Page 41 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“And you of the sea.”Aurorastepped further into the room and sat down at the table laden with food and drink. “Whichis whereIthought you’d be.”Thatwas where her mother normally was during this time.Atime when the night sky rested.
“I was, but he’s an insufferable ass.”Moonflopped back in her chair.Herpale skin took on the warm hue of the heavens. “Icaught him flirting withMars.Outof all the gods,Mars.”
Aurora rolled her eyes and poured herself some wine.Shehad bigger things to worry about than her mother fighting with one of her many lovers.Shemay have found a way to breakThane’scurse.She’dhave to visit the mortal realm.Somethingshe rarely did. “Ithought you likedMars.Didn'tyou spend time with him last month?Orwas that two months ago?”
“Oh, hush.Youmake me sound likeWind.Andhow amIsupposed to say no to him?You’veseen how pretty he is.ButSeashould’ve known better.Anyway,Ididn’t come here to talk about me.Yourfather is concerned.”
“Then why did he send you?”Auroradoubted her father cared about her.HewasLife.Hehad bigger issues to deal with than the daughter he had becauseDeathhadThane.
“Such a sharp tongue for such a pretty little god.Asyour mother, it’s my duty to make sure you don’t do stupid things.Andbeing that you reek ofhim,Ifear that it is too late.Whenwill you learn he will cause you nothing but heartache?Lasttime he broke your heart, you filled a constellation with your tears.”Hermother lifted a pale brow. “Wheredid those stars go?Ineed more wine.”Hermother searched the room for the golden men and women who usually flittered around the halls of her father’s palace.
“For all the gods’ sake,Mother, your hands work just fine.”Thatwas one of the things that irritated her about her mother.Herinability to do anything for herself.Anotherwas when she only played the role of mother when it suited her.Aurorastood and poured her mother more moonbeam wine.Thesilver-white liquid shimmered in the crystal goblet.
Moon frowned at her daughter. “Whatis the purpose of stars if not to fulfill my every need?”Moonsmiled at the golden man who brought more wine to the table. “Anyway.Yourfather asked thatIspeak to you about his proposal.Haveyou thought more on it?”
“No.”Aurorapoured herself more wine.
“No, you haven’t thought more on it or?—”
“No,Iwill not marrySky.”Auroraturned her attention to the large door that had been left open.Agentle breeze moved the sheer curtains.Outside, the heavens awoke, and the mourning doves called to their mates.Herfather would be perched upon his golden throne, taking in the praises the lesser gods bestowed on him.
“And why not?”Hermother watched one of the stars fluttering around, placing more food on the already loaded table.
“Because.”Auroraplucked a sunberry from the bowl and popped it into her mouth. “IloveThane, and there is nothing you orFathercan do about it.”
“And the curse?”Hermother’s tone was sharp. “Doesthat not stop you from loving him?Aheart you have broken now the consequences you shall reap.Abroken heart you shall have till death do his part.”
Those simple words had doomedThaneand her to many lifetimes of misery. “Itcomplicates things,”Auroraadmitted.Itdid more than complicate.Itmade lovingThanealmost impossible.Tohave a broken heart, he must love and lose that love.Andthat meant he would have to lose her.Overand over again.Sevenlifetimes she had lived with this curse.Tenlifetimes of heartbreak.Eachone crueler than the last.Herpoor heart, so bruised and battered, she feared the next time it broke, it would be the last.Whichwas why she needed to see the witch and why she needed to end this silly conversation with her mother.Godscould only move around the mortal realm at dusk and in the early hours of dawn.
“Complicates things?It’smore than complicated.Ifyou’re desperate for someone to warm your bed, find a mortal.Theyare more suitable than that selfish, self-centered, narcissistic, pig-headed ass,Thane.Youknow, ifFatereally wanted to curse him, he would have cursedThane’slooks.Thenyou wouldn’t think twice about him.”
“I would still love him,”Auroraretorted.Maybewith all the lights off.Butshe would still love him.Andit was a moot point.Godswere never hideous.
Moon’s laughter filled the room. “Oh, come now, daughter,Iknow that is not true.Youare my daughter.Welike pretty things.Thingsthat make us happy.LikeMars.AndSky.Whois very handsome.I’dsay maybe even prettier thanThane.”
“ThenI’dsay you need your eyes checked.”Nogod could matchThane'sbeauty.Aurorastood and walked over to the large doors. “Canwe not discuss him?”Sheloved this time of day.Itreminded her of the moment she first sawThaneasleep under a willow tree, the sky above him bright with all the possibilities.
“Yes, we can.Youneed to forget him anyway.He’llnever change so long as he is cursed.AndIagree with your father.Skyis a good choice.Hewill be kind to you, and you will learn tolivewith him.”
“Live?Andwhat of love?Whatof happiness?Whatof all the reasons for marriage?”Auroraturned to her mother.
Her mother cocked her head, her pale eyes reflecting back the pink hues of the sky. “Whatdoes love have to do with marriage?Andyou don’t have to give upThane.Godstake lovers all the time.I’msureSkywouldn’t mind.”
Aurora searched her mother’s face for the jest she made.Hermother was worse thanLovewhen it came to falling in and out of it.Shehad a new lover every phase. “Thenwhy mustImarry at all?”Aurorarefilled her glass and took a large drink from it. “Youyourself said marriage should be left for the mortals.Weare gods.Whatbenefit wouldIget from marriage?”
“The same things mortals get.”Moon’svoice was hard. “Alliances, security, power, and of course, a father for your children.”
“Are you speaking from experience?”Aurorashot back.Hermother hadn’t needed a husband to bear her.Hermother didn’t need a husband for any of those things she listed.
“Do not cut me with your sharp words.It’snot me who cursedThanenor me who made him break your heart.”Moonplucked her goblet from the table. “Doyou want to be like me?Rushingfrom one lover’s bed to another?Flitteringaround with the stars, depending onFateand your father for scraps?Iknow right now your life seems fine and your father provides.”Moonlooked around the large room. “Butfor how long?Andhow long do you want to live in his shadow?Youmust carve out your own future.Yourown place in the heavens.”
Aurora looked around the golden room.Theceiling had been painted to look like the sunrise.Everythingabout her father’s citadel was covered in gold or sparkled with gems.Eventhe walls in her sitting room held his mark.Muralsof his great deeds were splashed across the wall in pale blues, yellows, and ivory.Inthe hallway outside her door was a tapestry that depicted her father’s creation of man.Shehad no desire for her deeds to be splashed across every surface.Thatwas never her goal in any of her lifetimes.
“And ifIdon’t want that?”
“Why wouldn’t you want that?Allgods must make their mark on this world and the mortal one,”Moonreminded her.
“And how will marryingSkydo that?”Aurorathrew back at her mother.Shedid leave her mark every morning when she coaxedThanefrom the heavens.Thatwas why her father had her.Deathwanted to keep the mortals in darkness.Itwas whyDeathhadThane.Herfather wanted to keep the mortals in his eternal light.
