Page 27 of Secret Origins
“She will need help when the time comes. I shall only help to make her allies.”
I watched numbly my mother walked to the thrones and punched the smaller one, breaking the top part like it was made of paper. A small rock rolled to her feet and she swiped it, shoving it at the creature’s face. The bony hand snatched it immediately, tucking it in the folds of the night shirt she was still wearing. I wasn’t sure if that was how she always looked, or if she was manipulating me to see her like that no matter what.
My mother grabbed her long golden robes, ripping the bottom part away. Her sun-kissed legs were left bare, the robe covering her enough to not flash her ass at the creature. Two vicious-looking swords materialized in her hands when she turned to face the rattling doors. In one smooth move, she lopped off her long hair up to her ears. The black curls pooled at her feet before bursting into flames as well, leaving a pile of coal when the fire died out. The creature rushed forward, collecting them all in a pouch that also disappeared in the folds of the night shirt.
“I’m not sure this is wise, Ernmas,” the young girl told my mother, using her name for the first time. “You are a goddess, yet you are still one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. You cannot best the one that gave you life.”
“I am Érenn, this is true. I am also the wife of Delbáeth, the fire shaped. The rightful owner of the Courtless throne.” A chilling smile spread over my mother’s lips. “I will join him, but that does not mean I cannot have fun before I do.”
“You always loved a good battle, dear.” The creature chuckled creepily, which made my mother grin.
The young girl snatched my arm where I was still curled unmoving on the floor, dragging me away as if I weighed nothing. A gasp passed my lips when she reached the spot I was watching from, and I suddenly had a body and was standing next to her in the same room. My muscles locked when I tried to rush and embrace her, but I couldn’t move. My mother looked around, but I knew she couldn’t see me either.
“You are the last one left, my girl. The heir to the throne. Make me proud. Tha goal agam ort, Myst.” And although she was looking just left of my face, I knew she could sense me there.
“I love you too, màthair,” I told her in a choked whisper.
I almost swallowed my tongue when a child came to existence right next to her, making me think I imagined the whole thing. It was me again, so I turned to glare at the creature standing next to me.
“I have a sister?”
“You do not.”
“What the fuck is that then?” I stabbed the air angrily, and that only made the bitch laugh.
“You will not see, but you will hear.” As soon as she said those words, I was blinded.
Darkness met me, but I knew I was still standing in the same place, in the same room. Shouts and weapons being drawn were singing through the air while my heart was hammering so fast and hard, I had to press both hands at the center of my chest to stop it from breaking my ribcage. The creature’s voice whispered from behind me,“You have to run where no one knows who you are. You must forget until it’s time.”It was followed by a splitting headache that caused the eyes to roll to the back of my head. The pain from my broken body returned tenfold, doubling me over.
“Hand over the child!” a female’s voice snapped with so much power I screamed.
“Come and take her mother,” my own mother spat in anger.
Laughter mingled with the maddening noise of a battle. Then nothing. The screams, the shouts, the clinking of metal. The silence was choking me, shriveling my lungs while my mouth was open in a silent scream. The voice whispered again, only this time from inside my head,“You must forget until it’s time.”
A weight settled at my temples and I bolted upright gasping for air.
17
“Myst.”
My arms were sore where Fenrir had an iron grip on them while shaking me for all he was worth. I was still gasping and choking on my own saliva too much to be able to answer him or tell him to butt out, so I hung limply and allowed him to play with me like I was a rag doll. My head had developed its own heartbeat, and even my hair hurt. At least my body was only sore and not broken.
Small victories.
“Myst!” Fenrir growled loudly in my face.
“If you don’t stop screaming, I will kick you in the balls, Fenrir.” I groaned.
“Thank the Fates you are awake.” Yanking me to his chest, he tightened his arms until I was suffocating again.
“I’m not sure being awake is a good thing right now.” Voice muffled in his chest, I wiggled to tell him to release me. He didn’t. “I can’t breathe.”
My ass bounced on the armchair when he dropped me like I was hot, but he didn’t move away. The fear on his face was replaced with shock while I squinted at him, the light in the room burning my retinas after all the darkness. Fenrir took a step back, his jaw dropping to his chest. He opened and closed his mouth enough times that it was agitating.
“Are we playing pantomime?” With great effort, I even snapped my fingers at him. “Let me guess, a fish. No, wait! An asshole. That’s it. What the hell is the matter with you?”
My answer was an accusing finger stabbed at the top of my head by the gaping Fae royal. Marius was also in on the game and playing a fish, only his face was devoid of all color and he was holding himself in a standing position by a tight grip on the back of the sofa.
