I reach Charlotte with just enough time to deflect Xander’s attack and send him stumbling a few metres to the side. His red eyes shine through the fog, green skin shining with acidic mucus. He regains his footing as it slides down his arms and over his claws, dripping onto the grass. It hisses violently, dissolving the blades and producing a toxic smoke.
This is not ideal. He’s not thinking clearly.
Xander staggers to his feet again, giving me just enough time to point an ice spear in his direction. The small demon flinches but refuses to move back. Assertive, his stern glare lands on mine. ‘Let me through.’ When I don’t budge, he moves forward until his chest touches the point of the spear. ‘You don’t understand, if I don’t stop her, Siara will–’
‘No, you don’t understand.’ The air between us grows colder. ‘She is human. If you attack with your acid, she will die.’
Xander smirks. ‘I know that’s the poin–’
With a small shake of my head, clarity fills Xander’s stare. The tension in the air releases and his mist starts to dissipate from the clearing. His body slowly reverts back to his normal state.
‘Tomorrow, you need to see her. See her with your own eyes. Only then can you tell me you are okay with this.’ The boy waves a gesture at the figure behind me, eventually turning away. He disappears back into the forest. ‘I hope you know what you’re doing, Master,’ he whispers just loud enough for me to hear. Clearly, he’s worked out how far I can hear. Annoying kid.
I turn back to Charlotte, an amused smile still twisted on her face. I let the spear sink back into the ground. ‘You didn’t tell me the truth,’ I say, my words sharp. ‘Why?’
Charlotte looks taken aback. ‘This doesn’t change anything, William. We’re still finally going to be together and that’s all that matters. Whatever it takes, right? And I’m sure your little friend will come around and if he doesn’t, well then, I’m sure we can make a deal with a God or some demon and someone else can take care of him,’ Charlotte says softly, her hand placed on my cheek. I’m sure she wasn’t always this way. Yes, she was always determined and I’ll admit, sometimes even a little arrogant, but back then it was endearing. She never felt this…
I pull away from her hand.
She never felt this cold before. ‘I need to ask you something.’
‘Anything.’
‘That time at the cliff, during the storm…’ I hesitate.
Charlotte’s face drops, an answer in and of itself, but I wait for her response.
‘It was a quicker way for me to gain control of the body. Just so long as it wasn’t too disfigured, it could have worked. The girl would pass on and I would take control of the deceased body as my own. B-but, of course, I decided against it after that night – it seemed to distress you greatly. I figured it was because of Marina and that cliff. I’m sorry. I had forgotten what that place meant to you.’
I’m not sure what answer would have sufficed to the question I wasn’t able to ask, but it wasn’t that one.
Charlotte’s lips purse in a forced smile, repainting her optimistic facade back on her face. ‘I just wanted to be close to you, to connect with you as soon as possible. I have been waiting to see you for so long, William, surely, you can’t blame me for that?’
‘I understand.’ And I really do. Death changes people. That much I understand. ‘Charlotte, I’m going to head back.’
She tilts her head, confused. ‘Although your little friend’s rebellion did take up some time, we still have a few more hours till daylight.’
‘I know. I would like to rest,’ I lie. Her smiling face drops for just a moment before picking up again. A distorted and fake version of the smile I used to love. Now, it’s just a ghost. Just like her.
‘That’s okay, we have eternity to spend together here after all.’ She watches, her gaze unwavering as I disappear back into the woods.
The next morning, as I walk out from my room, Siara’s door opens in unison down the hall. I linger in the doorway, hesitant to interact with the reason for my guilt. Xander strides out, setting in motion again my paralysed thoughts. As he walks to the stairs, he can barely bring his eyes to meet my own. ‘Xander,’ I say.
He pauses. ‘If you’re that concerned, go see for yourself–’
‘I’m not concerned,’ I snap, causing the boy to huff, amused.
‘Of course not, Master.’ He descends the stairs, taking the tension with him.
Siara’s door hangs open. Ominous and foreboding. I stare at it a few moments more, allowing myself to sit with the gnawing curiosity growing in the pit of my stomach. Breath held, I find myself at her door. Not concerned, curious. My knocks garner no response. Her faint breath is the only sign that she is, in fact, inside.
‘Siara.’
Scanning the dated room, I almost miss her. The human girl sits as still as death in front of the dressing table, still in Charlotte’s summer dress from last night. ‘U-uh, sorry to intrude–’ Her face is gaunt and unmoving. Lifeless eyes gaze unfocused into the mirror. ‘Are you not cold in that?’ No response. This is my fault. But what can I do? Charlotte herself has a deal in place with a God; it binds them together. I can’t do anything to stop it. ‘Do you want to go downstairs? I can request Xander start up the fire.’
Siara flinches. I wonder if she still has those nightmares. The ones she’s had ever since she first came here, from the day she fell into our portal. Where did Heret-Kau send her? What did she see for her to be so traumatised by fire?
‘Okay, I get it. No fire.’ Taking Siara’s hand from her lap, I turn it face up in mine. ‘Here.’ Connecting and multiplying, the small flurry of snowflakes create a small flower made of clear ice. Unimpressed by my own creation, I glance over to Siara.
To my surprise, Siara’s eyes turn to look at the small flower in her palm, her face softening. Dazed, she puts her other hand slowly up to my cheek. I freeze.
‘Will,’ she breathes, so faintly that it’s barely a whisper. Her eyes lock on mine, green and blazing before landing back down at the small tattoo on the inside of her forearm inscribed by Heret-Kau herself. She’s asking. She’s claiming her favour. Footsteps trail down the hall, drawing closer. I pull back quickly, causing the flower to drop to the ground. The ice melts as her gaze fades. I stride past Xander as he enters the room, taking him off guard. He doubles back, surprised. ‘Master, what happened? Where are you–’ I don’t have time to explain.
Heret-Kau’s words echo in my mind.
She was right, of course. This isn’t what I want.
‘You understand what this means?’ The Goddess furrows her sharp brows and taps her long nails on the white desk in front of her. ‘You know that you can’t go back.’
I exhale a breath, and look up at her. She definitely isn’t making this easier for me.
‘I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.’
Heret-Kau stands slowly. ‘We’ll have to let the boy know.’ She ponders, a plan forming behind her eyes. ‘Will he be okay with this?’
‘He’ll have to be.’
