Page 22 of Celestial Shadows

“What does that mean?” I ask as I look up at her.

“Variant had to cut you to break the connection. You almost killed him!”

Cambion explodes through the door and catches my eye. “Did he see you?”

“No, but he knew I was watching. He knew I was there. They’ve attacked Earlann and they plan to move to Oronrel next.”

“Were the Knights of Umbria there?” Silvanus asks.

“I counted four with Elioth along with an army of shadow demons.”

CHAPTER TEN

VARIANT

Earlann

I hiss through my teeth, sliding deeper into the tub as hot water glides over me. The ache in my muscles increases, but only for a moment before I finally relax. Fighting off Theren was harder than I anticipated, but I’m glad he’s recovering. Decadent soaps made of sandalwood and citrus cut through the dirt and grime that’s been building throughout the day. I wash away streaks of Theren’s blood before refreshing my bath.

A knock sounds on the door.

“Enter.”

I see her silhouette through the privacy screen that surrounds the tub. Eilish moves closer. “I hope I’m not disturbing you,” she says softly.

“Of course you aren’t.”

She nods. “I just wanted to thank you for what you did today. We’re all grateful and Cambion is making sure the people know it was you who helped save them.”

“It won’t matter. One good deed, after everything that’s been done in my name…”

Eilish remains behind the screen, but she’s unmoving and as silent as the sunrise beyond the windows. The faint smell of her perfume fills me with a serenity I haven’t not felt in ages.

“I’m sure with time they’ll come around.”

“It will take more than one act of selflessness to earn their trust.”

“Yes,” she sighs. “I imagine you’re right. But before I can help them understand you, I have to understand you first.”

“What do you mean?”

She walks in front of the screen and approaches me, taking a seat on the lip of the tub and looks at me, as if she’s trying tosee through me. “Everything I know about you is obscured by Morrigan’s spell.”

“And you’re wondering…”

“Whether you’re really a villain or just another victim of fate’s cruel design.”

“Neither.” I sink lower into the water, feeling the tension in my body fade with each passing second. “When I was born, it was said the gods had reached out and bestowed a blessing on my mother. Songs were sung in my honor and people believed that, so long as I was alive, there would always be light in this world.”

“It was a lot for a child to live up to,” I utter bitterly. “Everyone was blind.”

“How do you mean?”

I shrug. “No one knew the boy who had been blessed with eternal light was drowning in misery. Each day, I cared for my mother as she drifted further and further into madness. Screams through the night, scribbling cryptic symbols on the walls, and forgetting her own name.”

I shut my eyes to the world around me as the memories pour through my head.

“Go on, Variant,” Eilish says softly.

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