Jack
Jack peered through the patio door. The lights were on, but he could not see a soul. He could smell an old trail of blood leading to the house. He knew it was Lexi’s.
He knocked gently.
Jack now heard muffled voices and shuffling. The creak of the door under the stairs gave him less hope.
Isobelle’s red, tear-stained face faced him.
It made him swallow thickly.
The last time he saw her was when she threw a glass vase at him 15 years ago, a few weeks after… that night.
She hesitated but unlocked the door, peeking out at him.
“Jack,” she greeted, voice horse.
He took a breath and the truth revealed, the smell of decay and magic.
“Is it true?” he asked gently, “Lexi is gone?”
Fresh new tears rose to the mothers face and she pouted trying to hold them back, she simply nodded, yes.
Jack cursed, “I am sorry for your loss. She was a good lass, like her father.”
Afraid to cry again, she nodded in agreement.
“Jack?” A male voice came from inside the house.
Looking behind her, Jack spotted her younger brother, Keiron. The witch he had been working with.
“Keiron,” Jack nodded to him, as he stepped closer.
It seemed the mentioning of Jack’s name brought more attention from within the home. A few more faces could be seen peering from the door under the stairs.
Jack was surprised, he had seen the room from a far, it didn’t look that large.
Isobelle took a sidestep and allowed him entry into the home. The air was sombre, he could smell the salt from their tears.
Keiron held out his hand, “Shame to meet like this under the circumstances.”
Jack hummed in agreement, shaking the witches hand.
“Ditto. Speaking of,” Jack eased in, “We need help…”
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Maddie
She continued to delicately cover her face in foundation. Whilst the goddess had healed the grotesque flesh, the ugly scar that was left behind was glaring. It gave off a scaly appearance under the makeup.
She couldn’t be seen like this, not by him. It would raise more questions.
Normally, after its death, she would be the shoulder to cry on, or the ‘alternative’ choice for him. Finally, they could be together like intended.
For the rest of their lives.
Until the next cycle, that is.
Maddie thought she hit the jackpot in this lifetime. The beauty, the body, the brains. Finally, she would be first choice.
Yet, she foolishly pushed him away, played games.
Then… the worst news…
They found each other. Again.
Maddie approached the house and knocked loudly on the brown wooden door. Derick had not returned any of her texts or calls. Her crow had not returned last night either. Patience was not her forte.
She never stopped trying to talk to Leo after he stormed off that night with the cat. She needed to explain herself and apologise. Anything to get him to speak to her again.
She waited outside, looking around at the village. A small town in the middle of nowhere, perfect seclusion. She made sure to have a watcher on it, keeping tabs on its every move.
She huffed, and knocked again, louder.
Nothing, no shuffling of feet, or shouting of ‘I’ll get it’.
Maddie let her senses out, only to feel the same protective bubble around the house.
She would have to investigate.
A quick glance around, she pulled out her knife, and rested it on the keyhole.
She whispered, “Formavolve.”
The knife turned into putty, allowing her to manipulate it into the door's lock. She knew this lock and had it open within a few seconds.
Proud of herself, she straightened out her clothes and allowed herself in.
Empty.
There was no furniture or photos, and their energies were stale and old. This had to be a nightmare. How could they just up and leave without anyone noticing?
How could he leave her without a single word?
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“No,” she whispered.
She ran to his room and thrust open the door.
Everything was gone; all left were the impressions of furniture on this carpet. The room still smelled of him, but nothing was left behind, not even a scrap of clothing.
She collapsed to the floor in shock.
He’s gone.
She spent every moment searching for him.
Luckily, after a few days, Derick had enough and returned to Glenrothes. The poor lad had nowhere to go, so she extended an olive branch until he found another place to stay.
Derick told her everything: where they lived, who they had met, and why they had left without a word.
She sighed, throwing the brush onto the table in front of her and abandoning the task. She decided to watch from afar, waiting for the opportunity to ‘reconnect’ with her beloved.
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Lexi
It felt like aimless walking, yet the goddess led with wisdom, walking an invisible trodden path. Every so often, she looked back, checking on me. I never tired as we walked.
She slowed her pace, allowing me to catch up. The night sky seemed to come closer, making it difficult to see the treetops. I had half expected the sun to be rising by now.
“We are nearly there,” she encouraged as I followed her lead. “You have a choice to make, too,” she continued.
Confused I asked, “A choice?”
She effortlessly turned, stopping, “To drink from the river Lethe or relive your past lives?”
My stride came to a slow stop, and I analysed her words. I faced her, eyebrows pinched together, trying to understand her meaning.
From my studies, I knew to drink from the river Lethe is to forget all of your mortal memories, according to Greek myth, but why would I want to experience all of my soul's death?
She smiled slyly and continued talking in riddles, “I truly hoped this would be the life you would have figured out.”
“Figured what out?” I asked.
Her smile dropped slightly, “I can’t give you all the answers, can I?”
Hecate stepped past me, disappeared into the tree line, and disappeared into the darkness, “Come young one. You’ll learn soon enough.”
I followed.
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Pendle
The burly man sat at the table in the centre of the witches' kitchen. Solemn faces surrounded him, each one taking in his request. He wished the circumstances were different, but the pack would also be mourning if he did not seek their help.
Isobelle and Keiron looked at one another, sharing some sibling telepathy.
Jack couldn’t help but reminisce…back to when he was interrogated by-
“I’ll do it.”
All heads turned to the speaker.
Leo stood with an unwavering gaze on Jack, “It’s the least we can do. If you hadn’t intervened, all of us would be done for,” he said monotone.
It sent a chill down Jack's spine, shifting him slightly in the small seat. He recognised the misery and need for distraction. Losing a soulmate was nothing short of harrowing.
“We will do it,” Keiron added. Let us collect some things, and then we will follow you.”
Relief flooded Jack's body at the words. There was still hope.
However, time was not on their side.
There were hushed whispers and words between the mother and uncle as he shuffled around the small room gathering items, while the small coven listened to the heartbroken Leo as he recounted Lexi’s birthday. The night they helped the wolves.
“The alpha doesn’t trust the others,” Jack admitted, “his wolf is resisting. I am praying to the moon that he will be more accepting of you, Leo.”
“It would make sense,” Devan murmured, “It was difficult to tell their magic apart.”
Jack's head tilted in agreement. From his job as a detective, he knew it was difficult to tell two fated apart. Many couples were taken in for questioning… and surprisingly, many mimicked the duo Bonnie and Clyde.
“Ready?” Keiron approached the table with a small bag in hand.
Isobelle stayed in the doorway under the stairs; clearly, she was not pleased with their conversation.
Leo nodded and stepped away from the table with a deep breath. A hand on his shoulder made him pause.
“We’ll let you know if anything happens,” Seri informed and tapped his shoulder comfortingly.
Jack regarded the quiet household and led the two away to the alpha, the others left behind for safety.
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Lexi
Hecate halted. As I stepped forward behind her, the whole area ascended into darkness. I couldn’t see my pale hands in front of me, nor the goddess.
“Hecate?” I asked, looking around wildly.
I felt a hand touch my shoulder, making me jump slightly. Hecate leaned closer to me and whispered, “This is not meant for mortal eyes.”
The earth shook beneath my feet, and I could hear the chaotic clash of stone and rock crumbling. I couldn’t help stumbling as the world rose and jumped, but the goddess held me steady.
As the earthquake faded, the groaning of wood and clang of chain overpowered the rumbling rock.
Then, jarring quiet.
Hecate patted my shoulder, and with a simple click of her fingers, the darkness receded slowly, revealing a door.
The earth protruded upwards into a mound. Dry stone was stacked around, creating the archway and an artisan wooden door with the tree of life carved into it, concealing the inside. Although I heard the clang of chains, there was no metal to be seen.
“Knock,” she encouraged.
She stood in her place as I stepped towards the gateway. Lifting a hand, I knocked three times. The door sounded hollow like there was nothing behind.
A groan caught my attention, and I stepped back out of its path as it swung open. The light was blinding. It reminded me of the fae portal, how it simmered like opaque white water.
I had to blink a few times at the sudden light source.
“A choice to make,” Hecate said.
A wind escaped the doorway, carrying whispers with it.
image [https://i.imgur.com/rt1eKlh.jpg]
I clutched my head; too many whispers, thoughts, and memories came simultaneously. The last is Leo’s voice. The onslaught gave a sharp pain to my head.
“Shh, take a moment. We have all the time in the world.”
She ushered me to the ground, and, following her advice, I rested on my knees and took a few moments to think.
Taking a drink from the river… I would forget my mortal memories, possibly reincarnate once more, and the cycle begins again for our next life together. Without breaking our bond or the cycle of death, it will happen again. And again. And again.
To relive past lives, would I have the same memories? Would I be able to do this without the help of my Leo? With the goddess, anything can be possible, I suppose.
I needed more information but had to be careful with my questions.
“If I relive my past lives,” I started, glancing at the goddess before me. She gave me her attention, no emotions on her face, “Would I have the same memories as I do now.”
Her eyes narrowed in thought, “Reincarnation means a new slate.”
‘That’s a ‘no’.’
My shoulders slumped, and without the knowledge I have now, it would have been useless to do that.
“A new slate, a new life. Reincarnation is about moving forward. Your soul has memories. It contains the scars of your past,” she continued.
“I can’t reincarnate yet…” I murmured.
“Agreed.”
“Can I break the cycle?” I probed.
A smirk grew, “You can.”
“How?”
She looked away, her smile dropping, “Can’t give you all the answers.”
‘Wrong question.’
I rubbed my forehead and groaned, making her laugh lightly.
“What about the Astral?” I asked.
“What about it?”
“Well… A lot of information was from the astral and scrying. Could I revisit the astral to break the cycle?”
“You could, but it would be useless without your fated,” she informed, “I would not be surprised if Leo pulled your soul into the plane.”
“You can do that?”
“How do you think Greenwood spoke to you?”
Oh…
“Could I pull him into it?”
“There is a danger to that,” she scratched her cheek lightly, “Greenwood stepped in when it was needed. She watched over you as Langton did.”
I remember fainting that day… I could harm or hurt Leo.
“Is there a way to do it without him?”
“Hm, that’s a good question. Yes, if you ask.”
I glanced at the bright white behind her, “What happens if I go through there?”
“You will go in there, no ifs about it. What happens on the other side is your choice.” She crossed her arms.
“It’s my choice?” I repeated.
“You are one of few to see Pluto’s gate This,” – she gestured to the open door- “is what I have placed over, I want you weigh each path. After that, is your choice.”
“I assume one path is to river Lethe…”
“Correct.”
“Will the other…” I trailed off my question.
She repeated her previous words, echoing my mind, “Your choice.”
I can’t give up yet. If there is a chance, even through death, to break the cycle, I have to take it—even if I don’t know what I’m getting myself into.
I stood, facing the open door.
Hecate stood to my left and asked calmly, “Have you chosen?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Come, let us go,” she stepped into the gateway; it rippled and revealed the path.
I took the hand Hecate offered.
“I need your help, goddess.”
She smiled, “About time.”
“Will you help me break this cycle?”
She laughed lightly, “Child, I will help you break this curse.”