“Wait.” Raising a palm, I ask, “Four questions to ask and you’ll answer truthfully?”
“Yes, so make them count.”
“Okay–give me a moment, please.” Holy shit, this is real, but there are more than four questions I want answered.
I go through each instance, wrecking my brain as he waits for my interrogation. Studying the stars as though they’ll help me choose, Idecide after an endless moment the ones circling my thoughts will have to do.
“First question.” I pause in preparation of his answer. “Why do youneedto kill me?” I swallow a golf ball size of regret following the question, and nervousness shakes my leg.
“Your mother…killed my father.” He returns a pause, and I suck in more air than my lungs can handle. My heart falls into the pit of my ass.
What…The last four ‘W’s’ follow my thoughts, along with ‘how,’ and before asking, he continues. Thank God. I’m still processing…this.
“Not only did she end his life, but your mother required a ritual sacrifice. Me.” Ethan looks away for a brief, yet forever second, recalling whatever has morphed his painless mask into a deepened tell of agony. “However, when it came time for my end, my little sister pleaded in exchange, saying she would do anything your mother asked so long as Alex and I lived.” He scoffs, detesting the notion of a child making this sacrifice, and my heart shatters.
Oh my God.Anguish clenches every organ, squeezing and gripping.Please don’t say you lost your sister.
“A willing participant increases the potency of a ritual, so of course, your mother accepted her offer. I was forced to watch Lily’s life taken for nothing more than keeping you safe. Her precious daughter. My sister died for you to live, Kyra,” he admits, and something dark shifts across my skin. “So, you can understand my feelings on the matter.” And I do.
Speechless, Ethan holds my feelings captive. If he desires at this very second to finish what he started, more of me than I care to acknowledge would allow him. And I’m contemplating asking if he feels inclined.
He sits watching, and all I can do is fight back this avalanche of agony snowballing into something much larger.
My mother killed his father, his sister, and she made him watch. How the hell did any of this happen? When did a mortal maketheir way into this realm, and how was she able to kill two beings stronger than her? And Alex is his brother?The start of an endless inquiry. I’m left with many questions, yet scanning over Ethan’s features, I hold my tongue.
His direct approach leaves little room for contesting this information, but I pray like hell it isn’t true. It means another death on my hands. Which in response, means another tally needing tattooed on my hip.
“Ethan. I–I’m…so terribly sorry.” It’s a small pebble of forgiveness in a large pond of sorrow.
“I’d rather we move on. You can ask your next question.”
“How can you expect another question after this, Ethan? From your words, I’m the reason for your sister’s demise and maybe your father’s. I need a moment.” I raise my voice at how absurd he is.
“We don’t have much longer. Soon the Academy will find out we’re missing and send a search and rescue.”
“Fine.” Caving, I ask a newly sought after question. “If Alex is your brother, why didn’t he help with rescuing and saving your family?
“A forgetful spell, ‘oblitus’ was cast upon Alex the night Lily died. At great lengths, I tried discussing it, but he told me our sister never existed, blaming my memory on trauma from the death of our father.” He huffs as though speaking about it forms fresh wounds and looks away.
It all keeps getting worse. Damn it.
“I tried different spells in hopes of bringing back his memory, but to what end? Nothing worked. This spell has God tier magic behind it, and only another God can overturn it. As it stands, I’m short on having those types of friends.”
“But…” I start, then close my mouth. I’ve asked enough questions. “I’m sorry, please continue.”
“After years of trying, we grew to a point of despising one another. We may appear cordial, but truth be told, Alex loathes mefor tainting our father’s memory. He calls it a fabricated story, growing my hatred for him. I alone hold her memory, and this will never change.”
How can two beings, born in different areas, become two of the most trauma induced fays living in Valirene? “If permitted, can I save my remaining two questions for a later date? If not, I’ll understand and let it go.” I’m unable to look his way after the knowledge he gave me.
“I’ll permit it. I still require knowledge about Rosie,” he says, standing and shaking off pockets of dust.
“May I ask a favor of you, though?”
“If it’s for me not to kill you, Kyra, I can’t?—”
“Your intentions are clear; I’m not asking that.” Taking a deep breath, I prepare for his rejection. “But can you prolong it until I’ve scratched one name off my list? Afterwards, we’ll cross this bridge when we get to it.” I shake off such visions and stand.
“Are you mocking me, Kyra, or do you have an actual list?”
