Bitter ashes the comple.., p.96
Bitter Ashes- The Complete Series, page 96
part #1 of Bitter Ashes Series
“What happened to them all?” I muttered.
“Death magic,” Silver replied blandly. “Their deaths were used in some sort of ritual.”
I scanned the bodies we passed, fighting the urge to vomit. Their deaths had happened so recently, the bodies were likely still warm.
I hated the little tickle of power I began to feel as I walked amongst them. Their souls would not be trapped like Vaettir, but death was death, it had an energy all its own.
I ignored the wisps of power reaching out to me, and the echoes of pain I could feel from the bodies. They’d all suffered before they’d died.
“What kind of ritual leaves behind so much energy?” I questioned distantly, not turning to look at Silver as I asked it. It was too difficult to tear my attention away from our surroundings.
His voice sounded several feet to my right. “We must venture downward to find out.”
I stopped walking and turned toward him. He was standing near an open manhole in the street bordering the park.
I shook my head. “Oh, no way.”
He nodded, then peered down into the hole. “Whatever ritual was begun up here, it was taken down into the earth.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I hated small, dark places, especially ones filled with water and possibly sewage.
My leather coat flapped gently against my back as I forced my feet forward, avoiding the corpses between us, to reach Silver’s side. I peered down into the darkness.
“Do you smell any sewage?” I questioned.
“No,” he replied, shaking his head. “I believe this to be a rainwater canal, though it is now a biohazard with all of the bodies.”
“More bodies?” I questioned breathily.
He nodded, then gestured down to the tunnel below. “Ladies first?”
I took several shallow breaths, fighting the urge to panic. I might have been a big, glowing death ball, but fresh corpses in water in the dark was not my idea of a good time.
I knelt down to touch the metal ladder mounted on the interior wall of the tunnel, then turned and put my right foot on the second rung. With a deep breath, I lowered my left foot in below it.
Not for the first time, I felt like I was metaphorically diving into the abyss, but the feeling of doing it literally was a new sensation of fear entirely.
Chapter Thirteen
Nothing attacked me as I continued my decent through the manhole into the rainwater canal. Silver climbed down the ladder right above me. My soft-soled brown boots touched down on concrete.
I released the ladder and quickly stepped aside to make room for Silver. In the small amount of light provided by the open manhole, I could see the beginning of a narrow concrete passageway. On one side a walkway connected to the platform supporting the ladder, and on the other was a low canal, running with just a few inches of water. I shivered, glad for my leather coat, and did my best to ignore the dark shapes in the water, more corpses.
Silver reached the bottom, then squinted in the limited light. “There’s something down that way,” he whispered, pointing.
I strained to see in the darkness, then shook my head. “I can’t see that far.”
“Follow the walkway,” he instructed.
I scowled at him. “You know, for someone afraid of Mikael’s wrath, you are not being terribly protective of me.”
“If there is something in here that could kill one of us instantly, I’d rather it be you,” he explained. “At least in that case, I’d still stand a chance of surviving and eluding Mikael. However, if I am able to protect you without sacrificing myself, I will.”
I sighed, then started walking, stepping carefully as the light behind us receded. I kept one hand against the smooth concrete wall to ensure I didn’t veer too far and fall into the shallow canal. I wouldn’t drown, but I’d likely break an ankle, or maybe even my neck.
As we crept along, a thrumming energy became apparent. It was weak, but constant, almost how I’d imagine it would feel to be near a massive generator.
“Just up ahead,” Silver whispered. “The center of the canal has been destroyed.”
I slowed my pace, straining to see, but we were in almost pitch blackness now. If something decided to attack, we’d be goners.
I gasped as bright light cut across my vision, blinding me. I blinked rapidly, shielding my face with one hand as my vision slowly returned, then glanced toward Silver to see him holding a small penlight.
“You had that this entire time?” I growled.
He nodded, not seeming to comprehend my ire. Instead, he shone the light toward the center of the canal, then pointed with his free hand.
I turned to where he’d directed his light, then shook my head, confused. The concrete of the canal had been obliterated, forming a hole that took out part of the walkway ahead. The water must have been so shallow because it was all draining into the hole.
“Well what the hell are we supposed to do now?” I muttered.
He raised an eyebrow at me, his face barely visible in the meager illumination provided by his penlight. “Ladies first?”
I glared at him. “If I survive this, I am so ratting you out to Mikael.”
He snorted. “If you survive this, it will likely only be because I accompanied you.”
I huffed in irritation, then held out my hand. “At least give me your light.”
He hesitated, then relinquished the penlight to me.
Not wanting to waste any more time, I approached the ruined edge of the walkway, sweeping the light across in hopes of finding an easy way down into the hole.
The way down was littered with debris sunken into mud slick with moisture, but it looked doable.
Saying a final prayer, I sat down on the crumbling edge of the walkway, smoothing my coat under my butt, then lowered myself into the muck below. Once I had steady footing, I shined the light further into the hole.
It opened up into the earth at an angle, almost like the entrance to a cave. After further observation, I realized it was a cave. The hole had been blown into the concrete and the earth below to reveal a massive natural cavern.
Silver hopped down beside me with the grace of a cat, not a strand of black hair out of place, then took a few steps forward, having no difficulty navigating the debris.
I sighed, then started shuffling down the incline. I reached the edge of the hole into the cavern easily enough, but there was a pretty big drop down to the wet cavern floor.
“Okay, you’re actually going to have to help me with this part,” I said, shining the light downward.
“Are we sure we want to go down there at all?” he questioned.
I nodded, but didn’t explain. I was pretty sure I was changing the past more than necessary in taking him with me, but there was no way I’d get down into the cavern uninjured without his help, and I was nearly positive by this point that the well was below us. It had to be done.
Without another word, Silver hopped down into the cavern, bending his knees to absorb the impact of the fall. If the floor was slippery, he didn’t show it. He straightened, then looked up at me.
“Can you lower yourself down slowly from the ledge?” he questioned. “I fear you might squish me if you jump.”
I rolled my eyes. “Just don’t let me fall,” I grumbled, putting the penlight in my mouth so I could lower myself to my hands and knees.
Feeling ridiculous, I turned around and lowered one foot down off the edge, bracing myself with my hands and other knee.
“-an yew weach me?” I muttered around the penlight.
I received my response in the form of a hand around my foot. Silver braced my weight as I awkwardly wiggled onto my side and dangled my other foot down. My hands slipped and scraped across the mud and debris as he held both my feet and continued to lower them.
Soon enough I was hanging from my fingertips, praying I didn’t lose my grip at the wrong moment. Silver’s arms wrapped around my hips, then slid up toward my belly. I closed my eyes and let go just as his knees bent, landing my feet on the floor. He released me, then stumbled back a few steps.
“You are very heavy for a woman,” he muttered, regaining his composure.
I took the penlight out of my mouth, then turned to face him. “That’s very sexist, and I’m also pregnant, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
I walked past him, shining the light around the dark cavern for what I sought. My boots slid on the slick surface and I nearly lost my balance, but Silver caught me before I could fall.
“I told you I would save you,” he quipped before releasing his hold on me.
Before I could respond with a scathing remark, he asked, “Do you feel that?”
Now that he said it, I did feel something. The pulsing energy I’d felt above had increased. We were definitely in the right place.
I continued forward, reaching a bend in the cavern, then lowered the light. There was a faint glow emanating from the path ahead.
Without thinking, I hurried forward. This had to be the well. If I could find a way to use it before Hecate arrived, I could defeat her.
There was an oof sound behind me, and I skidded to a halt and whipped around. Silver lay on the cavern floor, unmoving.
“How are you here?” a woman’s voice demanded from behind me.
I whirled around again, nearly dropping my light to take in Hecate, standing by herself. A few feet behind her was a massive bronze cauldron, spilling forth dull light from its basin.
I opened my mouth, but wasn’t sure what to say. As far as Hecate was concerned, I was recently trapped in her realm. In fact, the me from this timeline should still be there until tomorrow morning.
Her green eyes narrowed in the dull light provided by the well. “I will return you to the tree, and you will go back to my realm where you’ll be safe.”
I frowned. “You don’t honestly expect me to believe at this point that you care about my safety.”
Her brow furrowed. “You did not choose to be born with my energy inside of you. As far as I am concerned, you are like a long lost sister to me. I do not wish you harm.”
“And what about all those people up there?” I gestured to the ceiling of the cavern. “Did you wish them harm?”
She smirked. “Sacrifices had to be made to create the power needed to unearth the well. I left it in a sacred place long ago, and the mortals boldly chose to build a city atop it.”
I resisted the urge to glance behind me at Silver. I hadn’t heard him move, and sincerely hoped he was still breathing. Regardless, I couldn’t help him just now. I needed to find a way to get between Hecate and that well.
“I’m sure the mortals had no idea the Well of Urd was down here,” I explained, then bit my tongue.
Rage glittered in her eyes. “And just how do you know that this is the Well of Urd?” She gestured to the massive cauldron behind her. “Unless Loki told you?” she added. “Did he bring you here?”
“I came on my own,” I answered honestly, “to bring you back to your realm. You’ve upset the balance here.”
She scoffed. “I’ve upset the balance? I don’t belong here? Do you know what the old gods did to me? I was a peaceful nature spirit once. Here. The gods and men alike believed I did not belong on this earth, but I am this earth. I am death and creation.” She clenched her fist as if grasping for something, then released it. “The gods feared what they could not control,” she continued, her voice softer. “They wanted to force me to live in their realm, for gods could not toy with the lives of mortals. But I am meant to be here.” She pointed to me. “You are the imposter.”
I shook my head. “I was born here. I’ve always lived here.” I left off that Freyja believed I belonged on this earth. Hecate didn’t yet know that Freyja was involved.
Hecate shook her head. “I destroyed Yggdrasil so they could not send me away, but that created new energy to replace me, for trees like Yggdrasil are of this earth. When that new energy arose, I was cast out. I was forced into a nearly dead realm with my followers, and the Morrigan took my place on earth. She tormented mortals. She was selfish just like a human. I watched over the land from a distance until she destroyed herself, retreating in spirit to another realm. I’d hoped I could find a way to return, but another was born in her place, and then another after that, eventually leading to you.” She scowled. “I knew it was only a matter of time until my energy was reborn into one of the Vaettir. A being who could potentially live forever, stealing my place on this earth. So you see, I am the one who belongs here, and you should not exist.”
Her words cut through me like a knife. I wanted to argue, but somewhere deep down, I knew she was right. I knew I had never truly belonged. I was too dangerous to be near humans, but not quite Vaettir either. I might share their blood, but I was something entirely foreign to them.
“No,” I argued, despite my doubts. “My energy was reborn here for a reason.”
“To fill the void I left,” she hissed, “nothing more. Leave now, and your loved ones will not be harmed. I swear it. You and your child may live safely in my realm. I will use the well’s power to destroy Yggdrasil, and you and I will both be safe from the gods forever.”
My stomach twisted at the mention of my loved ones. She was yet to kill them all. Would she truly keep her word if I left voluntarily? My palms began to sweat, adding to the stickiness I already felt from the damp cave.
“Won’t the same thing happen again if you destroy the tree?” I questioned, grasping for time. “Won’t you be cast out again?”
Her lip curled up into a sneer. “Not this time. The tree you created is not like the original Yggdrasil. It does not maintain balance. That’s why wild magics are leaking into this world. The original Yggdrasil would not have allowed such a thing to take place.”
I blinked at her. “So you really just want me gone so you don’t have to share energy with me? Are you that power hungry?”
She tilted her head. “I am not power hungry. I simply refuse to lessen myself for all of eternity. I will not have you live here, only to be reborn.”
“What will you do if I refuse to go?” I blurted as a sudden thought hit me. She couldn’t just kill me, because my energy would be reborn somewhere else, keeping things off balance for her. She needed me to agree to go back.
She took a step forward. “I had hoped you would leave willingly, but if not, you will leave all the same.”
I remembered how easily she’d disappeared with her handmaidens when we’d confronted them, and took a step back. It seemed like she hadn’t accessed the well’s power yet, but could I risk it? If she managed to grab me, could she transport me all the way back to her realm?
“Wait,” I hissed, holding my hands up and taking a step back. “I wouldn’t send me away just yet. Not if you don’t want the gods to come down here themselves.”
“What do you know of the gods?” she growled. “Loki does not speak for them all. If he told you—”
I shook my head, wiping a damp strand of dark hair out of my face. My leather coat felt slick with moisture. “It wasn’t Loki. Odin told me himself that if you remained here, extreme measures would be taken.”
She tilted her head at me. “How did you meet the All-Father?”
“He’s been watching,” I explained. “He knows what you’re up to. I’m definitely not your biggest problem.” If I could just distract her from the well for even a few minutes…
“Liar,” Hecate hissed. “Odin cares not for this realm.”
I shrugged. “Don’t believe me then. You’ll wish you would have listened when he takes the well.”
Her green eyes practically bulged out of her head. “He cannot. I need it to—” she cut herself off.
“To what?” I questioned, wishing Silver would hurry up and rouse himself if he yet still breathed. I needed a distraction.
“Nevermind,” she growled, taking another step forward. “Come with me.”
She was close enough to reach out and touch me. I needed to act now. I closed my eyes and reached for the only power available to me. The power of all those Hecate had killed. It was only human energy, not as strong as that of the Vaettir, but there were so many bodies. So much life wasted.
“Don’t you dare,” Hecate snapped.
I felt a tug on the energy and opened my eyes. Hecate’s face was still. I would have guessed she was sleeping standing up if I couldn’t feel her sucking in the energy from the dead she’d left above ground.
Acting upon the distraction while I could, I said a silent prayer for Silver, then darted around Hecate for the well. Quickly noticing me, she whirled around just as my hands clamped down on the bronze rim of the cauldron.
The thrumming energy I’d sensed intensified, but it was nothing I could use. It wasn’t the type of energy I was familiar with.
The next thing I knew, Hecate was crouched beside me. She put a hand on my wrist and tugged, but I refused to release my grip on the cauldron’s rim.
“You don’t know what you’re doing,” she argued. “Get away from there.”
I turned wide eyes to her, surprised she wasn’t tugging me away more forcefully, or transporting me back to Yggdrasil. Had she truly not yet taken the well’s power? Was she still in a state of sharing energy with me in this realm?
With a defiant smirk, I removed the hand she wasn’t tugging on and stuck it into the light emanating from the center of the cauldron. I wasn’t sure what would happen, but if I could get to that power before Hecate…
“That won’t work,” she sighed. “The well is not fully in this realm. Neither of us can access its energy when we are not at full power. That is why you must leave this realm.”
So she couldn’t access it either? It was the best news I’d heard all day.
“Well in that case,” I began, then cocked back my free hand and punched her in the jaw.
It was an awkward punch using my left hand while crouched down, but it was enough to rock her head back and loosen her grip on my wrist. Unfortunately the momentum tipped me forward into the well. I caught myself before I could topple all the way head first into the basin.
