Page 75 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Aurora cried out when she saw him.Frostencased half his body. “Nieve, what is happening to you?”Shestruggled to her feet, pulling him close and trying to warm his frozen hands.
“I’m dying.Whenwe step out of this courtyard, no matter what, do not look back.Everytime you look back, we have to start over.Justrun.”Thefrozen king pushedAurorathrough the iron gates as they closed.
She ran,Nieve’scold hand pushing her forward.Howfar was it?WherewasPain?Hertears froze to her cheeks as she ran.Anache in her side made it hard to breathe.Thedress did little to protect her from the coldness.Auroraslowed her pace, sucking in the cold air. “Ijust…Ineed…”Shebent at the waist.
Nieve stumbled to his knees next to her.Hiswhite furs had turned to snow and ice.
“Nieve.”Auroracupped his frozen cheek. “Ifyou truly love me, you’ll stay with me.”
“I do love you more than this life.”Nievetried to stand. “Ithought there would be more time.”Hefell back to his knees.
Aurora straightened, tugging on his hand.Thewind howled around them. “Nieve, please.”Hishands were so cold. “Ineed you—”Therest of her words were cut off as the sound of heavy footfalls echoed in the air around her. “Getup!”Auroracried as his green eyes started to fade into a milky white.
“I never thoughtIwould see the dawn again.Buthere you are, so warm, so beautiful.Thankyou.”Nievesmiled.
“Stop.Wecan have many more.I’lltake you to the heavens, and you’ll see how brilliant life is.Butyou have to come with me,”Auroracried, blowing her warm breath onto his hands.
Nieve looked past her, his eyes no longer seeing the world he was in. “Godsabove, you are beautiful.”Hesmiled as his last breath rattled from his chest.
“Nieve.”Aurorashook him. “Wakeup, please.Idon’t know where to go.”Aurorashook him again.Thewind twisted around her.Itssharp fingers tore at her flesh.Thequeen’s soul ate away atAurora. “Getup.”Shestood, tugging his arm. “Youcan’t leave me.”Thequeen’s soul reveled in her suffering.Itconsumed the once brilliant love she had for life.
The sky above had lightened, and the heavy gray clouds gave way to a pale blue.Aurorastood, fighting the urge to look back.Everythingwas frozen, her fingers and toes, her lips and nose.She’dfreeze ifPaindidn’t hurry.Youstupid twit, she will not come.Withyou gone,Thaneis hers.Aurorafell to her knees, laughing at her own stupidity.Painwasn’t coming.ShewasFate’sdaughter, and now she could beThane’smate. “Isthis what you wanted, me to die here?” she called to the heavens.
Aurora laid her head onNieve, hoping to feel the last of his warmth and love.Itwas over, and she had lost.Aboveher, the morning sky started to break through the heavy clouds.Itwas beautiful.Shehad never watched the sky brighten with hope.Neverseen the last three stars wink out.Shehad always been too busy chasing afterThane.
The first tear ran down her cheek.Thankfullythe darkness started to swallow her.Itwasn’t soft or comforting; it was sharp and brutal.Itcut at the delicate hope she clung to.Hopethat she would survive this.
“I hate you!Allof you,” she cried.Beingthe daughter ofLifehad afforded her nothing.Noteven her life.
CHAPTER37
AURORA
Warmth surrounded her.Warmthand softness.Butneither cut the darkness she was lost in.Adarkness that wrapped around her, crowding any thoughts or concerns.Auroradidn’t know how long she had been wandering in the darkness.Timeseemed irrelevant.Peoplemoved around her just outside of the darkness.Sheheard their voices, and their anger and doubt pressed heavily on her chest and limbs.Butshe was content to stay here.
But the contentment slipped away as a pinprick of light danced in front of her eyes.Thelarger it got, the more it sliced through her head.Untilit was so large, she feared her brains would spill out onto the softness beneath her.Auroramoaned as her eyes focused on the partially painted ceiling above her.Thewoman and the man embracing.
It took on a new meaning.Whereonce before she saw a man embracing a woman, now she saw the violence between the two.Thesky was painted in reds, pinks, and deep purples.Theman was tearing at the pale skirts of the woman as she welcomed the sun.Itwas the breaking of dawn.
“Aurora.”Painappeared at her side.
Aurora tried to speak, but her voice was still hiding in the darkness.
“Here, drink this.”Painslipped a hand behindAurora’sback and helped her sit.
“Thanks,”Auroracroaked out as she took the tea. “Ithought you weren’t coming.”
“I almost didn’t make it.Howdo you feel?”Painsat at the foot of the bed.
Aurora’s head was still a frozen mess.Shetook a sip of the tea, letting the warm liquid soothe the rawness of her throat. “How…”Hervoice was rough and hoarse.Shetook another sip. “Howlong haveIbeen out?”
“Few hours.Youpassed out right afterIbrought you here.”
“IsThaneawake?”Shewas a little surprised he wasn’t here.
Pain stood and walked over to a tray that held wine and food. “Heis.Butyou should get some rest.”
“I’m fine.Iwant to see him beforeIgo and collect the last two souls.Iwant this to be done.”Therewere two left.McCoyandX.
