My heart, already cold in my chest, froze into a block of ice as my fingers ripped apart the strings that bound the package. The cloth fell away and revealed a rolled parchment. With trepidation mounting in my stomach, I unrolled it and held my breath as I read.
As I read the last word, the parchments slid from my fingers and fell to the ground. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t breathe.
“Em?” Brennan asked, alarmed. I could only shake my head, my eyes wide.
He snatched up the papers and read through the words quickly. I watched his face and I knew the moment when he read the most relevant words. He went completely still and his beautiful golden eyes met mine.
“So, it doesn’t matter what we do. I’m going to die anyway.”
Chapter Twelve
I refused to move from that very spot until Circes started talking and explained the words that had just been seared into my heart. Her voice, solemn and ancient, did nothing to allay my fears.
“Your mother saw this long ago,” Circes explained to me, her voice low. Brennan gripped my hand tightly while the old woman spoke. “Your mother helped Hades and the Fates imprison the gods in an effort to protect you. They promised that if she did as they asked, you would be released your father’s curse. As you know, that is not how things worked out. Your mother has seen that Zeus will soon decide that he is annoyed, very annoyed, with the behavior of the mortals during the two millennia that he and the Olympians were imprisoned. The mortals forgot about the gods and that is not wise. He will lean toward eliminating them completely because he is tired of their ungrateful ways.”
“But my mother wrote that Brennan will offer his life in exchange for the mortal world. That if he offers his life to save them, Zeus will forgive the mortals for their indifference to the absence of the gods.”
Circes nodded. “Hecate saw this long ago. Zeus himself doesn’t even realize that he will consider this as an option. Brennan must make the suggestion… he must offer himself in lieu of the mortal world. Zeus will find the gesture graceful and worthy.”
“But why Brennan?” I persisted. “Why is Brennan the one that must die? Did my mother actually foresee this happening or is this wishful thinking on her part? I worry that this is a trick- that she is simply trying to eliminate him as a problem. If I don’t fight to stay with Brennan, then my issues here with Apollo are over. The game would be over.”
“You cannot see it?” Circes asked me, her cloudy eyes fixed upon with laser precision. “Zeus will find the gesture fitting because it is so appropriate. Your mother conspired with the Fates to imprison him in order to save you. She chose your well-being over that of his. Zeus will find it a just punishment that your very well-being will be decimated with the death of your soul mate. If Brennan dies, it is likely that you will never recover. And Zeus will feel that in that way, justice will be served.”
My heart seemed to slow to such a pace that I could feel each individual beat thrumming one by one in my ribcage. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t think. I stood numbly staring at the ancient witch in front of me.
“What is the purpose of this game, then?” Brennan asked in frustration. “Why have we been asked to participate in this evil, twisted game if we can’t win anyway?”
Circes rocked on her heels, appraising him. “It is because, young boy, Zeus has not come to this decision yet. Hecate foresaw it long prior to the thought even passing through Zeus’ mind. It will happen. It just hasn’t happened yet. Hecate wants you to have this knowledge now, so that you can stop this game. You have the ability to appear in front of Zeus and make this offer. You will prevent the destruction of the entire mortal world. And you will save Empusa’s life. The choice is yours.”
“And what a choice it is,” Brennan murmured. He still held my hand, tightly enclosed within his.
“Why did my mother not tell us this herself? Why did she leave it on a scroll with Branwyn?” I demanded. “That makes no sense.”
“It makes perfect sense, princess,” Circes argued. “Your mother knew that it was not something you would wish to hear. She knew, however, that after you saw the brutality of this game, you would see for yourself the lengths that Zeus will go if he so chooses. He will end the mortal world. He will not hesitate. He has no human compassion, princess. You have seen that for yourself.”
“I know that is true,” I told her, resignation bowing my shoulders like a heavy, heavy weight. “I’ve never denied it or doubted it. Zeus has lived a very long time, always looking over his shoulder to make sure he is not overthrown. That has to do something to a person, even a god such as Zeus. But I am not allowing Brennan to do this. I will not sacrifice Brennan for the mortal world. I’m sorry. That’s just something that I cannot do.”
Circes, Keelin and Brennan all stared at me. Circes in consternation, Brennan thoughtfully and Keelin in absolute horror. As a mortal, I’m sure my words struck both terror and anger in Keelin. But none of it mattered. The only thing I could think of was the vast sense of loss that was already welling up in me at the mere thought of losing Brennan. It was suffocating and I suddenly felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Spinning, I ran as fast I could, blurring into immortal speed. I didn’t know where I was going… all I knew was that it needed to be far, far from here.
The scenery around me, the trees, the sky, the waving grasses, all blended together into one big swirl of color. The cold wind washed over me as I ran and it was only then, as I left everything else behind me, that I could take a deep breath. I could smell the heather in the air, I could taste my fear in my mouth, I could feel the despair in my chest. Everything culminated in one big overwhelming feeling.
And then I was tackled from behind.
Before I could even see Brennan, before I could focus my eyes on his face, I could smell him. He brought the smell of sunshine with him wherever he went and I would know the scent anywhere.
“You can’t run from this,” he told me as he held me gently to the ground. “I know you want to. I know you want to hide and hope that if you do, it will go away. But it’s not going to happen. This is something that I need to face.”