Page 57 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Aurora stared down at the three names on the list.Thefirst three souls she would need to collect.Shetried not to think of the lives she was ending.Thefirst three wouldn’t break the curse.Deathwould not let her off that easy.Hewould make her collect all six, and if she failed… she couldn’t fail.Notjust because of the curse but becauseDeathcould not be given the power of the stars.
As the keeper of their secrets, that gave her the power to fulfill wishes made upon them.Andthat was not a powerDeathcould be given.Shehad not toldThanewhatDeathwanted.Whichmade him sulk even more.Itwas hard enough to deal with this anger towards her.Shecouldn’t sit in the same room with him as it was.Ifhe knew the true cost, his anger would destroy them both.Shewould have gone to the heavens but thenDeathcould not reach her.
“I can’t help you.Oncemy father assigns a soul to you,Icannot reap it.You’llhave to reap these on your own.”
She looked up to seeThanestanding in the doorway.Shehad moved from his room to have at least a wall between her and his hatred. “Youshould be in bed.”Histhroat and arms were covered in cuts and bruises.
“I’m fine,” he said, stepping into the room.
She could feel every stiff muscle and bruised rib.Shelooked down at her wrist, pulling her sleeves down over the ghost of his bruises.
“Let me see the list.”
Aurora handed it to him.Threemortals that by nightfall would be dead.Whoseheart would break for them?
“No one’s heart will break over these.Onesold his soul for wealth, another wanted more time, and the final for power.”
“I knew the first three would not be the one.”Shetook the list again.Therewas nothing written behind the names, nothing to give a hint as to where she would find them. “Atleast no one’s heart will break tonight.”
“It’ll be the sixth one that will be the hardest.Thelast one always is.Doyou not see how stupid this was?”Thaneclosed his eyes. “Idid not mean that.”
He lied; she sensed his deception.Hethought she was stupid. “Yes, you did, and you’re right.Itwas stupid for me to think you cared about me.”Aurorastood. “I’llleave you to your self-righteousness.IfIsucceed, you’ll be the first to know since it is your curseIam breaking.”Auroragathered a couple gowns from a chair.
“Aurora.”Thanereached for her. “Don’tgo.Please.Ididn’t mean it.”Thanewalked over to her.Hetook the gowns and set them down. “Didhe put any other conditions, like you had to collect all six in one night?”
“No.Hejust said the first three would come in three days.Andhere they are.”Auroralooked down at the parchment. “Willit be hard?Toreap a soul?”
Thane stepped closer to her. “Idon’t know, love.I’venever not done it.Iwas born with the weight of my duty.”
“Will you tell me how?”Shelooked up at him.Thatwas what scared her the most.Howwould she do this?Aknife to the heart?Apillow over their face?
“How to reap a soul?”Thanethought for a moment. “Idon’t thinkIcan.It’swhoIam and who you are not.Iwish you hadn’t done this.”
“That is not a wishIcan grant.Icannot change whatDeathmust undo.”Ifshe could, she would’ve wished the curse away. “Youhave made your feelings quite clear.Nowif you have nothing helpful to say,Ihave a job to do.Whateverthat may look like.”Thenight hadn’t even started, and yet she was already tired.
The gold bracelets shimmered in the low light ofManere.Itwas odd that no matter how she moved, they didn’t make a noise.Whenshe slept, they left no mark.Itwas almost as if they weren’t there.Shelooked around at the few gowns she had brought with.Whatdid one wear to a reaping?Allher gowns were pale and looked heavenly.
“Aurora, say something.”
“I have nothing to wear.”Herthoughts were a mess.Emotionsshe rarely felt, like fear and doubt, filled her.Allbecause of the god that stood before her. “AndIthinkIlove you more than you love me.”Thefirst tear hit her hand, leaving a glittery trail.Lastnight as she lay alone in bed, far away from home or anyone to dry her tears, her thoughts spun out of control.Whatif when this was all over, the truth was thatThanehad never loved her, and with the curse broken, he would be free to love anyone?Orworse, what if she didn’t love him?
“No, dove.”Thanetilted her chin up. “That’snot possible.Thereis no love in this world or the mortal world greater than mine for you.”Thanereached for her hand, and his breath hitched when he saw the faded bruises.Thesame as his.Hesearched her face before tugging at the neck of her gown. “Whathas he done to you?”
She pulled the neck of her gown back up. “Ifelt it all.Everything.Everybite of the vine.Everybreath he took from you.Everylife he stole.Ifelt it.YouassumeIhad a choice in this.IfIdidn’t tell him whatIwanted, he was going to tear you apart bit by bit until there was nothing left of you or me.”Shewondered if the witch’s warning had already been sewn into the fabric of their lives.
Thane pressed a kiss to her wrist. “Theyare golden like a star.”Heslid her sleeve up, pressing a kiss to each bruise.
“What are?”
“Souls.Theyare held in by lifelines.Thesame ones you can feel.Butnow you will be able to see them.Onceyou break the lifelines thatFatehas strung, the soul will come to you.Thatis the easy part.Asoul must inhabit a body; it cannot float freely.Itwill have to inhabit yours.Ifit comes willingly, you will feel nothing, but if they fight it, you’ll feel as if you are being torn open.Itwill feel like you are being swallowed by their anger and grief.”
Aurora nodded, not sure what she was agreeing with.Noneof that sounded enjoyable, but that was whatDeathasked of her. “HowdoIbreak the lifelines?”
“The same way you catch a star.Youask.Youwill know the words that must be spoken.Eachreaper has their own words that must be said.”
She looked up at the night sky and chose which star would grant her wish.Thewishes a star could grant were determined by the holder of the secrets.Beforeher, it had beenFatewho rarely granted wishes.Thatwas whyFortunetook the secrets away from him.AndwhyDeathcould never have that power.Aurorafound a wishing star and called it to her.Itfluttered down, turning into a little golden bird that perched on her finger, its golden eyes watching her.Itwas small, but she didn’t have a big wish.Beforeshe could think her wish,Thanespoke.
“I wish to break the bargain you made with my father,”Thanesaid, blowing on the star beforeAuroracould stop him.
