The Golden Shears (Fated Destruction Book 2) Read online

  I lifted my eyebrows when I caught Amaratha’s eyes. She gave a quick shake of her head in reply.

  “There’s nothing more we can do,” she said finally. “He will die before the sun rises. I’ll give you a moment alone with him.”

  The others passed me on their way out, murmuring apologies and condolences. I didn’t hear them. This could not be happening. If Sitri died this way, here, I would have seen it. Why didn’t I? I was so sure that the Fates would save him. That for once, someone I cared about wouldn’t die, and it wouldn’t be my fault, again.

  Sitri was pale and sweat beaded across his face. His breathing was so shallow I could hardly see his chest rising. I curled my fingers into his hair, not even caring any more about touching him. Sarah’s golden strand of hair was wrapped around my finger. It stood out from Sitri’s dark curls.

  I’d be a fool to trust Zeus after what I’d seen him do to the Fates. On the other hand, if Sitri was going to die anyway, how could I not at least try to save him? I tugged out a strand of Sitri’s hair and coiled it into my palm.

  I wasn’t going to say goodbye. Not when I could still do something to stop this. Maybe I was meant to save him—maybe that’s why I couldn’t see his death earlier. I walked out of the room and grabbed the first sister I could find.

  “I need to make some food for Sarah,” I said. “Do you have a kitchen or something?” She nodded and showed me the way. We entered a long chamber that had a row of neat holes cut through the rock to let in natural light. There were baskets full of produce and fresh bread. My eyes lit up when I saw the apples. I grabbed one and inhaled the sweet scent, then I found a knife and a jar of honey. I hesitated, with the knife in one hand.

  I knew I should ask Madeline about this. I didn’t know enough about magic yet. What if I made things worse somehow? But part of me didn’t want to tell Madeline and Jessie about the ‘gift’ Zeus had given me. Was it really too late to save Max? Or was I simply choosing Sitri instead? Zeus told me I could save one life today.

  I wanted to tell myself I wasn’t just being selfish. We needed Sitri. I didn’t even know how we’d get back to Nevah without him, and if Able didn’t let us in, we’d continue to be in danger. Even without Athena, it’d be easy for the hunters to pick us off one by one. I looked down and realized I’d already sliced the apple in half. The two sides displayed mirror images of their star-shaped interior.

  I added a spoonful of honey, then twisted Sarah and Sitri’s hair into a braid and pressed them into the sweet center. I joined the two halves of the apple back together and palmed it while I headed outside.

  The sea was calm and still. There was just enough light to separate it from the sky on the edges of the horizon, though the sun still hadn’t risen. Jessie was near the entrance, smoking again.

  “Hungry?” she asked, nodding to the apple.

  “For Sarah,” I lied.

  “Isn’t she still inside?” Jessie asked.

  “I’m going to check on Puriel first,” I said.

  She lifted an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

  Shit. I was planning on just burying the apple nearby, but now I had to go all the way up to the top of the plateau. I felt her eyes on me as I walked around the cliff and started up the path. I didn’t know how much time Sitri had left. Each breath could be his last.

  When I reached the top my eyes zoned in on a grassy area on the edge of the ruins. Zeus had said to bury it somewhere it wouldn’t be disturbed. I found a spot between two weather-worn chunks of stone—they’d probably been leftover from the original temple, the one in Zetico’s painting. The soil between them was tough but I tore out chunks of grass and dirt with my fingers until there was a hole deep enough to fit the apple into. I placed the apple inside gently, then piled the dirt back in around it, packing it down tightly with my foot. I cursed myself for not finding any fresh water. Did I need it? Did I have to wait for the seeds to sprout? Zeus hadn’t said anything about how long this would take.

  I sat back on my heels, feeling ridiculous. Maybe this was just a cruel joke. Zeus was probably up there somewhere laughing at me. I hadn’t even wanted to be in this war. When Able recruited me, I turned him down. I ran away, because I didn’t want to become a killer. But now I wished I had found the shears. I would cut through Zeus’s thread without a second thought, just to see his face as ended him.

  I stood and brushed off my knees. Then I made my way into the ruins of the cathedral. The fire they’d built for Puriel had died down to embers and a few slow tongues of yellow fire.

  “You’re up early,” Puriel’s golden voice caught me off guard. Since he’d fallen, it had a slight timbre to it. It sounded even huskier now, though there were still notes of honey—a hunter’s sweetness, meant to attract prey. I prefered how it sounded now.

  “You’re awake,” I said, sitting across from him. I saw no trace of the darkness that had flooded his eyes earlier, they’d returned to their custom burnt amber. My eyes flickered to the heavy ropes around his ankles and wrists. He saw me looking, and I felt guilty for mistrusting him. That’s when I noticed his arms. They were as smooth and perfect as they’d been when I first met him.

  “Your burns… the scars—they’re gone!” I said.

  Puriel smiled sadly.

  “When I fell, and my marks burned, I had no magic to heal myself. I’ve been reborn, in a sense. To a new life. Only this life is a curse. It will be over soon enough.”

  “It doesn’t have to be like that,” I said quickly. “You told me once, hunters are protected because they have each other, and torches are at risk because they’re all alone. But you’re not alone. You have the others, you have me. We can fight this. You can learn to control it.”

  “That’s kind of you to say, though I think your faith in me is misplaced. Athena was right, I’ve fallen twice in a short period of time. That would suggest my will power is not especially praiseworthy.”

  “You fell the first time, because you knew Zeus’s orders were wrong. You fell to save me. But you didn’t do it on purpose, it wasn’t intentional, so I can’t praise you for that. The second time, however, you fell deliberately, right? You sacrificed yourself and became the thing you hate most, to save us all.”

  “It was the noblest thing I’ve ever seen,” I said, blinking the tears out of my eyes, “and I’ll never be able to repay you for it.”

  “Then perhaps, in some small way, I have redeemed myself after all. Serving you was the most edifying experience of my life.”

  “You’re not my servant,” I said. “Wait, what do you mean was?”

  “Now that I have a taste for magic, the thirst will grow. I’ll lose myself, piece by piece, until I become something unrecognizable. Something monstrous. I don’t want you to see that, and I can’t put your friends in danger.”

  “So what, you’re staying here?”

  “I’ve asked the sisters to… dispatch me.”

  “Wait, what?” I stood up, clenching my fists. “No way.”

  “One of the few benefits of my fallen state,” Puriel said, “is the freedom to make my own choices. And I’ve made this one. Before I change so much I can’t even be sure of my own freedom anymore.”

  I bent down next to him. I wanted to reach out and touch his face, but I held back.

  “You can fight this,” I said. “You’re different from the others. You didn’t fall because of weakness. You have nothing to feel guilty about. Plus, what you did to Athena, I think Able is going to want to meet you. I don’t think anything like that has ever happened before. He’s going to want to understand it.”

  “You want me to return with you?” Puriel asked, lifting his eyebrows. “To Nevah, the place you freed me from, the place we escaped from?”

  “It sounds ridiculous when you say it like that,” I smiled. “But so much has happened since we left, don’t you think? I left to find the shears, and because I didn’t want to be Able’s puppet. Now the Fates are dead. I don’t know where we go from
here, but you’re a part of this story. You still have a role to play, I can feel it. I need you with me.”

  His eyes widened a little, and I thought I saw a spark of hope in his eyes. I remembered what he said about needing purpose and direction. I’d just have to make sure to keep giving it to him, or he’d lapse into depression again. He reached up and touched my cheek. I closed my eyes and savored the explosion of stars that followed. I smiled, as I realized Puriel wouldn’t be dying any time soon.

  “You are full of surprises, Kaidance Monroe.”

  The sun was rising and the early morning light pierced into the heart of the cathedral. I shielded my eyes and saw a shadow standing in the archway. It was Sitri, silhouetted by the rising sun. For a second my heart caught in my chest. Was he a zombie? Had I created a monster? But then his eyes met mine. He smiled, and I knew it was him. I’d been trying to control my emotions all night, refusing to give in to fear and doubt. But now the dam burst. Tears flowed down my cheek as I ran to him.

  14

  Sitri called Heph on a slim mobile, and within twenty minutes a pair of black helicopters descended like dragonflies, kicking up dust and rocks. I gave Amaratha and Eumelia a quick hug and promised to keep in touch. Sitri and Puriel loaded Max’s body into the back of one of the choppers, then we climbed in and took off. As Europe flew below me, the roar of the wind made it impossible to talk—but that was almost a relief. I leaned back and let the hum of the machine lull me to sleep.

  We landed at a hangar outside of Rome to board Able’s private jet. Heph was waiting for us when we landed. His face froze when he saw Puriel.

  “What’s he doing here? And who is that?” he asked, pointing at the bundle of bloody sheets containing Max’s body.

  “You didn’t know him. We’ll tell you all about it on the plane,” Sitri said.

  Heph’s face was skeptical.

  “It’s nice to see you,” I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He gave me a grim smile.

  “You too. We’ve been searching everywhere for you. Glad you survived your little adventure. Can’t wait to find out what the hell has been going on.”

  We climbed the steps into the plane, and Sarah’s eyes went wide looking around the luxury cabin. Each seat was practically a couch. Heph grabbed some snacks and soda from the fridge and offered them to her. I took a Coke as well.

  We didn’t talk until the jet was in the air and had leveled out. Heph was the first to break the silence. “Able’s expecting updates. Immediately. What should I tell him?”

  Puriel and Sitri both glanced at me, and I knew why. So far nobody else at Nevah knew that I was the reason Puriel escaped. That Matt was dead because of me. They wanted to know if they should lie for me, or omit the truth. I considered it, for a second. We could just say Puriel abducted me, and Matt was an unfortunate accident. But no, I couldn’t ask anyone to lie for me. The truth was bound to get out anyway, and I’d rather tell Able than explain it to Priya’s face.

  I decided to start with the good news.

  “Athena is dead,” I said.

  Heph’s mouth opened so wide I thought his jaw was going to fall off.

  “She gutted the minokawa we’d brought to Europe, and attracted a bunch of leeches. We killed them all, but Athena was too powerful for us. Then Puriel sucked up all the magic at once, and struck her down.”

  “It was… impressive,” Sitri said, nodding.

  “And the Fates? We tracked you to the museum. Figured you were searching for them after Zetico’s painting got stolen.”

  “Oh shit, we should probably give that back,” Jessie said.

  “Why don’t you give it to Able?” Sitri said. “Might butter him up a little as we crash on his doorstep.”

  “I found the Fates,” I continued. “But then Zeus killed them. I didn’t get a chance to ask them about the shears.”

  “Two steps forward, one step back,” Heph said. “Still, the shears were a long shot anyway. I can’t believe you took out Athena!”

  “There’s something else,” I said, biting my lip. “Puriel didn’t kidnap me. I ran, and freed Puriel on my way out. Matt’s death was an accident, and I’m so, so sorry. But Puriel has saved several times. I trust him. And he killed Athena. He’s important. I won’t let Able execute him. Oh and all my friends are coming back to Nevah with us.”

  “Anything else?” Heph said, with a twinkle in his eye. I realized I was being bossy, but I didn’t care anymore. I might have been shy and awkward when I’d left Nevah, but that felt like ages ago now. I’m not even sure I was the same person. I glanced over at Sarah. There was more I needed to say, but I hadn’t told the others yet how Zeus possessed Sarah’s body. For all we knew, he could be sitting with us, right now. Looking at her, the hatred and revulsion I felt for Zeus came flooding back, rushing through my veins. I turned away before she could see my expression.

  How could I have missed it—that she was a root, and a direct descendant of Zeus. That should make her crazy powerful… stronger than any one of us. I shuddered, thinking back to what I’d seen her do to the Fates with her bare hands. It broke my heart that I couldn’t trust her anymore. That looking at her filled me with disgust.

  “Now that the Fates are gone, I think Zeus will be bolder. He said he’s going to attack Nevah. Wipe them all out. After that, there will be nobody to stop him. Tell Able to double security.”

  Heph nodded, then walked towards the cockpit into a private chamber, pulling out his phone. My skin went clammy thinking about Able’s reaction to all of the news. Would he be angry at me? Would he even let my friends and I back at Nevah? What if he banished Puriel, or worse, put him back on death row?

  When Heph opened the door again, he nodded at me with a smile. Able had met all my demands. I felt the knot in my stomach relax partially. But there was one more thing to confess. I got up and joined him in the other room.

  “Sarah is Zeus’s daughter,” I whispered. “Zeus can take control of her body. That’s how he killed the Fates.”

  “You just don’t quit with the bombshells, do you?” Heph said, scratching his beard. He looked past me at the others in the first cabin. “They don’t know?”

  “Nobody knows yet. I’m afraid if I tell everyone, they’ll look at her differently. I don’t want them to act weird around her. But I wanted you to know, before we get to Nevah. Otherwise I’d be letting in a Trojan Horse, right? Zeus could use her to spy on Able’s operations.”

  “I’m pretty sure that’s impossible,” Heph said. “With all the wards and shields we’ve put up, we’d know the second he steps into Nevah.”

  “He might only need a second. If Sarah got near Able, and Zeus took her over—”

  “Got it. We’ll keep her under tight watch. And I’ll make a pair of iron bracelets. Tell her they’re good luck charms. Zeus is so magical, if he did possess her, they’d burn through her wrists.”

  “Not an option,” I glared at him.

  “No, of course not. Just saying, she’d be less of a threat without hands, right? But anyway, I’m 95% sure Zeus won’t be able to get in. This would just be a failsafe.”

  I nodded. It was a terrible plan, but it was all we had. I took my seat next to Sitri.

  “Everything okay?” he asked. I could tell he wanted to talk. I glanced over at Sarah and Jessie. They were asleep, but I still wasn’t ready to tell Sitri any more about what had happened in the caves.

  “Fine,” I said. “Just tired. Talk later?” I gave him a smile, and he reached out and took my hand, pulling it against his leg. I’d put my gloves back on, but I felt electricity shooting up my arm anyway. I’m pretty sure my ears were turning red. He leaned back and closed his eyes, without letting go of my hand. After awhile, I drifted off as well.

  When I woke again, it was light outside. Rays of sun were slanting through the windows, casting a spotlight on our linked fingers. I smiled drowsily. It reminded me of my morning ritual at JDRI, testing the weather before I got out of bed. But now, eve
rything was different. I wasn’t alone anymore.

  I was still smiling when I looked up and locked eyes with Jessie. She was staring at me with a fierce expression. Then she burst into tears and fled to the back of the plane.

  What the hell?

  I followed her to the back and watched her lock herself in the bathroom. I paused outside for a moment, before tapping on the door softly.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “Just go away,” Jessie said. “I’ll be fine, I just need a minute.”

  “Please Jess, open the door. Whatever it is, I want to help.”

  I was about to give up and go back to my seat when I heard the door unlatch. It opened inward and I pushed into the bathroom. It was larger than I expected. Jessie was sitting on the counter, in front of a wide mirror, wiping her eyes with tissue.

  “I’m so sorry about Max—” I started.

  “I can tell,” she snapped.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  She rolled her eyes at me.

  “Seriously? Two days ago you kissed Puriel, and now you’re with Sitri? It’s like I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

  Her words hit me like a slap to the face, and I felt my cheeks redden. I stepped away from her and leaned against the door.

  “It’s not like that,” I said. “I mean with Puriel. He’s more like an older brother.”

  “Does he know that? Because he still follows you around with puppy dog eyes.”

  I wanted to deny it, but what if she was right? I should’ve spoken to Puriel first. After all he’d been through, after all he’d given up. Did he do it just for me, to be with me?

  “I’m sorry,” I said finally. “I don’t even know what’s going on with me and Sitri. We’re just drawn to each other. I feel like I can’t stand to be away from him.”