Lucan and Hecate. Lucan was startled when I appeared with another person in the doorway, but Hecate only seemed expectant. There was not a trace of surprise on her face. I glared at her.
"Let me guess," I snapped. "You knew this already?"
She nodded. "I did see it in my dreams last eve."
"It was a long ride here, with plenty of time for you to have shared that. A little forewarning would have been nice," I replied.
"I’ll try to remember that for next time," she grinned. I rolled my eyes at her and turned to Morgan.
"You’ll have to excuse my reluctance to trust you," I said cautiously. "We’ve been at odds for a long time and you have wronged me again and again. I’m finding it difficult to believe you now."
"So, all the better to end that, correct?" she asked me with her eyebrows raised into her hairline. "There is no time like the present. In fact, if we do not, there may not be time left for anything at all. You know that I always act in my own best interest. Acting against the Fates is in my best interest. I know that now, thanks to Ahmose."
"Morgan," Lucan said, "Isn’t the king wondering where you are?"
"No," she answered. "The king is still at the palace. Much has changed there. I’m here on my own volition…to help."
"Really?" Lucan asked. "Isn’t that treasonous to your king… your brother?"
Eris barely spared him a glance.
"There is much you do not know, knight," she said as she stepped forward. "And I do not have time to explain. Hecate, I will require your assistance. Together, perhaps we can see the sword. I have learned a few tricks as Morgan."
Hecate’s face was impassive as she stepped beside my ancient adversary.
"Where do you want to do this?" she asked quietly.
"The barn would be best, I think," Morgan replied. She turned and began walking through the house, her back ramrod straight.
"You can’t be serious," I implored Hecate. "There’s no way that this can be real. I cannot trust that woman."
"You must," Hecate insisted. "Ahmose has sent her to you. I know that you must trust him. He has willingly died to protect you. That should speak for something."
I considered that guiltily. Of course it did. He must know things that I did not, the absolute story of my life. I took a deep breath and followed the two women, with Lucan and little Raquel close on my heels.
They led us out to the abandoned barn. The inside was dark and cold and I could hear the scurrying of small mice from the corners. An owl hooted quietly from the rafters and I fought the urge to turn and run out. Something did not feel right about this place. It was too still, too silent.
Courtney Cole 114
With My Last Breath, Book Three
Eris snapped her fingers and blazing torches appeared in every corner, spreading warm light throughout the room. Lucan inhaled sharply behind me, but still he remained silent.
"Come forward," Hecate directed as she and Eris waited for us to approach.
"Closer."
We stepped forward and at Hecate’s gesture, we moved to stand in line with them.
Hecate began muttering beneath her breath and Eris joined in, both of them fixated on the ground in front of them. I looked, but there was nothing there other than the stone floor. Unconsciously, I fingered my bloodstone. It was practically vibrating. I yanked my fingers away and my gaze flew to Hecate and Eris. Their eyes were closed now as they chanted.
Lucan looked at me. "What is happening?" He sounded nervous for the first time.
"I do not know," I answered him truthfully. "But I think we will find out soon." I glanced at Raquel. "Don’t worry, little one. Everything will be fine."
Their chanting got louder and boards began flying from the rafters, crashing down around us. I jumped, but stood firmly in place as the women continued to chant. Eris threw her arms in the air and the roof of the barn lifted off and flew to the side, taking with it pieces of the walls. Bit by bit, the remaining walls followed until we were standing in the open air, next to a large pile of rubble.
And then, with an alarming wrenching split, the earth in front of us opened up, throwing back stones from the floor. Lucan grasped my elbow and pulled me slightly away, protective as ever. I kept my eyes on the churning mess in front of us because I knew it wasn’t over yet.
A giant hole formed in front of us, jagged and deep. And then before I could even process that… it filled with water. I don’t know where the water came from… it was most likely summoned from the earth itself. The pit filled, churning and rocking. The moisture from the water splattered onto me in droplets and I licked them from my lips.
And then everything was still.
I tensed in anticipation as the Hecate and Eris stared pointedly at the water, clearly waiting for something to happen. Lucan’s grip on my arm tightened as we kept our eyes trained on the newly formed pond.
And then ripples began bubbling from the center. I craned forward, anxious to see what would emerge. What could they have summoned here? What could possibly help us?
As I held my breath, a woman slowly rose from the water, her head down and her long blonde hair dripping all around her as she walked toward me. Her white cotton dress was completely sheer in its current soaked state. She might as well have been naked.
Courtney Cole 115
With My Last Breath, Book Three
She raised her head and met my gaze, her eyes shiny. She was ethereal, seemingly radiating light from within. Her skin was oh-so-pale, her lips a natural pink. I knew her.
"Thalassa," I murmured in surprise. She was a sea goddess, the daughter of Hemera.
"They refer to me as the Lady of the Lake here," she replied softly, the corners of her mouth curved slightly. "Hello, Harmonia."
"Hello," I answered hesitantly, subconsciously moving closer to Lucan.
"Aren’t you glad to see me?" she laughed. "I come bearing gifts."
And then I noticed… a large sword dangled from one hand.
Courtney Cole 116
With My Last Breath, Book Three
Chapter Nineteen
Zeus’ sword, the one thing that could save everything, was directly in front of me. I took one step forward and Thalassa took one step back. She cocked her head as I looked at her questioningly.
"Are you not here to give me the sword?" I was confused by her behavior.
She nodded. "I want to. But I was entrusted with the care of this sword by Arthur himself. He gave it to me in exchange when I gave him Excalibur. He took my word that I would never surrender it to anyone but him. And the only way I can do so now is to see proof that you are indeed the Chosen One."