Page 55 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Aurora opened her mouth to say something, but the words caught in her throat.Shecould feelDeath’spresence pressing down on her.Shecouldn’t die, but she could feel what death was like, and that was an odd sensation.Itwas like floating at the bottom of a lake.Herbody screamed for air even as she inhaled the sweet smell of night jasmine.
“Aurora, tell him.”Thanelooked at her.
Aurora ignoredThane’sdespair that clawed at her.Theway his eyes pled for her not to do this.Thiswas the only way to save him.Butshe’d have to choose her words carefully.Theyneeded to be exact.Likea wish, orDeathcould easily twist them. “Iwould?—”
“Aurora,”Thanewarned.
“Hush, son.”Deathflicked his wrist, sendingThaneto his knees. “Now, pet, tell me what you want from me.”
“Don’t do this,”Thanegritted out against the unseen reason for his pain. “Please.Wewill figure this out.”
“When will you ever listen?”Deathspat, snapping his fingers.
Aurora felt the heat ofDeath’sanger as it brushed past her and hitThane.Hedoubled over as vines wrapped around him, pulling him to the ground.Theirsharp thorns tore at his skin.Blooddripped fromThane’snose and mouth.Littlered flowers formed with each drop of blood.Aurorapushed back the sleeve of her gown, expecting to see the vines cutting into her wrist.Butthere was nothing.
Death watchedThanewrithe on the ground. “Ishould wish for a son who has ears that worked.Couldyou grant me that?”Deathturned to her.
“Stop this,”Auroracried, feeling every thorn that cut intoThane’sskin.
“I will when you tell me why you summoned me.”Deathsmiled as he watchedThanestruggle against the vines that cut into his throat. “Whata waste.Hehas all the power of the underworld, and yet he chooses to frolic with the stars.Whata disappointment.”Death’slip curled in disdain. “Now, what is it you want?”
Her thoughts wouldn’t organize.Doubtfilled the space that fear hadn’t filled.Whyhad she thought she could do this?Everyonewas right.Shewould fail, and then what?Deathwould twist her love forThaneinto pain and suffering.
“Aurora, listen to me.”Thanestruggled to his knees. “Don’tdo this.Noneof this is real.Trustme.”Thane’svoice was hoarse.
“Not real?Thenlet me try a little harder.”Deathgrabbed a handful ofThane’sdark hair and yanked his head back. “Doyou want to see how real this can be?”Deathlooked atAurora, a wide smile cut across his face.
Aurora screamed, falling to her knees as she feltThane’ssoul being ripped from him, the last threads snapping.Theemptiness that filled her hurt like no physical pain she had ever felt before.
Death knelt next toThane. “Didyou know she can feel your pain?Yourhappiness.Howmuch do you think a god not made for this world will last?Howlong untilIbreak the dawn?”Deathlaughed as he stood.
Aurora’s skin felt like it was on fire asThane’ssoul slammed back into him and then was ripped away.Sherolled over on her side, watching the light flicker in and out ofThane’seyes each time the threads of his soul were cut and then resewn back together.Eachpainful time. “Iwant to make a deal,” she whispered before closing her eyes.
Everything stopped.Thepain.Thenoise.Itwas quiet.Auroraopened her eyes to see she was alone withDeathin theNothingness.Aplace between life and death.Aplace where pain and misery could not follow.Shepushed herself up, ready to face what so many other mortals had in this space.
“I’m listening.”Deathwas everywhere around her.Hisvoice caressed her skin.
Aurora swallowed the bile that sat at the back of her throat. “Iwant to break the curseFateput onThane.”
“So you finally figured it out.IbetFateyou never would.NowIwill owe that smug bastard a life.”Deathformed before her.Hewas so close he could kiss her.Hisfeatures twisted into a mortal form.Aman with hair as dark as night and eyes as silver as the moon.Ithurt how much ofThaneshe could see in the god standing before her.Hedidn’t have a mouth made for sin though.Death'ssmile was sharp and black.
“Just give me the name of the mortal and the cost.”Hervoice cracked.
Death moved around the empty space they stood in. “Youare willing to take the life of a mortal?Didn’tyour beloved warn you abouthow hard that can be?”Deathmocked. “Heis always prattling on about how it weighs on him.”
“I didn’t realize a god of your power had the time to listen to such trivial things.”Itdidn’t come out as strong as she would have liked.
Death laughed. “Iforget how young you are.Butif you insist.Tobreak a curse thatFatehas put on another is no small feat.Theprice will be high.Icould ask you to remove a limb, take your beauty, or gouge out an eye.”
Aurora tried to play off the fear that was whatDeathwould ask of her. “Isthat what you want?”
“No, that pain would only last for a brief moment.Iwant this to linger so every time you look atThane, you will remember the sacrifice you have made.Iwant a pain that will last a lifetime or more.Sodo you agree?”
“You haven’t told me what you want.”Auroracould feel the fear twisting in her belly.HearThane’swarning ringing in her ear.
“Agree, andI’lltell you.”Deathcocked his head.
“No.”Likecurses, deals withDeathcould be twisted if not stated correctly.
