Kalona's Fall (House of Night Novellas #4)(28)

The Shaman’s blade did not waver. It slashed the maid’s throat, releasing a torrent of blood. She fell to his feet, gasping her life’s breath and flooding the sandstone with a crimson tide.

“Why have you done this?” Nyx rushed to the maid, pulling the dying girl into her arms.

“The sacrifice was for two. One for him. One for you. Forgive me, Goddess. I did only what I could do.” Then the old man’s eyes rolled white. He clutched his chest and fell into the grasses, breathing no more.

Nyx looked up to see that Kalona’s face was as pale as moonlight. “What madness is this?”

“I-I do not know. I thought the old man deluded, misguided even. I did not think him capable of this.”

“Have he and his People been worshipping you?”

Nyx saw genuine surprise in Kalona’s expression. “They left me gifts, and the old man often chanted and smudged around me. Is that worship?” Kalona shook his head, staring at the dying maiden. “I am a fool. I am to blame for these two deaths.”

“No!” Nyx said sternly, not willing to allow Kalona to fall into despair and guilt. “He was an old man. His heart failed him. That could not be changed and is not your fault. But this girl, this child, he so mistakenly sacrificed to you, she still clings to life. We can save her, you and I. Give me your borrowed gift of creation, and invoke Spirit. What would please me most is that your final test save the life of this girl.”

“But Mother Earth—”

“I am Goddess! And I proclaim that I am willing to exchange my friendship with Earth for this child’s life.”

Kalona bowed his head to her. “Yes, my Goddess.”

I call you, Spirit, Power Divine, and creation magick as well.

I have one more test to pass, one more tale to tell.

As the Goddess commands, so mote it be,

However she wishes to use you, with her I agree.

Kalona bent and kissed Nyx gently on the lips, and as the Goddess accepted his kiss, she drew within her body Spirit, the magick of creation, and the power of the Divine.

Nyx lifted the obsidian knife from where the old man had dropped it, quickly slashing the blade across her own wrist. Then she held the oozing line to the girl’s pale lips, saying:

Blood of my blood, you shall ever after be.

Take, drink. From this night forth your new life is my decree.

The girl’s eyes remained closed, but her lips opened against the Goddess’s wound, and she drank as Nyx commanded.

The Goddess bent and blew gently on the girl’s bleeding throat. The torn flesh instantly began to mend.

For my daughter, this creation of mine,

I give the gift of Night Divine.

Nyx kissed the girl’s lips, breathing the last of Spirit within her, and then she kissed the middle of the girl’s smooth forehead, touching the child with a Goddess’s Old Magick, whispering, With this Mark tattoo, your life begins anew.

In the middle of the girl’s forehead a sapphire-colored crescent moon appeared. From it, spreading down either side of the girl’s face, grew an intricate series of filigreed swirls and mysterious signs that held symbols of each of the five elements, magickally mirroring the tattoos with which Nyx so often chose to decorate her own body.

The girl opened her eyes. “Great Goddess of Night, tell me your name so that I may worship you.”

“You may call me Nyx.”

Then the night around them exploded as Mother Earth materialized, followed by a crowd of trilling dryads who took one look at their Goddess and fell unusually silent.

“Ah, so, it is as I thought,” Mother Earth said. She shook her head sadly. “The test has been tainted. Kalona must fail.”

Erebus dropped from the sky, holding a woven basket. His sunlit smile faded as he took in the somber scene.

“I felt the test begin. I hurried to join you,” Erebus said.

“Daughter, sleep, and when you awaken you will forget the terror of your creation and remember only love, always love,” Nyx commanded the maiden, and brushed a hand down her face, causing the girl’s eyes to close. Then the Goddess moved her gently off her lap, and stood to face Erebus and Mother Earth.

“What happened here is my responsibility. The old man was confused and mistaken. He sacrificed this maiden to Kalona in a fit of madness. I commanded Kalona give me his creation gift and invoke Spirit, so that I might mix our magick and save her life. His actions have pleased me. I decree that Kalona has passed the third and final of his tests.” Nyx turned to Erebus. “You may complete your test now, as well.”

With none of the playfulness he usually exhibited, Erebus walked to Nyx and placed the basket on the ground between her and the sleeping maiden.

“I meant this as a gift for the Prairie People you love so well,” he told her. “It seems right that they now belong to your most favored mortal daughter.”

Erebus took the lid from the basket to reveal the five kittens Erebus had shown her earlier that evening. He spread his hands over the basket, and invoked:

Ancient Magick, borrowed creation, and the power of Spirit I call to thee.

Know my will and do as I command from the very heart of me.

Create joy from this night of confusion, death, and tears.

Comfort this daughter of Nyx with companionship during long years.

Familiars and friends and playmates they shall be in name and in heart.