Chapter 266 – True Sister
Ella
The power comes slow, at first, and I feel like a dry terracotta pot into which the first drips of rain begin to fall. But then, as my body beings to take in the power, to soak it up like thirsty clay, the power starts to fall into me like a summer storm. It soaks every bit of me, splashing against my tired soul like a cooling salve.
But then, even when I feel I’ve had enough, it keeps coming, and coming. The storm of power in me grows until it becomes a monsoon, until it fills me, overflows me. Until it reaches my throat, threatening to fill my mouth, my nose, my lungs. I tilt my head back, desperate to keep above the tide, but it’s ceaseless.
I gasp, struggling, but I can feel it trickling around the edges of my mouth, finding its way in despite my efforts –
If only I’d had more time – if only I were stronger – but I can’t fight this – it’s too much –
I spit, trying to keep the water out of my mouth, but it pours in and I gasp against it, coughing as the power fills my lungs.
“Ella!”
Only a sliver of me can hear Cora’s shout – the rest of me is gone, consumed by the power, by the knowledge is gives me, by the way it fills me, possesses me, chokes me with its strength –
I can feel her hands on my shoulders, but then, suddenly – I’m gone –
My mind is filled entirely within the power now and I feel myself weakly working to swim through it, to get to the top, to come up for air. But my arms – they can’t seem to push through, to lift me. I gasp again, desperate for air, and the power floods down my throat, filling me, consuming me, grasping every edge of my body until my vision goes not black, but totally white.
And then, what I see next…
It is as if I’ve always known it. Always been aware, deep down, of precisely who she is. But in this moment, in my greatest weakness, I’ve finally realized it. That she is the only one who can help.
Because there, in my weakest moment, my mother gives me a gift. A single image of her kneeling by a bedside in the orphanage, pressing a kiss to a little girl’s forehead as she whispers the word “daughter” lightly against her skin.
But that little girl isn’t me. It’s Cora. Cora, my sister. The sister of my heart, my constant companion, but also. Yes, now I know it. Also the sister of my body. My true sister.
The Goddess in the memory turns towards me and gives me a small smile. “Two daughters,” she says, soft. “One of wolf, one of human born. To unite the worlds. Two halves of a goddess to make one.”
“Why?”I think the question more than ask it. I couldn’t form the words if I tried, drowning as I am in her power. The Goddess shakes her head slowly, that small secret smile still on her lips.
“You had to love each other willingly, to want to save each other. Not because you had to, because it was some written destiny. It must be a gift, freely given.”
She nods to me as I stare at her. “Go now,” she says. “Your time is short.”
At that, my eyes fly open in the real world then and I can see that I am spilling power, overflowing with light, but I’m laying flat on the steps of the temple, and I cannot breathe –
“Ella!” Cora cries, terror in her voice, tears streaking down her face. “Ella!”
I turn then, my body wrenching, hacking, and power spills from my mouth like water from my lungs. I draw a gaping breath, then, which feels like fire within me and for a moment I close my eyes, trying to fight against the pain in my body – the pain in my stomach –
I wrench my eyes open, then, and look down at myself, at my legs –
Blood – blood everywhere –
Oh my god. I rip my eyes back to Cora’s face. “Cora,” I demand. “Cora, take it.”
“Ella!” I hear his voice as I plead with my sister, hear it somewhere across the square, but I can’t look now –
She’s got to take this from me – only she can – or it will kill me, and it will all be a waste –
“Cora!” I shout, almost screaming against the sound of explosions so close to us, gripping her hand as hard as I can. “TAKE IT, Cora! Take the gift, and give it!”
“Wha – what?” She mumbles, her voice frantic. “Ella – I can’t –“
“You can,” I say, locking my eyes on hers, her hand gripped in mine like a vice. “You are my sister, Cora.” I stare into her gaze then, transmitting the truth through my eyes, through my hand on hers, through the bond that has always been there between us –
She gasps, suddenly, with the knowledge of it.
“Ella!” I hear him screaming now, can hear his feet pounding towards me.
“Now,” I growl, fierce. I know he will rip me from her – he won’t be able to help it, when he sees the blood – “Take it now, Cora!”
She nods quickly, understanding, afraid but…but willing. “All right, Ella,” she says, tightening her grasp on mine. And then, almost in a flash, I feel the power starting to pour out of my body and into hers.
Cora is strong, though. Stronger than me, stronger than I ever was. I may have been her protector in the orphanage, in our lives, but she has always been the source of my strength.
As the glow fades from me, I can see it filing her. And she welcomes it, makes space for it, relishes it within her. It drowned me – almost killed me – perhaps killed my child – But Cora? Cora has space in her heart for all of it. For the love, the joy, the knowledge.
I feel the last trickle of it leave me and have no strength left. My hand drops from hers, my head falling against the stone of the temple steps. My vision begins to fade as Cora stands, her eyes turned up towards the sky.
I hear my name again, not from her lips, but from another’s. From his.
Strong arms wrap around me, pulling me close against a chest. My name, over and over again, frantic with worry.
“Wait,” I say, as he turns me away from her. I am desperate to see, to look. “Watch,” I whisper, pointing a shaking finger at my sister as, suddenly, she lights up like a star. And as she does, as she gives the gift to the world, I feel myself simultaneously shudder and smile.
Good, I think. It is done. I close my eyes, then, allowing my head to fall against my mate’s chest as he holds me close. We’re moving, now, running – somewhere, I don’t know where. I don’t care. I have nothing left.
Inside of me, I can feel nothing, as if the efforts of the day severed all of the bonds inside of me. I can no longer feel Cora, or my mother. I can’t feel my child. I can’t even feel Sinclair, or my wolf. It’s just…nothing.
I am at the end of myself. I am spent. And I honestly…
…I don’t know if I can come back.
