Page 61 of Voices in the Stars
“She died when the temple was set on fire.” My words were soft.
“I wasn’t in there. There was a cold running through some of the elderly at that time. My father took me into the forest to gather some lemon balm to help. When we came back, that’s when we saw the fire. I tried to tell you I was okay.” Her voice cracked toward the end. I wanted to comfort her, but I was helpless to do anything but keep running my thumb across her knee. There was a deep need to know her side. “My father stopped me, though. He kept whispering that this must be.”
My mouth opened and closed several times as I thought about what to say. Emotions battled through me. Joy at the fact that she was okay. Confusion on why all this had to be kept from me. Anger was what my words settled on as they forced their way out.
“I thought you died. My mother thought you died. There were months when I barely left the house because I couldn’t stand the sight of the burnt temple. I endured Eris and Ivy’s torment until I was sent away to go lead his armies.” Guilt twisted my stomach as she flinched at my words, but I couldn’t stop. “Just to find out this was their plan? They wanted me to suffer?”
“I’m sorry, Atlas,” Cece whispered. My body jerked away from her as she reached out to touch me.
“You don’t get to be sorry,” I snapped. I knew my words hurt, but I couldn’t stop them. “You got to forget everything while I was left in pain.”
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as I stood. There should’ve been sadness filling me. Instead, all I could hear was the quickening of her heartbeat. The call to it was getting louder. A single bite and I would be strong enough to take down Eris.
“I’m leaving tomorrow,” I snapped out instead, turning from her as I stepped out of the house. The cool breeze did little to calm the pulsating need.
“I need more time,” she argued, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“If this is the show the gods want, then that’s exactly what they’re going to get. I’m going to end this with or without you.” I forced all emotions out of my voice.
Even to my own ears, I sounded nothing like me. I shut my eyes, sucking in a sharp breath to avoid turning to her. There was no doubt in my mind that I was being unreasonable. We had enough time to spend another day or two here.
I needed this to end, though. The gods ripped away the two people who mattered most to me. For twenty years, I lived with the knowledge that I watched my mother and best friend get trapped inside the burning temple where they died. Now, the gods decided to return my friend, only for them to have ripped away enough memories that she didn’t know me. They had no problem telling her that my mother needed to die to fulfill whatever prophecy they had set for us. It was too much for me. Anger twisted through my chest; any words I wanted to say to her got clogged in my throat. This was just easier.
Her protests pierced my heart as I closed the door, leaning my head against it. Tears finally prickled the corners of my eyes. I was quick to wipe any trace of them away before walking away. Bekah and Leon would be getting a drinking partner for the day.
I wantedto scream as Atlas slammed the door in my face. Sinking to the ground, I ran my hands across my face before leaning back against the wall. A dull throbbing took place behind my eyes. There was little doubt in my mind that our conversation would end well. I certainly didn’t think it would end with him storming out, though.
Nausea twisted my stomach as another wave of memories flashed through my mind. They weren’t as clear as before. Purple bed sheets. Snowflakes floating from the sky through a window. They hadn’t stopped since Atlas brought me inside. It took every bit of control I possessed to not show any discomfort in front of him. It felt like I needed to tell him what I now knew. Though, I thought he would be happier about it then he was. Now, the distraction of our conversation was gone, and the memories were coming back faster. With a groan I stood, keeping a hand pressed against the wall as I stumbled back into the bedroom.
Light from the setting sun shone through the window as I flopped onto the bed. It was early, but my entire body was weighed down by exhaustion. The throbbing kicked up until there was a steady pounding throughout my skull. I grabbed Atlas’ pillow from beside me and slammed it across my face, letting the darkness chase away some of the aches.
Images kept flashing through my mind, each one staying longer than the last. There was a small group of children sitting around me. Bencheshad been shoved back against the walls so there was room for us to sit in three separate circles. Colored circles danced around the wood floor from the light coming through the stained-glass windows. Women in dark red dresses talked down to us. Each one looked like at least one of the kids in their group. I glanced up at the woman talking to us before finding her child sitting across from us. My father smiled over at me as he walked between the groups. His attention wasn’t mine for long as he carefully listened to each of the women.
I knew I should’ve been paying attention to what was being said. It would be important later. Instead, my attention was pulled to the world moving through one of the few clear windows. A lady ran by with her arms full of books. One tumbled to the ground. She glanced between it and somewhere off in the distance. A few words were mumbled past her lips before she kept running. My gaze followed her until it was caught by someone else running. This time they charged right up to the window I was staring out of. A smile broke out as Atlas waved a hand at me before pointing at the door.
I tried to keep ahold of this memory, wanting to see where he was taking me as I ran out of the temple with people yelling behind me. Instead, it quickly faded away to be replaced by another.
I was standing in a forest. Child me was off in the distance without my father. I flinched as a woman appeared in front of me. She had fire red hair that was tucked up in a high bun. When she turned to look at me, her eyes were bright green and glowing. She flashed a large smile before turning back to the people in front of me.
It hit me then. There wasn’t a single flashback where I was seeing through my own eyes. I was a background character watching what was happening.
“These aren’t actually my memories,” I muttered, a sinking feeling settling in my chest.
“Not quite,” the woman beside me spoke up. “All of these things happened to you. These are just our memories of what happened.”
“You’re a god.” It wasn’t a question. Even if it was, her lack of response was more than enough of an answer. “What happened to my memories?”
“I’ve never wiped someone’s memories before. I tried my best, but they’re gone.” Pity filled her eyes as she looked down at me.
“Can I get them back somehow?” My voice was quiet as I asked, scared of the answer she would give me.
“Find the man who speaks to the dead. You can help each other,” she answered.
“Help? I thought my memories were gone?” I asked.
It was hopeless as I turned to look at her, only to find myself alone. With a huff, I turned back to where child me was standing.
Leaves rustled throughout the forest. I pulled the blanket wrapped around my shoulders tighter to my body as the wind sent chills down me. There was a group of people standing next to me. My real father was talking next to my parents and Josi. They were arguing and pointing at me. Behind them was Donnaway. I could see the peaks of the house I grew up in.
