“Real love is worth any sacrifice,” I countered. “My heart goes out to you and to the sacrifice you were forced to make.”
“And yet you consider making the very same sacrifice. Voluntarily.”
“If it comes to that.”
“I find your idealistic view endearing; however you will find that there is no love greater than self. We are selfish beings who will always put ourselves first when presented with the choice. You are no exception, Anastasia.”
“Have you ever been in love?” I inquired with genuine curiosity.
“Yes,” she retorted as her golden eyes hardened. “And it destroyed me. Now leave.” She narrowed her eyes at me and I knew that I had outstayed my welcome. I was also eager to get back to my body and to find Finn. I could only hope that I still had enough time.
“Thank you, Persephone,” I obliged gratefully. Her face softened and she disappeared without another word.
I turned my attention to the Gate towering above me. I decided that the best plan of action was to simply walk through it and let it take me where it may. Fearlessly, I strode beneath the looming arch. As I stepped onto the cusp, the smooth white stone above disappeared and I found myself in the middle of a field of wildflowers. A light breeze lifted my hair and flowed over my skin.
The soft smell of lavender soothed me as I turned slowly; taking in my new surroundings.
A small girl suddenly appeared in front of me. Her thick blonde hair hung over her face as her blue eyes widened in fear. As she struggled to lift her arms, the sun glinted off of the gun that she gripped tightly. As she met my surprised gaze, she pointed it directly at me. I recognized her wrinkled pink shorts and stained white shirt, but the image on the underside of her left wrist cemented my assumptions.
“Hannah,” I said calmly. “Put down the gun.”
“No,” she insisted, lifting the gun higher. A paralyzing fear crept up my spine as I realized that she could pull the trigger at any moment. Was she real? Was the gun real?
“It’s going to be okay. Everything’s going to be alright,” I promised her in a soothing tone.
“Liar!” she screamed at me; jostling a memory of Natasha’s wise words. ‘ Do not lie to yourself’. I sighed and tried a different approach; brutal honesty.
“You’re right. That is a lie. It’s not alright. It’s not okay. Things are going to get worse; much worse. You’re going to be scared. You’re going to want to die. You’re going to want to give up.” As she listened to my words intently, she began to lower the gun so I continued. “But, you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. You’re going to make it. And trust me when I tell you that you’re worth the fight.”
She stared at me in disbelief for a moment more, and then dropped the gun and ran into my arms. As I wrapped my arms around her, she disappeared and I was below the Gate once more. The smooth, white stone had morphed into an arch of horns. I smiled to myself and took the next step.
I gasped for air and began to cough uncontrollably as a wave of nausea crashed over me.
“Get her some water!” I heard Natasha shout at someone. Her voice softened as I sensed her lean over me. She placed a cold wash cloth on my forehead and stuck something under my nose that smelled of garlic. It instantly calmed me and erased the nausea twisting within my stomach. I slowly opened my eyes.
“Natasha?”
“I’m here, dear,” she answered tenderly. I didn’t miss the smile in her voice.
“I did it,” I breathed in relief. She chuckled and helped me sit upright as I drank from the glass of water Liam had handed her. It felt amazing to my throat, which had swallowed at least two gallons of black soot. I pulled up my shirt to inspect the stab wound in my stomach, only to realize that it had closed and was only a tender pink scar. The scratches down my arms and legs were also in the process of healing.
“How’d that happen?” I said under my breath. The answer came to a screeching halt just inside the doorway as Willow let out a squeal and she throttled herself towards me.
“Oh Stasia! You made it!” She held on to me tightly. “I was so worried! Did you go over the waterfall? Did you complete your essence?”
“I did it,” I grinned weakly. “I also met my mother.”
“That’s what Phoebe said!” She jumped up and down and hugged me again, as my thoughts went to my other roommates.
“So they’re okay?” I asked, hopeful that Carmen had returned to normal once she had awakened in her body.
She nodded solemnly, but Liam frowned in frustration and gave me the somber news, “Phoebe’s fine - she’s resting in another room. But Carmen is...troubled.” My heart squeezed as I remembered her blank, lifeless eyes staring into the distance.
“I don’t know what happened. Something got her and wouldn’t let go,” I voiced my thoughts.
“She’s in there somewhere. We’ll find her,” Natasha smiled encouragingly. “Ricker flew in to be with her, but she’s still not talking.” If both Liam and Natasha were here, did that mean…?
“What day is it? What time is it?” I shrieked as I jumped off the table. “I need to get to Finn!”
“Take it easy, Stasia,” Natasha grabbed my arm and steadied me before I fell against a cabinet. “You’ve made it back just in time. It’s only 11:00pm.”
“11:00?!” I shrieked again, “That’s not just in time! I’ll never make it!” Tears began to build behind my eyes and my legs started to shake.
“You underestimate me, Anastasia,” Natasha grinned at me with a twinkle in her eye. “You should never underestimate a witch.”
“Never,” I promised her, and secured the pomegranate in my left hand.
Chapter 40
Before changing into a pair of clean jeans and a black hoodie, I did what I could to scrub off the black soot from the Underworld as Natasha brought me up to speed on Phoebe’s condition. She was perfectly healthy except for a touch of exhaustion and anxiety. Natasha had worked up an herbal remedy that would keep her in a deep sleep until her body and mind were able to recover. She wanted to be careful with Phoebe’s state of mind, considering the condition of Carmen’s. Willow and Ricker were tending to her, but she was still unresponsive. Willow was working her healing magic and Liam was working on a couple remedies to try, so Natasha remained optimistic; but I had the feeling that she was only trying to prevent me from worrying.
She led me out to the grand parlor and turned to face me abruptly, “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” I declared.
“Then close your eyes.” I did as she instructed. Without a word, she placed her hands in mine. I began to feel a modest spinning sensation as a cool wind blew up around us. I peeked out of one curious eye and instantly wished I hadn’t. The air wasn’t blowing or spinning. We were. A continuous blur of colors wrapped around us and the ground beneath our feet was no more. I closed my eyes and held onto Natasha for dear life. For the sake of my nerves, I was glad when I felt solid ground beneath my feet and Natasha released my hands.
“We have arrived,” she announced joyfully. I cautiously peeked out of one eye and glanced around timidly before opening the other. We stood on a rocky beach full of boulders; the largest of which were taking the full force of the ocean’s fury. The sea spray showered over us and I tilted my face up, welcoming its cooling mist. The proximity to the ocean felt like coming home. It filled me with the reassurance and happiness that I had greatly missed while in the Underworld.