Page 90 of Fate and Fury

Ana opened her hand and peered down at the stone. “Serpents…it makes sense, I suppose. The Venom of God, and all that. So very charming.”

“Is that a pun?” Katerina said, her lips quirking up at the corners. Only Ana could find humor in a situation like this.

“Just trying to lighten the mood.”

“Very funny. Here.” Katerina held her hand out for the Book and charm, and Ana surrendered them, watching as Katerina knelt and secured them beneath the bed once more.

The other Dimi sat back down on her stool. “Why can’t Sammael simply release Niko? Give his soul back to you?”

“Because he’s tethered to Elena,” Katerina said. “Unfortunately.”

“I see. And despite the fact that Elena was willing to invoke Dark magic and bond with a demon to chain Niko’s soul to hers, he believes that you’ll somehow be able to convince her to let him go. Or force her.” Ana cocked her head. “Will your magic even work in the Underworld?”

“No,” Katerina admitted. “Not according to Sammael. At least, not well. He said that with every step I took, my gifts would drain from me. Blessed blades won’t work, either.”

“I see. So, down you go, all but defenseless, to confront the Venom of God, a crazed Vila, and Saints knows what else. Alone.” Ana put her head in her hands. “You plan to do thisunder the light of a moon that has never existed before, on the word of the worst of the Grigori, when the Kniaz himself is descending upon our village, all on the hopes of retrieving your Shadow’s soul and reviving him so that the two of you can confront the Darkness itself and defeat the fallen Angel of War. And you want to make me complicit.” Ana lifted her head, spreading her hands wide. “Do I have it right, Katerina? Is there something in this insane plan of yours that I’ve failed to comprehend?”

Katerina pressed her fingers against her lips, swallowing hard. “When you put it that way, it does sound…less than practical.”

Ana snorted. “Less than practical, she says. How about risky beyond belief? Deranged? Mad as a March hare?”

“I understand,” Katerina said, her heart sinking. “It was too much to ask. If…if you could just keep my secret…if you could promise me that…”

“If I could just keep your secret!” Ana sounded indignant. “What is it you think I am?”

“I can’t tell Baba,” Katerina said, desperate. “She’d never let me go. You know that. And I have to save Niko. I have to try to kill Elena, and not just for revenge. You didn’t see her in that clearing. She…she’ll never stop. Even Sammael thinks there’s something wrong with her, and I imagine his standards are low.”

“Still joking, even now.” There was an odd note in Ana’s voice. “Only you would travel into the heart of the Venom of God’s power, with the aim of double-crossing him. You didn’t tell him you were going to try to kill Elena, I’m sure.”

“I know how it sounds. But this is my only chance to rescue Niko, Ana. To save Iriska. If I don’t succeed, the Darkness will devour what remains of the Seven Villages, and then break through the wards to the rest of the world. And I would ratherdie trying to save my Shadow than fighting a battle I cannot win, in service to the Fallen Angel of War.”

Ana said nothing, and Katerina dropped her head, staring at the floorboards between her feet. Was she doing this for the right reasons, or was her motivation ultimately selfish…to save Niko, regardless of if the world burned? Did shereallythink she had a chance of making this plan work, or was her vision clouded by her love for him?

She didn’t care. She wanted Niko back more than she craved honor or power. And yes, she wanted to reclaim her reputation, save Kalach, and restore balance to the world. If she could take Elena down too, so much the better.

“You might never come back,” Ana said softly. “Or you might come back corrupted, broken. I might have to…to kill you, Katerina. You’re asking me to aid in sending you to your death.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” Katerina gritted her teeth. “But I have to try, Ana. I do. Maybe between all the Dimis and Shadows, you stand a chance against the Darkness. But Niko only has me. If I don’t save him, no one will.”

“Because no one else is crazy enough to try,” Ana muttered.

Maybe Katerinawascrazy, because some part of her harbored the slim hope that she would survive the Underworld unscathed, vanquish Elena and the Darkness, and still manage to reunite with Niko in the Light. But that seemed too grandiose to voice.

She remembered how her magic had faltered in the clearing, how she had prayed for Niko to help her drive the demons and Elena into the Void. Even dead, his shade had lent her the strength she needed. They were still stronger, together. If she could bring him back, in whatever form—maybe he could fight beside her one last time before his soul ascended to the Saints.

Anything else was unthinkable. She refused to believe that she could fail.

Suppressing the terrifying image of herself chained alongside Niko, subject to Elena’s will while the Darkness rampaged through Iriska, she focused on the argument that was most likely to win Ana over to her side.

“You’re always telling me to ask for help. That I can’t do everything on my own. And you’re the only person left I trust.” She sniffed, fighting to hold back tears. “I know I’ve asked too much of you. So now I just ask that you keep this to yourself, and that…if I don’t come back…you tell Baba the truth. Tell her that I died trying to make things right.”

One tear fell from her eyes, splashing onto the floorboards between her feet, then another. She felt the current of the air as Ana moved, heard the creak of boards as Ana came to her. But she didn’t look up, not even when Ana knelt at her feet, taking Katerina’s cold hands in hers.

“You’re a fool, Katerina Ivanova,” Ana said.

Katerina wanted to wipe her mortifying tears away, but Ana had hold of both her hands. “Yes, I know. You’ve made what you think of this whole endeavor quite clear.”

She tried to yank her hands back, but Ana held tight. “No, little idiot. You’re a fool if you think I wouldn’t help you.”

---