17. Loop Hole—Sofie
My fingernails pierced the skin on my palms as I surveyed this latest disaster, struggling to peel my eyes from the unconscious body lying on a pile of broken cobblestones. My sister.
“I don’t know why this is such a difficult decision,” Ventus prodded. “We give you anything you want and we get what we want. Everyone wins.”
Air hissed through my clenched teeth. “What you want? Torture and misery? Get me back there this instant!” I would level each and every one of those witches on my own, I would burn every bitch in there, I would …
“You will lose your sister, your adopted child … everything,” Terra warned.
I inhaled deeply, trying to calm myself. “I just need to tell you what I want?” My voice sounded weak, hollow, deflated.
Incendia grinned. “Nathan back, perhaps?”
I turned steely eyes on him. “I already have him, remember?”
He guffawed. “Not that abomination. The real Nathan. Back in your arms. No strings attached. No twists to your request, no counter to it. If you want Nathan, we can erase this entire mess and it will be like it never happened.”
Erase this entire mess. Like it never happened. Be happy and free again? Free to feel Nathan’s strong arms around my body once again … and what? I’d be back where I began, trying to find a way to turn myself. And what would erase mean? Never know Evangeline? Never love her? Never allow her the chance to know Caden? I regarded the Fates with an icy gaze. Would they erase all of this from my memory or torture me with it daily?
“I want two,” I suddenly blurted, my mind working quickly. “And I want them exactly as I ask for them. No perversions.”
They laughed casually. “You get one.”
I offered a spiteful smile in return. “I will take none, then.”
Incendia frowned. “We’ve already discussed this. Why would you do that? No … we have made the decision and you must take it.”
I folded my arms over my chest, making it clear that this negotiation would be on my terms. “You will give me two or I give you nothing and your balance be damned. Read my soul, you crazy-ass faeries. This ends here, one way or another.”
Incendia’s mouth twisted as he scrutinized me. Had anyone ever challenged him? He must’ve decided I was telling the truth. His gaze rolled over the others, a silent communication between them.
“Fine …” Narrowed slits regarded me. “However, there’s a catch.”
I studied him. “Oh? And what would that be?”
It was Incendia’s turn to smile spitefully at me. “You’ll know when the time comes.”
I snorted. “So I must agree blindly?”
“Take it, or leave it and your life be damned. You only have one life, remember.” Incendia’s hands sprawled over the pit of worlds. “We have many.”
“Yes,” Unda spoke. “I believe this is a fair compromise. I will second this.” The other two announced their agreement, Terra with a nod, as if goading me to accept this fair deal.
“So, my child …” Terra crooned. “What are your two requests?”
I felt a tiny bittersweet smile curl my lips.