Page 197 of Lady of Starfire

Cethin obviously knew it too because he tensed, getting to his feet as though he thought he would need to intervene between the two. “Scarlett, she has answered every question you have asked.”

“Sheowesme every godsdamn answer, Cethin,” Scarlett snarled, whirling on him. “She owes both of us every answer. We were both used. Both given information only when she deemed it necessary. You said it yourself: she is a goddess first and a mother second.” Then she scoffed. “I would say calling it second is generous, considering therealreason she desires this lock.”

“Everything I have done is for the two of you and to save this realm,” Saylah hissed, Cethin and Scarlett both turning to look at her.

Scarlett had been wrong.

The silver pooling in her eyes?Thatwas the most mortal thing she had seen from the goddess.

“Tell me,” Scarlett said, her tone low and vicious, “would you have still given up so much of your power—to me, to Cethin, to take from the Sorceress and create the Witches and Shifters—if there was not the guarantee of getting it returned?” She lifted the orb as she said it.

Saylah might be the most powerful in the room, but barely. Not with all that Chaos she’d given away trying to fix her mistakes. Power she clearly planned to reclaim with the lock.

“Yes,” Saylah answered immediately.

“She cares, Scarlett,” Cethin implored. “She cares in the only way she knows how to.”

“Then she will not fight me when I tell her she does not get this lock,” Scarlett answered, holding Saylah’s stare.

“What?” the goddess gasped. “Without that lock, this world falls. Achaz will find another way. He has been close before. He will not stop. The only way to save the realm is to leave it, Scarlett. You know this. His attention will follow wherever we go. He will leave this world in peace as long as we no longer inhabit it.”

“I read somefascinatingthings in the books below this castle,” Scarlett said, beginning to move casually throughout the room. Her eyes connected with Sorin’s, and she dipped her chin, feeling his fire crawl along her skin a moment later. She sent her shadows to it, letting them merge. Then she began tracing a glyph in shadowfire.

“Scarlett, what are you doing with that thing?” Cethin asked, concern growing in his voice. Kailia hadn’t said a word, but she was watching Scarlett with curious eyes.

Rayner and Sorin stayed seated, both waiting. Because the moment Saylah had told them whose Chaos the lock contained? It had been the last piece of their puzzle.

“Did you know that the being who created a world has the power to truly lock it? That their essence is so entwined with the world itself, they can keep out all others if they wish?” Scarlett asked. “The only exceptions are those of equal or greater power.”

“What does that have to do with this?” Cethin asked. “This world is… How would we even know who created it?”

Scarlett raised the orb before her again. “Korra has so many secrets,” she said with a manic grin.

“Are you saying the World Walkers created Halaya?” Kailia asked, speaking for the first time.

“Not just any World Walker. This one,” Scarlett said, gesturing to the lock. “The same essence contained in this lock. The funny thing is, Moranna was so close to figuring it all out. She knew the World Walkers were connected. Had pages and pages of notes on them. But she could never create a being powerful enough to get the lock to respond.” Her eyes bounced from Kailia to Rayner. “No matter how hard she tried.”

“No,” Saylah said, taking a step forward.

That one movement had both Sorin and Rayner standing as her mother finally realized what Scarlett had been doing.

“Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but what I’ve gathered from today’s history lesson is that the high rulers of the World Walkers would be the equivalent of a god or goddess. They would be as powerful as a First,” Scarlett said, tracing another glyph with starfire.

“No,” Saylah said again, panic seeping into her voice.

“How many were there, Saylah? How many high rulers?” Scarlett asked.

“I do not know,” Saylah answered, lurching forward another step as Sorin pulled a dagger from his side. “Do not do this, Scarlett. You do not understand the cost.”

“No?” Scarlett asked, holding out her palm to Sorin. “I am doing exactly what you asked of me. Find the lock. Save this world.”

“Not like this!” Saylah cried, tears slipping free now.

If she had the time, she would marvel at it. At seeing a goddess cry for her.

But she didn’t have the time because if she stopped, she would lose her nerve.

Scarlett?

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