Page 33 of Oak & Ember

This would be worth it. He knew it, down to his very soul.

And yet, he had spent so long—an eternity, really—fearing weakness and death. His quest for power had been rooted in a desperate desire to survive. To thrive. That side of him had been so dominant that it was difficult to stifle the instinct and face his doom.

His voice was steady as he uttered the spell. “I, Osiris of the Underworld, offer my blood and soul, my god’s magic, the very essence of my being, to bring this body back to life. May spirit and soul reunite with flesh. Take this sacrifice, and with it, make her whole once more.”

He took the chalice from Lagos and brought it to his lips. He downed the elixir in one gulp. It burned against his throat, searing his insides. His blood boiled as the scorching potion worked its way through his body, melting him from the inside out.

Something cracked within him, and he hunched over with a groan. The crack reverberated through his body, snapping bones and breaking him one piece at a time. Darkness flooded his vision. In seconds, he was on the ground, writhing in pain.

Snap. Snap. Snap.

One by one, his limbs failed him. He lost sensation in his fingers, arms, toes, and legs. He could no longer scream, no longer make a sound. Soon, all that was left was the rapid thundering of his heart, thrashing against his ribcage.

After a moment, that stopped, too. And Cyrus was no more.

AWAKE

PRUE

The sound of the roaring ocean filled Prue’s ears. Blissful sleep claimed her, clinging to her even as she returned to full consciousness. She kept her eyes closed, wishing to linger in this state of rest for a bit longer.

She was so tired. So very tired.

A soft hum of contentment filled her throat as she turned her head, relishing the warm sand against her skin. A gentle breeze whispered across her flesh.

She knew in her heart she was in Krenia. Back home. If she opened her eyes, perhaps she would see Mona sitting alongside her. Or her mother.

Awareness crept into her thoughts. Something tugged within her chest—a feeling of bitterness and resentment toward her mother. But why? Why would there be anything but serenity in her heart right now? This was utter perfection.

But the unsettled feeling within her only grew, like drops of light amidst a sea of darkness. As she scrutinized it, clarity burned in her mind, and her eyes flew open.

It was indeed the beach in Krenia. The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, illuminating the cerulean waves before her.

And next to her in the sand was not Mona, but Gaia.

The goddess of the earth.

She looked like the mother Prue had grown up with. Black curls. Blue eyes. A simple burgundy dress that draped over one shoulder. She hugged her knees against her chest, her eyes fixed on the horizon, and a look of peace on her face.

Was this a hallucination?

Prue grew rigid, her limbs oddly sluggish as she sat up straighter at the sight of her mother.

Gaia sighed and turned to look at Prue with a sad smile on her face. “Hello, daughter.”

Prue struggled to control her breathing as reality settled around her. She wore a crimson dress, torn and smeared with dust and dirt. She was not in Krenia. The last she remembered, she was…

She jumped to her feet, alarm racing through her. “Cyrus! Where is he? I have to?—”

“Relax, Prudence,” Gaia said soothingly. “He is well. You are not really in Krenia right now.”

Prue’s heart wouldn’t stop hammering in her chest. She’d been in Tartarus. Pandora’s box was opened. And the cavern walls collapsed on her and Cyrus. Was he still alive? Why was she here? This place was so familiar and yet…

“I’m between worlds,” Prue realized. She’d been here once before, when she’d tumbled down the mountain and almost died. Cyrus had brought her back with his soul magic.

Mona had been here. And Prue had yearned to stay.

Now, with Gaia here instead, Prue wanted nothing more than to leave.

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