Page 28 of Curse of Immortality
The leaves on the trees were beginning to change color, and some fell to the ground as Maeve walked through the beautiful forest that was untouched by civilization. She walked with her head down, watching as her hard bare feet stepped on the crunchy leaves and sticks. Her thoughts were focused on finding the field of red flowers that her aunt loved so much that she didn’t notice the energy shift around her.
A wind seemed to follow close behind her making the leaves rattle on the ground and some fly through the air.
When Maeve felt the breeze around her, she stopped to see that something peculiar was going on. The leaves on the trees didn’t move, but the leaves around her were lifting from the ground and flying in circles like a small dust devil created by the wind.
Maeve was so surprised by the unusual phenomena that she took a step backward and tripped over a root on the ground.
Lying on the ground she watched how the leaves flew in circles until they began to take shape.
Squinting her eyes, Maeve took in the incredible sight in front of her. It was as if the leaves created a shape of a human. At first, it was hard to see, but then a female figure appeared that moved closer to Maeve.
A voice with a soft, ethereal quality to it made Maeve turn her head in all directions to find the source.
“Hello, Maeve, I’m Zosia,” the wind whispered, and it seemed as though her pleasant voice was a hundred yards away yet also right next to Maeve’s ears.
“Zosia,” Maeve breathed as she got to her feet.
“I’ve been watching you. You are a woman with great strength and ambition that is uncommon for an Earthen.”
“Thank… thank you,” Maeve stuttered.
Zosia moved closer in her feminine body made of leaves. “I’ve come to ask for your help,” she said, each of her words echoing through the soft wind.
“My help?” Maeve asked with large eyes and her mouth gaping a bit.
“Earthens are the most peaceful species alive, yet you possess something inside you that made you willing to kill out of hatred. It’s something I have never seen before in an Earthen.”
Maeve was mortified that someone as wise and godlike as Zosia knew of her suggestion to James about killing Elizabeth Dale. With remorse in her voice, she looked down. “I’m so sorry, Zosia. It was a mistake and I beg for your forgiveness; I will never stoop so low again.”
“Do not beg, Maeve. It’s not my place to forgive you. I myself kill often,” Zosia answered and although she had no eyes, it felt as though she saw right through Maeve, and accepted every part of her.
“You do?” Maeve asked.
“I am nature,” she answered, “Death is a normal and healthy part of the life cycle that creates balance.” The leaves seemed to move around within Zosia’s body, but her figure never shifted. “I created Earthens as peaceful healers to serve the balance of life. Sadly, that balance is no more. Evil lives in this world and the darkness it represents is growing with alarming speed. We need powerful beacons of light to bring together the people with kindness in their hearts to overpower the darkness. That’s why I need your help, Maeve. You must put an end to the Cobra.”
Overwhelmed, Maeve gaped at Zosia. “You want me to kill a snake?”
“The Cobra is a Fader who shifts into many shapes. He walks the Earth looking like a human, but he also flies over the sky like a bird. It is in his shape as the black cobra that he kills with his venom.”
“Why me?” Maeve asked.
“Because you are not just your father’s daughter but your mother’s too. Your thoughts went to a dark place the night you planned to kill that girl. Something I’ve never seen in another Earthen. Therefore you may be my only hope.”
Maeve’s gaze fell to the ground. Being chosen by Zosia because evil lay inside her didn’t make Maeve feel any better about herself. But maybe it wasn’t her fault; maybe she had inherited it from her mother. “Rose says I look like my mother, whereas Althea takes after our father.”
“You’ve taken from your mother in more ways than looks. She too was willing to kill.”
“She was?” Maeve asked with curiosity and surprise. Rose rarely spoke about John and hardly ever about Anne, and it had left Maeve curious about her parents.
“Your mother was the reason Rose was nearly killed and had to flee for her life. But I see your father in you too; you have his heart to balance out your mother’s opportunistic character.”
“She did what?” Maeve shook her head not wanting to believe the words she heard. It explained why Rose hadn’t liked talking about her mother. At the same time that she wondered why Rose had never shared the truth, she knew the answer in her heart. Rose had only ever talked kindly about Anne and said that Maeve got her good looks from her because she didn’t want to ruin the idea Althea and Maeve had of their mother. Now that Maeve knew the truth, however, she was left with even greater anger and resentment towards humans. It also made her feel like she had to make up for what her mother had done and clear herself of being anything like Anne.
“Anything I do will come from a place of love and protection. I don’t want to be associated with evil and I don’t want to be associated with my mother; I’m not human.”
Zosia bowed her head. “Your intentions are pure.”
“What is the evil cobra that you speak of and how do I kill it?”
