try and take any one of us!” Power ran through my body as flames ran brazen and wild across my flesh. Ryker, Creed, and my primas stepped up from the corners of every dark crevice of the room, ready to strike.
All of us stood off with Odin, our powers flaring, ready to attack. Odin realized he was outnumbered.
“You don’t want division, Odin, this will create war among the realms,” El Micta shouted.
Odin huffed in anger, knowing it to be true. “Very well!” He brought his fingers to his forehead, stressed. “I will see you every winter solstice, twin souls.” He smirked, vanishing in a white cloud of smoke.
“Why, why would you do this?” Jax spoke, after having his mouth unbound.
“It’s not your choice. You will do two months, and I will do two months, switching off for Birdie.” I refused to hear any more about this, the decision was final.
“Birdie needs her mother, Faye!” Jax walked after me.
“And she has her! For ten months. She also needs a father, Jaxon. She’s already lost one.” Silver tears lined my eyes
Jax started to understand. “This was for her, not for you,” he said in astonishment.
“You selfless little witch. My little light.” Jax pulled me in with his strength and warmth. “I love you so much it fucking hurts, woman.” He kissed my face, the feeling like a hundred butterflies as his beard tickled me.
“So it shall be,mi hija. Please, take care of my daughter.” El Micta patted Jax’s shoulder in approval. They came forehead to forehead, giving each other a newfound respect.
“Mi hija.” He wrapped his brown rugged skeletal hands around my face. “I never wanted to leave you, but if it meant you and your mother’s safety, I would gladly suffer in Mictlan for all eternity. If it meant you and your mother’s happiness, then so be it.” Compassion circulated in his eyes. The same eyes I had. My father’s…
I cried out, not able to keep it in any longer. “She’s gone. Ma is gone.”
My father smiled down at me. “Her soul lives on,mija, with me, in Mictlan.” He placed his hand gently on my back.
“What? She’s alive?” I asked, astonished. “But she was in the in-between when I?—”
“While her form is fit for Mictlan, her soul is the same, the same soul I’ve waited years for.” He gave me a slight reassuring smile. “She wanted to help with your initiation, so I granted it.”
My laughter and cries joined in a sweet dance. Ma, she’s okay. I gasped, relieved her soul was no longer stuck in purgatory.
“EveryDia de los Muertos, don’t forget to add us to your ofrenda, so we can visit your dreams,mi amor,” he said, handing me a single red rose from his palm.
“But why is it that you can visit and she can’t?” I asked, perplexed.
“We are of royal ancient blood of the realms. Making her blood not strong enough for the realm shift. It could make her sick, bring her illnesses, cause her suffering and great pain. Do you understand, daughter?” He tucked the red rose behind my ear.
“So this means that I can shift into other realms, a realm that does not belong to my bloodline?” I asked, trying to make sense of it all.
“Precisely,mi vida(my life). It’s why the Council fears your existence.” He waited for my thoughts to catch up with my conscience.
