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Thessa wondered why that sounded so familiar.
A thousand suns.
She repeated it to herself,over and over, until it hit her.It reminded her of that damned voice.
I am the mother of thousands.
Her mind reeled in pieces from her past, remembering the dark deities from stories told to scare witchlings into behaving.
She wondered if the voice meant she was the mother of a thousandsons, as in the Oneiroi, and daughters, as in the Keres? The Oneiroi were keepers of nightmares, and the Keres were takers of life.
The same goddess mothered Thanatos, the god of death, and his brother Hypnos, the god of sleep … which would have made communicating through her dream a possibility.
I am always with you, and all those who share my blood.
The dark energy in her veins was no curse. The magic was not from Hekate’s bloodline, rather another.
Thessa gasped in realization.
Hermotherwas the goddess of night—Nyx.
Why the bloodline had diminished to demon status wasn’t at all surprising, given the stories of nightmares and death. Perhaps the magic had been so spoiled over the centuries, they’d all turned evil.
Then what did that make me?
Her dark thoughts were relieved as dim lighting returned in the corridor. It wasn’t long before a tray holding juice and a heel of bread made its way into her cell. It was better than oats, she supposed, and dug in.
After her meal, Thessa gathered her necklace. She wanted to breathe before the trial. She kept her eyes open this time, managing to settle her magic down when it begged to rise. It was the same method she’d used to steady her thoughts—when she didn’t have her blacksmith hammer.
However, learning to conjure and retract her magic didn’t mean she understood what it did. It wasn’t doing anything, and she certainly wasn’t going to ask it anymore questions.
The sounds of guards stomping through the corridor sent her skittering to her feet. Her magic dissipated the moment she’d lost focus.
Thessa patted her dress down, as if it would help press out the indentations, but her finger snagged on some fabric. She peered down to find five little holes along her waistline.
Her eyes popped in realization. Kellan had burned right through her dress. Embarrassed over her moment of weakness, she threw her cloak on and buttoned it up.
When the escort of soldiers retrieved her, Leora wasn’t in sight. Thessa was led out of the dungeons and through a maze of hallways until they approached a set of double doors.
She took a deep breath as they crossed the threshold of the Trial Room.
18
LECTURE NOTES FROM REALM RULES & METHODOLOGY:
The Troika was formed upon creation of our realm. It consists of our three Supremes, and it is their consolidated belief that will weave your fate. If you ever find yourself before them, I’d suggest you pray to the goddess for grace.
The Trial Room was cast in tawny marble, lit with hundreds of candles, enchanted to float. Guards lined the oval-shaped space where several pews were set before a small podium. The far wall held three golden thrones, one for each Supreme.
Thessa noticed Leora seated on the opposite side she was being led to and shouted, “Leora!”
“Silence! Face forward!”
Thessa scrunched her upper lip.
As a soldier shoved her into her seat, she noticed two other prisoners, all the way in front. She couldn’t help but shift her eyes back and forth between them. She knew them.
A bell chimed, snapping her attention back.