Page 113 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

“It is time for you to leave. Weaving is tiresome work, and we have not done it for an age,” Decuma said, hiding a yawn.

“Please, let them stay for dinner. I haven’t seen them in years, and I would love to spend some time with them,” my mother said.

Guilt clawed at my heart. I wanted to spend time with my mother, but I didn’t know how long Calliope would keep the sea monsters at bay.

“I, um, I don’t know how long we have. If I’m being honest.”

A wicked gleam sparkled in Clotho’s blue eyes.

“Yes, the monsters. How ever did you get past them?”

I swallowed hard. “I made a deal with Calliope, queen of the Undersea.”

“You’re either incredibly smart or incredibly stupid,” Decuma scoffed. “Calliope has never made such a deal before. What did you give her in return?”

“Her sister’s head on a platter,” I spat out. I wanted them to know even goddesses could die.

All three of the sisters’ eyes widened.

“Calypso?” Decuma asked, looking at me with a mixture of astonishment and respect.

I kept my face stoic, loving the surprise on their faces.

“As far as I know, that’s her only sister.”

My mother ran a tired hand down her elegant face.

“What have you done? She will come for you.”

A mixture of shame and fear washed over me. Even as an adult I didn’t want to disappoint my mother, but the truth was, life puts us in positions we’d never thought we’d be in, and we have to do the best we can to survive. There was nothing I could do now other than accept my fate.

“Let her come,” I said, blowing out another plume of smoke.

“You are trifling with forces beyond your comprehension. You have upset the natural balance of things.” Decuma gripped the arm of her throne so tightly her knuckles turned white.

I narrowed my eyes at the ancient goddess.

“You have no idea what I know. You call yourself a Fate, but you are nothing more than a fortune teller. No wonder people stopped believing.”

I turned and grabbed my sister’s hand.

“Come on, Baylis. We’re leaving. They cannot help us.”

“Wait!” our mother cried, running after us to envelope us in her arms once more. I held on tight, not wanting to let go. Ididn’t want this to be goodbye, but we all had a role to play in this game.

“Remember what I told you. Great white north, bog, desert, screams. That is where you will find what you are looking for. That is how you will save this continent,” she whispered in my ear while running her hands through my hair the way only a mother can.

I kept my face as stoic as possible. I did not want the other sisters to be more suspicious of me than they already were.

“I love you, Mother. I will find a way to free you,” I whispered, using her long thick hair to hide my lips.

“I love you both,” she said.

Baylis’s body shook with tears.

We held on to our mother for as long as we could before the wraith ushered us out through the bronze doors.

Stars twinkled in the night sky above as we exited the tower. I did not dare look back. I didn’t want to see them looking down at us. I just wanted to get off this island.

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