KDBookOnline
Share Us
The sound of rain beating down on the carriage reminded her of one thing—Gravenport. The capital should’ve been named after its perpetual precipitation instead of the little rocks and ports it offered. Even the sky hated it here. Thessa looked out the window, recognizing the gravel streets leading up to the massive iron gates.
Poking Leora awake, she whispered, “I just had the strangest dream, but we can’t talk here. Please, whatever you do, just do as the soldiers say.”
Leora blinked her eyes open as Thessa mouthed three words, “deny, deny, deny.”
Leora nodded in understanding as the clang of the iron gates indicated their arrival.
When the carriage rolled to a stop the door whooshed open—air-magic.
“Out,” their escort shouted, before shuffling them inside the Central Divinity. Upon entering,they were flanked by more soldiers.
Thessa and Leora eyed each other warily before they were taken through a smooth marble hallway. Aside from fire-sconces along each wall, it was empty. No windows. No rugs.
From there they were led down a wide staircase, across a corridor, and down another dark stone stairwell.
Thetap, tap, tapof metal boots echoed all the way down to the stone-lined dungeons.
Thessa wondered how the Supremes had already learned of her magic. She knew Leora,hersympathizer, didn’t deserve this, and she regretted telling her. It wasn’t herfault.
When the soldier halted, fiddling with a ring of keys, Thessa toyed with the idea of belonging down there.
As the door creaked open, fear washed over Leora’s face. In some miserable attempt to help, Thessa went in first.
When the guard barked, “Not you,” she turned to see an arm outstretched across Leora’s chest.
Thessa’s mouth fell open to protest, but the solid, steel door slapped shut before she could say anything.
16
LECTURE NOTES FROM THEOLOGY, OUR GODS AND GODDESSES I:
Gaia emerged from the void with her three siblings: Nyx, Erebus and Tartarus. Gaia is the mother of many gods and goddesses, and grandmother to Hekate, our goddess of witchcraft.
Only a flicker of lamplight shined through the small, barred window of her mucky cell. The stone floor was cruel on her back, despite the thin pad provided for the floor. It smelt of fear and isolation in here—things Thessa had been accustomed to over the years. But she worried for Leora, for that light that shined within her.
Thessa wouldn’t let it dull.
Knocking on the stone wall proved to be useless, bloodletting included. She watched the black-flecked blood trickle down her knuckles, cursing it under her breath.
She didn’t want this.
After wiping her hand on the inside of her cloak, she shouted through the small window, “Leora! Are you okay?”
A bang rang through the corridor, startling her. “No talking unless you’re told.”
Thessa’s nostrils flared.
She sank to the floor, resting her head against the uneven wall. She unscrewed the pendant around her neck, letting the lavender scent fill her senses. Closing her eyes, she breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth, slowly, just as the school healer had taught her. Again and again.
As she opened her eyes to screw the pendant back together, her breath hitched. She’d conjured her magic. Thick, black tendrils had escaped her fingertips, swirling around her.
“Well I am glad someone feels free,” she whispered. “What makes you so wicked anyway?”
As if commanded, several tiny wisps floated away from her. Thessa’s mouth fell open, not understanding what she’d done.
No, no, come back.
They flew up and out the minuscule window. And a moment later, everything went dark. Her eyes roamed the shadows of her cell for a clue.