Page 29 of The Tenth Muse

That rapping was still strong. I could still draw from it, couldn’t I?

“I’m sure you can, but not today,” Reaper insisted. “You need to rest.”

They bent and I fell over their shoulder, lifting me up before I could protest, carrying me out from the room.

“N-no I don’t.” I knocked a fist against their back, shadows dodging my frail blows. “How can I rest, when they’ve been restless for decades.”

A calloused palm gently squeezed the back of my thigh. “I promise, we will do more tomorrow.”

My tail traitorously curled around Reaper’s wrist as a trail of heat prickled from the point of contact and travelled upward. I squeezed my thighs together.

“You have already done so much.” Reaper said, turning around so I could see the dozens of new fully corporeal bodies. “Get them to the infirmary.”

A cluster of splendors, all with beautiful wings held at their backs were in the corner, each being helped up by scythes. I didn’t have the grandeur about me that came with a long and lush wingspan. Not like them. My chest ached, longing lancing me between ribs.

I was so tired, so utterly exhausted, but these were my kin. My family. I’d finally get to meet them and learn more about our kind, so many things I’d never understood.

Did they know who I was?

The eldest of the group gave me a knowing smile. The edges of my vision were blurring, the feathers spanning their wings bleeding out and looking more like an oil painting, plumes smeared onto a fading canvas…

“You’re going with them. I would like for you to get some herbs to help you regain your strength from bringing back so many souls. My fellow scythes and I will be busy getting them settled in.”

The slow thud of my pulse stuttered. “You’re going?”

“Only for a short while.” Their palm slid subtly up and down with each step toward the infirmary. “I’ll get you to the healers and then come get you after I’m done.”

It was the last thing they said before my eyes fluttered shut and exhaustion claimed me.

When I awoke, veins of pale lilac feathers came into focus. I lifted my gaze to face the older splendor from earlier. She smiled softly. “Thank you for what you did for us. How are you feeling?”

“Sore,” I croaked, shifting weight off of my aching back and shoulders. “How long was I?—”

“Almost a full day. We stayed after the healers checked on us and we were brought some food.” She glanced behind her but I couldn’t see what she was looking at, her large wings splayed wide, blocking my view. “I’m your aunt Sylka, and these are my daughters Eros and Luna.”

Her daughters were beautiful. One with deep eggplant-hued feathers and the other with soft downy indigo. I swallowed thickly, trying to smooth out the discordant sound of my voice. “You’re my family.”

“We are.”

“If you’re my aunt, do you know what happened… is my mother?—”

“Yes, she’s here. Still restless.” Sylka lifted a cool compress to my head, wiping away some of the beads of sweat gatheredthere. My entire body was warm, feverish, the gauzy sheet soaked beneath me. “Along with your older sisters.”

“Sisters?” The corner of my mouth lifted.

“Yes, you are the youngest of five.”

A family. Arealfamily. One that I belonged to. My heart soared at the thought. I pushed up onto my elbows, hoping to spot Reaper, to beg them to let me sing again even with my throat scraped raw. I could push through the pain. “How many of us are there?”

“Twelve, not counting you.” Eros lifted a steaming cup. Anise and spice hit my nostrils. “Drink,” Sylka instructed, nudging it against my lips. I parted my lips, letting the warm cup and hotter liquid seep down my tongue and sear my stinging throat. “There are others, of course, ones who moved on to Occasus before.”

I swallowed the tea, wincing at the potent flavor. “What happened to you?”

“Some of us were invited to the palace. One after the other we were made to sing for the Emperor. I lost my voice and tried to escape—” Her eyes darted to her daughters before looking up from under long feathered lashes. “I was shot in the back with a poison tipped arrow and died before falling into the ocean.”

“We watched it happen.” Luna said, wrapping a wing around her sister, Eros.

Sylka reached her feathers wide, taking them both within the umber of her embrace. “Soon after, your mother and sisters were brought to the palace. The Emperor sent his soldiers far and wide. Your mother hid you among the trees and used her song to summon the nymphs to help you, the only other living beings we were friends with in the Caprificus Forest. Then she drew the soldiers away. Unfortunately she was discovered, then your sisters. All but you.”

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