Page 50 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“Ah, if it isn’t the daughter ofLife,” a deep voice called.Thane’shalf-brother,Deception, stepped out of the shadows.
“Deception, what an unpleasant surprise.”
Deception took her hand and kissed it.Hewasn’t a full god likeThane.Hismother was mortal, and the hints of his mortality played out on his handsome face.Hewas a mix ofDeath’sbeauty and mortality’s fragility. “Youjust missed my beloved brother.”
Aurora took her hand away. “Thanewas here?”
“Yes, visiting his mother.”Deceptionlooked at the glittery dust that clung to his hands, wiping it on his trousers. “Ittruly sticks to everything, doesn’t it?Iwonder if that is whatSorrowandThanefought about.”
“I wouldn’t know.”Sheshrugged.
“Really?Well, then your beloved is fucking a star because he was covered in stardust.Itwas in his hair.Onhis eyelids.AndifIhad to guess, other places.”Deceptionlooked her up and down. “Butthat’s not why you are here.Isit?”
“No.I’mhere to seeSorrow.”Auroratried to sound as if it were something she did often.
Deception lifted a pale brow.Hecould have been from the heavens as fair as he was and how delicate his features looked.Alldemigods were marked with their mortality.Theyhad two different-colored eyes.Deceptionhad one blue for the mortal half and one golden for the immortal half. “Iwould love to hear whatSorrowhas to say to you.ShallIescort you?”
“No, that’s fine.”Auroratried to step past him.Sheneeded to tread carefully withDeceptionif he was to do as she wished.
“Thane has already warned her about your desire to seeDeath.”Deceptionran a finger upAurora’sarm. “She’llnot agree to help you.ButIwill.”
Aurora swallowed the coy sweetness ofDeception’swords.Hemight not be a full god, but he still could manipulate like one.Mortalsfell for him all the time and his honeyed lies.Herfather had banned him from the mortal world after an entire city burned down because of the liesDeceptionplanted.
“Besides,Ihardly believeDeathwill listen to you,”Aurorasaid, looking him up and down.Demigodshated being reminded of their place. “Butplease, do run off and tellDeathIwish to speak with him.Ifyou can find him.”Aurorawaved him off.
“I know where he is.Ijust left him.Wewere discussing how disappointedDeathwas inThane.”Deceptionagain tried to brush the stardust from his hands.
“How nice for you.”Auroralooked around the hall, then back toDeception.
Deception continued on. “Wewere discussing whyThanewould reap the soul of a witch before her time was up.Anyidea why?”
I would like to know too,thoughtAurora. “Idon’t deal with mortals.Isthere anything else?Idon’t want to keepSorrowwaiting.”
A sharp smile like that ofDeath’scrossedDeception’slips. “Youcan’t beat me at my own game,dove.”Deceptionmocked her. “Ican see how badly you want to speak to my father.ButI’lloffer you this little piece of advice.Becareful what you wish for.”
“Are we done?”Aurorashifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“Of course.Iknow how busy you must be.Goodluck.”Deceptionsneered as he faded back into the shadows.
She wouldn’t need luck.Deceptionwould tell his father.Ifshe had knownDeceptionwas here, she could’ve skipped seeingSorrowaltogether.ButsinceThanehad taken the time to warn his mother, she continued down the long dark hall.
The large doors toSorrow’sroom creaked as guards pushed them open.Theroom’s warm interior surprisedAurora.Alarge fire burned, casting the room in a warm glow, and colorful tapestries hung on the gray walls.Ornaterugs in different shades of yellow and gold covered the stone floors.
Sorrow sat on a cream-colored couch with her white gown fanned out around her.Tinywhite flowers fell to the ground, makingSorrowlook more like the god ofSpringthan sadness.Everythingin the room was in hushed colors except for the smear of red that belonged to the god sitting next toSorrow.
Pain.Thereason forThane’scurse.
“Look who has graced us with her presence.”Sorrowwaved a hand in the air. “Thebeloved daughter ofLife.Aurora, you rememberPain, the daughter ofFateandLove.”Sorrowmotioned to the woman next to her. “Theother god to ruin my son.”
Pain’s dark hair was pulled back into a tight braid, giving her delicate features a sharper edge.Itwas easy to see whySorrowthoughtPainwould be a better fit forThane.Therewere no golden hints of softness onPainlike those that clung toAurora.Herlips were blood red, not brushed with something as silly as stardust.
Aurora turned fromPain. “Ihoped to speak to you alone.”
“I was just leaving.Sorrow.”Painnodded to the god.
“Oh,Pain, don’t go too far.Myson is supposed to join me for dinner tonight,”Sorrowcalled. “I’dlike you to also join us.”
Pain closed her eyes for a moment. “Idon’t want to see your son any more than he wants to see me.AndDeathhas askedIjoin him.Ifyou’ll excuse me.”Painslipped from the room.
