Page 92 of Court of Heathens

“You are seeking the soul of your love, no?” he asks, leaning against the rock as he watches us. “You would not be here if not.”

“You said there was a chance.” Adder steps closer. “Tell us how.” Despite this being his creator, he does not seem bothered, demanding his assistance.

Luckily, he is not offended and bows his head. “I sense you are oneof mine. I am sorry for your loss, though it is interesting. You love the one you have lost.”

Adder’s nostrils flare. “Yes. I know I am not capable of love?—”

“Everybody is capable of love,” he murmurs while watching Adder. “I was, and so are you. The fact that you are here only proves it. Us creatures of evil tend to love deeper than most others. We cling to the light and hope that love offers us, banishing the darkness from our souls. How long ago did you lose her? That will make a difference.”

“Recently,” Adder replies, relaxing slightly. “We are here to bring her back. If you try to stop us?—”

“I am not here to stop you, blood of mine. I am here to help you.” He pushes from the rock. “Is she capable of surviving death?”

“No grave can hold our witch,” I tell him. “She is here, I know it.”

“Why would you help us?” Adder asks. “You do not know us.”

“No, but I know the agony in your eyes. I know the pain of losing the one you love. If I can help, I will.”

“You are here for what you lost, your love,” I murmur.

“Mine is no longer in there,” he murmurs, “yet I always find myself here to check. There is not much time, as souls do not stay here forever. You will only get one chance to bring her back, and you must be strong enough to do so.”

“Tell us how,” I plead, bowing my head in respect. “I will give anything. My strength knows no bounds when it comes to her.”

“Good, you’ll need that determination.” He looks at the pool once more. “To bring back what is lost, you will have to give a piece of yourself. A piece nobody should be able to live without. A soul must be taken and given, and it must have a host. However, if she is reborn from your sacrifice, it will live within her, and you will only be whole when you are together. You must make that decision—to live without your heart or your soul.”

“She can have it. She can have it all,” I say without hesitation.

Adder and Sha agree instantly, and he smiles. “You will lose your godhood.”

“I do not care. None of that matters, only her.”

“A god in love is dangerous indeed. That’s what they told me atleast. Personally, I always found we were more powerful.” He glances at the pool. “Go, before it is too late. I wish you well. I hope you find your love and will be whole again.”

Nodding my thanks, I share a look with the others. “You do not have to do this. I can go alone.”

“No, it is not just you who loves her, god,” Adder snaps. “Besides, she’s had my soul since the day she was born.” He smiles softly and heads down the steps as I glance at Sha.

“She is mine,” is all he says before he follows Adder.

Taking a deep breath, I turn and pass them, marching down the steps to the glowing water. As my feet touch the edge of the swirling liquid, power washes over me, making me gasp. It feels wrong to touch it, as if I’m defiling life itself, but I ignore it as I step deeper.

Despite its appearance, the water only goes to our knees, and we sink into its glowing depths. Kneeling there, we face each other. I hold out my hand, and Adder takes it, nodding at me, then I offer my other one to Sha. He places his in mine before taking Adder’s. We are connected, and as one, we bow our heads above the flowing water.

We do not speak as we wait, our hearts open as we pour our agony and grief into the waters, asking for her return. We beg this pure power to give her to us, and in offering, we give up our souls.

It hears us. The water rises around us to create a glowing, circular wall of water, spinning until it shoots into our chests like spears. I jerk from the force, my mouth opening on a silent scream as it reaches deep inside me, carving out my soul.

I do not fight it. I give it up, even as pure pain pours through me. I am dying, I am being torn apart, but I still do not ask it to stop. I allow it to take what it wants. I feel every molecule being torn from me, as if I am bleeding from a thousand cuts. I keep my eyes locked on Adder and Sha, who do the same.

The spears of water glow where they pierce our chests, and then our skin begins to shine with power. As I watch, those spears grow down like roots, hitting the water and sinking deep into the pool.

The water starts to rise like a cradle, cupping a bright orb that I know is my Freya.

It’s her soul, and it is beautiful.

It rises through the water towards us, our souls flowing down in its place. We are just balls of agony, lost, empty shells of what we were.

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