Page 166 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn
“Either way, I have worked myself backwards from there,” she continues, looking at me as I remain seated. I just want her to keep talking, to explaineverything. “Janeneededto be on that ship.Sheis who ruined Morvock, and sent him back to his lands, where he will be forced to slumber for averylong time. That’s for a future not relevant to now. It will bethenthat he truly dies. In the meantime, he is not a worry for you. Not anymore.” My eyes widen with this insight, wondering just how much she knows. “Jane used her healing powers and touched Morvock, sending every ounce of her goddess’s powers into him. Healing is the opposite of misery.
“Getting her on that ship, and safely, is where everything became convoluted and I began the process of spendingyearsplotting everything out. Perhaps one day you will know the specifics as to why.” Cypress looks back down at Jane, and I admit the witch seems more mortal than usual in her expression. “For now, let me remove the ruby.”
Cypress gently lifts Jane’s head as I remain silent, just watching until, without warning, Jane’s heart returns to me with such force that it makes me grip the arm rests, overcome with solace to be fully reconnected to her.
I’m still leaving that fucking piece of my mask in her, in case she ever disappears again.
Cypress holds the ruby up, the sun catching it just right as the center glows a bright red. “Let Jane know the debt she had to pay was simply staying in Coalfell until it was time to leave, and visiting me first gave me the chance to give her those ruby earrings that began Tempest’s involvement, and that Melona didn’t know the extent of her debt, only to relay my message—that’s a burden Jane carried for a long time, I think.
“I also want you to tell her that what Misery wanted from her wasmybloodline. I’m glad that information was able to be withheld from her, as being related to me would have clouded her judgment. And it wasn’t justmybloodline he wanted, but he was also after Moriganna’s, so he could claim power over the ocean god. The parents of either were too corrupted and intertwined with other deities. Ritter’s body would have rejected Morvock, which is why he needed Jane so badly out of the two of them.”
She points a finger up at the ceiling, but motions her hand toward me. “Youwere the catalyst, Soren. That injury at your neck was critical for everything.” She laughs, as if she still can’t believe it worked. “Morvock was set to attack your men at Rosmertta’s within the week, but getting struck made Shade act carelessly. He so was utterly desperate to be the one to secure Jane. Morvock had always seen your injury as something he could take advantage of—he just didn’t knowIwould take advantage of it, too.”
It’s the oddest fucking feeling to think all the free will in my life might have been orchestrated by another. “Then why didn’t Misery just take Jane when we arrived?”
She grins. “He wasconfidenthe’d get her at Rosmertta’s. He is fed by other’s disparity, and the idea that lettingyouget attached—a Sensor who did not serve him—so he could crush your heart before your death, was simply inspired by greed. Inallof my meditation, inallof my searching,youwere the wild influence that he overlooked. Your role as a Sensor gave him false confidence that he’d know your every move. But he gave up that right as soon as he took the flesh.
“And now that Morvock is successfully back in his lands and suppressed for many more years, you can now know where your sister is.”
I swear, even my heart stops beating as my body takes on an absolute stillness, staring at Cypress as I refuse toblink.
She eyes me like she’s not sorry she inflicted this on me, but still understands how difficult she has made my life. “Your failed pursuit of Serena wasalwaysmeant to be your motivation, one that would collide you with Skull’s Row, and thus be sent to capture Jane rather than Blackwell, ensuring she would be on that shiprightwhen Morvock was at his utter weakest—it’s the only way her magic could truly work against him.
“And it wasmethat came to you all those years ago, disguised as a lord to lure your sister, and just as I have blocked you from feeling Jane, you have been unable to feel Serena. On the next full moon, you will discover her across the Black Sea. Basilisk is directly tied to the woman your sister now serves, which is my gift to you. I brought Basilisk here as assurance for everyone’s safety, and also to guide you directly to your sister. He doesn’t know that, however, but I trust you’ll inform him.”
I can’t see straight as I stare her down.
“You… you’re the one that made it so she has beenlostforyears?”
“I’m certain we will cross paths again, Soren. We can discuss this more then. Take care of Jane, please. She and her father are the only family I have left.”
Without anything else said, her body folds in on itself as it turns into a flapping raven, flying out the fucking windowIopened. I bet that bitch orchestratedthat, too.
I aimlessly look around, processing everything she just laid at my feet. I’m numb. Utterly fucking numb. My gaze lands on Jane, who was completely out through all of that.Even though she’s here with me, I feel alone.
For the first time since… since I realized I couldn’t find Serena, I lean my head into my hand and let it all out.
When Jane’sstill deep in her sleep and after I’ve rummaged through all the broken pieces of me, realizing that I have JaneandSerena, I exit the small room, coming across Basilisk, who sits outside our door.
“You’re lucky to have her,” he says, cleaning the grime underneath his nails. I don’t even want to speak about what he might have just felt from me.
“Who do you have connections with that my sister will know?” I ask.
He drinks the water next to him. “Go on. I’ll watch over Jane. Then we can talk about who I’m guessing Cypress is referring to.”
I don’t press Basilisk, knowing I need fresh air so I can think straight. It won’t hurt to let my heart settle more before speaking with him further. Theneedto uncover information on my sister is so quiet I can finally justexist, finding relief in knowing her heart will be available to me, soon.
I stride out into the sun, noticing Ritter sitting against one of the mast’s poles, his stump of a hand wrapped tightly. He had to chop the damn thing off, to which the sirens took care of.
We’reallso beaten and bloodied.
I stand next to the man, kneeling down so he doesn’t have to get up. “Jane has had the ruby removed. She awoke, too, but Iput her back under. Thought you should know.”
He nods, eyeing the tape of his wounded hand. “Thank you for taking care of her.”
“As long as she’ll let me.”
Something has tamed within the Scorpion as well, and I can feel the acceptance of me that he thought he’d never give. “We are nearing Siren’s Cove,” he says, connecting his gaze with mine, the lines of his face deepened from the dryness of the salty air. “I have a few things to gather from the island. Things of Jane’s mother. Will you keep Jane rested until then?”
